PHF E-News (March 2026)

Public health news, resources, tools, and information to improve organizational performance, equip the workforce, and build public health infrastructure.

PHF E-News: News for Public Health

Looking to strengthen your performance management and quality improvement (QI) skills? This spring, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) is offering two virtual workshops for public health professionals. In a new Q&A, expert instructor Amanda McCarty, MS, MBA, MHA, shares insights into what PHF’s virtual workshops offer and why these skills are essential for today’s public health professionals. Read more and reserve your spot for the workshops today.

Why Train with PHF?

Over the past 15 years, PHF has provided training to more than 600 health departments and 30,000 health department employees through live training and technical assistance services. Learn more about our tailored services for health departments.

Spring Sale on All PHF Publications

March Featured Publication: Public Health Quality Improvement Encyclopedia

The Public Health Quality Improvement Encyclopedia is ideal for public health professionals, providing 75 QI tools and examples that can improve community health outcomes, assist with applying for accreditation, and enhance effectiveness and efficiency. Its compact size makes it an easy-to-use reference tool.

Save 10% when you order any PHF publication through May 31, 2026. Discount automatically applied at checkout. Receive a 20% discount when you order 250+ copies. Please call us toll-free at (877) 252-1200 for a price quote on bulk purchases. Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET.

Did You Know…?

TRAIN By the Numbers

6.6 million

Registered users

5.7 million

Total course registrations

in 2025

4,400+

Courses in the TRAIN catalog, including

2,100+ with CE credit

Learn more in the TRAIN Learning Network (TRAIN) National Fact Sheet. To explore a TRAIN affiliate partnership, please contact Mike Barry.

ASTHO PHIG Impact Podcast Highlights PHF

The Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) program is helping health departments throughout the country build infrastructure and achieve lasting improvements. Listen to the March 17th PHIG Impact Report produced by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), where Ron Bialek, PHF President and CEO, discusses continued opportunities through PHIG in artificial intelligence (AI), performance management, and academic health department partnerships.

Save the Date: 2026 Public Health Learning Forum

November 16-19, 2026

Mark your calendars! The 2026 Public Health Learning Forum is coming to a screen near you November 16-19, 2026. This year’s virtual event will once again bring together public health professionals from across the country to share practical ideas, helpful tools, and real‑world approaches for strengthening the governmental public health workforce. Building on the success of the 2025 Public Health Learning Forum, the 2026 event will focus on what’s working, what’s new, and what’s ahead for workforce development, QI, and performance management. Stay tuned for more details on registration, session information, and speakers. Save the date to join us this fall.

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this year’s event? Contact Mike Barry.

Connect with TRAIN at the 2026 NACCHO Preparedness Summit

Join PHF for two sessions at the 2026 Preparedness Summit hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO):

TRAIN Utilization for Emergency Response Leaders, a hands-on workshop on April 14, 2026 from 8-9:30am EDT
Shared Trainings to Facilitate State and Local Emergency Response (virtual, on demand)

Both sessions highlight how shared training via TRAIN can be used as part of a coordinated cross-agency emergency response. Register for the summit and join these sessions to learn how TRAIN can help with your local, state, or agency emergency response personnel training.

Engage with PHF’s Collection of eLearning Articles

Explore PHF’s latest eLearning articles covering topics such as developing effective learning objectives, designing for accessibility and inclusion, and using AI to enhance instructional design. View our collection of eLearning articles and learn about PHF’s eLearning Development Services.

New Webinar Recording Available –Workforce Planning, Incorporating Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals

Looking for new strategies to assess and develop the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals at your agency? Watch the recording of a recent webinar hosted by ASTHO and featuring speakers from PHF, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the New York State Department of Health, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services sharing their experiences and expertise around workforce planning and how they incorporated public health core competencies into those plans and relevant trainings. Access the recording via TRAIN.

Explore New Resources in the Retention and Recruitment Toolkit

New resources are now available in PHF’s Retention and Recruitment Toolkit. This action-oriented toolkit highlights strategies within the sphere of influence of public health professionals, focusing on areas with significant potential for improvement. The toolkit is updated as resources are developed or shared; the most recent update added new trainings related to burnout and professional development, blog posts from PHIG partners, the Student Career Pathways Toolkit from the New England Public Health Training Center, and Joy in Work resources from NACCHO. View the new additions and email Mayela Arana with your examples, tools, or resources to share.