Friday, March 14, 2025
3/14/2025
PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (department) is seeking funding through this application to support core infrastructure improvements for Idaho public health agencies that include workforce development, foundational capabilities, and data infrastructure. This initiative will be housed in the Division of Public Health (division) within the department. The division’s mission is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. This funding opportunity will assist the division to meet immediate needs in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as other public health outcomes that worsened or stalled during this time. The work supported by this opportunity will have sustained effects to better meet the ongoing and future public health needs for Idaho. The division operates under the key principles that data and evidence drive planning and implementation, that partnerships play a critical role in success, and that it is imperative to direct these resources in a way that supports health equity. All planning for investments in workforce, foundational capabilities, and data modernization are driven by division strategic thinking, relevant data and evidence, and engagement with key partners. The division is committed to building a capable and qualified workforce, up-to-date data and information systems, and capacity to assess and respond to public health needs. Anticipated outcomes of this work include a more robust, diverse public health workforce; improved organizational systems and processes; and stronger public health foundational capabilities at both state and local public health agencies. The workplans support these outcomes through activities focused on improvements in workforce development, partner collaboration, communication, policy, strategic planning, and public health accreditation. Finally, the division will collaborate with the existing Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) data modernization team to assess the data infrastructure in Idaho at all levels of government, develop collaborative plans, implement modernization, and support cross-program governance. By investing in data modernization, Idaho public health services will be expanded, improved, and accelerated, and in turn public health concerns, including data, will be better addressed. Key outcomes include a more modern and efficient data environment, increased data interoperability, and increased availability and use of public health data in Idaho. Through this long-anticipated funding opportunity, the division can begin to prioritize the development of a coordinated and collaborative approach that advances a state-level equitable public health system infrastructure that is prepared and responsive to the needs of Idaho’s populations most impacted by health inequities including high-risk and underserved populations and rural communities. These efforts will ultimately transform Idaho’s public health infrastructure and advance health equity through the creation and expansion of coordinated, multi-sector partnerships, plans, strategies, interventions, and services.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).