July 14, 2021 |
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that an expanded, diversified public health workforce is critical to safeguarding the public’s health and building health equity. With hundreds of diverse staff who are mostly new to the field of public health, workforce development is a central tenet of the Tracing Health program.
Our workforce development approach is designed to launch Tracing Health staff into permanent public health careers. We want to see the public health system expanded and diversified and our staff are committed to being a part of that change.
When they join Tracing Health, new team members receive over 100 hours of training, from contact tracing and Mental Health First Aid certification, to customer service and HIPAA compliance, as well as training on multiple contact tracing data platforms.
From this job-specific foundation team members go on to build and deepen their public health skillset. Tracing Health provides resources and time during the workday to learn about the public health field, allowing team members to enhance their knowledge, grow their networks, and plan the next steps in their public health careers.
In addition to the essential onboarding trainings, Tracing Health team members can opt into:
25,000 hours of training have been provided to our staff. We prioritize language skills and lived experience over earned degrees and provide the necessary training for new hires to be successful in the job and to start them on their paths as public health leaders.
90 Tracing Health employees have been rewarded with internal promotions to supervisor, manager or coordinator positions (as of June 1, 2021). With ongoing professional development trainings, team members are able to expand their roles within Tracing Health and better prepare themselves for their future in public health.
Tracing Health team members have earned over 230 degrees and certifications through complimentary access to online educational platforms. These certificates build their skillsets and help build their qualifications for good employment opportunities post-pandemic.
“Since PHI staff were well-trained prior to deployment, onboarding staff into larger operations was streamlined. We are impressed with the level of professionalism, knowledge, and flexibility from the staff.”
County Partner, San Bernardino County Health Department, CA
“I am so appreciative of all of the support you and the PHI team have provided to our county… Our partnership has been a truly wonderful collaboration! Thanks again!”
County Partner, Sonoma County Public Health Department, CA
“The Public Health Institute is doing a lot to help us develop professionally with all their workforce development efforts. I can see how really enriching my resumé will help me keep a job in public health in the future. So it gives me that sense of like security… job security that I might not have right now as a contact tracer.”
Paulina Jafarzadeh, Contact Tracer PNW
“PHI and Tracing Health gave me that opportunity to “break through” and shine. A recent opportunity that I have been shooting for came to light and I was accepted as a candidate for a position that I had dreamed of working in for years. I did not think that it would have happened this quickly, but I was told that my experience with PHI elevated my candidacy to this opportunity.”
John Franco, Resource Coordinator
For more information about our services or about partnering with Tracing Health please contact us.