Public Health Training Centers Program

Objectives: The Regional Public Health Training Center program improves the Nation's public health system by strengthening the technical, scientific, managerial and leadership competencies of the current and future public health workforce through the provision of education, training and consultation services. The Regional PHTC Programs together comprise a national program that serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the six U.S. Pacific Jurisdictions. Ten regions are funded to ensure that the U.S. and its jurisdictions all have access to public health workforce education and training. The work of the Regional PHTCs will be accomplished through the provision of tailored training and technical assistance (TA) through collaborative community-based projects. Training curricula will provide skill-based, interactive instruction and quality education using multiple modalities (e.g., synchronous, asynchronous, distance-based, bi-directional video, and in-person), underscoring the current eight cross-cutting core public health competency domains in the primary areas of (1) analytical/assessment, (2) policy development/ program planning, (3) communication skills, (4) cultural competency, (5) community dimension of practice, (6) public health sciences, (7) financial planning and management and, (8) leadership and systems thinking. Each Regional PHTC will develop training in at least three primary areas listed above and may develop trainings in the sub competencies and beyond based on local health needs assessments. Regional PHTCs seek to develop current and future public health leaders though Leadership Institutes. Moreover, the program aims to establish and enhance collaborative partnerships among state and local health departments, primary care providers, and related organizations (to include non-traditional partners) as they work together to address critical local public health needs. The Community Health Woker Training Program (CHWTP) expands the public health workforce through the training of new Community Health Workers (CHWs) and health support workers and to extend the knowledge and skills of current CHWs and other health support workers. Through this program, HRSA plans to train 13,000 new and current CHWs and other health support workers to support essential public health services and to focus on experiential training and employment through registered apprenticeships and job placements. The CHWTP aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address the public health needs of underserved communities. Individuals trained through the program will acquire knowledge, skills, and expertise to respond to public health needs and public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in underserved communities through a network of partnerships. The Public Health Scholarship Program (PHSP) to strengthens the public health workforce by providing support to organizations to develop scholarship programs that incentivize individuals to pursue training and careers in public health. Through the PHSP, scholarship recipients will gain the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, prepare for, and respond to recovery activities related to COVID–19, as well as other public health emergencies. This program will provide funds to State or local governments, including state, local, territorial or tribal public health departments, health professions schools, academic health centers, and public or private nonprofit entities with a public health focus. Award recipients will provide scholarships to individuals, including grant recipient employees, receiving public health training in professional, graduate, degree, and/or certificate programs.