Programs

The FPHS framework and operational definitions, as stewarded by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), define core public health services that are the unique responsibility of governmental public health.  

Continuing PHF’s efforts to assist health departments in addressing workforce needs within their agencies, new resources and tools have been developed to complement PHAB’s FPHS tools. These resources and tools will aid health departments in workforce capacity assessments and prioritization of workforce needs and staffing. By utilizing PHF’s resources and tools, health departments can more effectively move from workforce capacity self-assessment data to concrete actions that strengthen their ability to deliver essential public health services to their communities.  

Consulting

PHF offers consulting services designed to help implement FPHS framework, including workforce capacity assessments. Undertaking a workforce capacity self-assessment offers several benefits, including:

• Identifying strengths and weaknesses within the organization
• Providing data-driven evidence for resource allocation and strategic planning
• Benchmarking against other health departments and national standards

Challenges can include time and resource constraints; staff or leadership resistance; and difficulty in translating results into actionable strategies. The PHF approach to workforce capacity assessment is designed to help overcome these challenges. To learn more about consulting services, please contact Carol Moehrle (cmoehrle@phf.org) or see our Performance Improvement Consulting Services.

Training

The TRAIN Learning Network is the largest collection of quality training in one place for professionals in public health, emergency preparedness, and healthcare. TRAIN includes courses in public health, emergency preparedness, and healthcare. TRAIN includes courses on FPHS and each foundational capability and area. Released in September 2024, you can access the Foundational Public Health Services eLearning Series through TRAIN.

Toolkit

The PHF toolkit is designed to support public health agencies in implementing a thorough review of what is needed to deliver the FPHS in their jurisdictions. The toolkit contains five main sections designed to assist health departments assess needs, make important staffing decisions, and advocate for necessary resources:  

1. Conducting an assessment and developing a comprehensive inventory of Foundational Areas and Community Specific Services
   • Community-Specific Services examples
   • Community-Specific Services Self-Assessment Guidance Document
2. Assessing staff expertise and capacity to address the FPHS
   • Expertise and Capacity Self-Assessment Tool
3. Tools to assist in staffing decision making
   • Prioritization Matrix to help narrow the focus of prioritized needs and staffing 
   • Hiring Flowchart to translate priorities into actual positions 
4. Published materials
   • JPHMP article September 2024 “Northern Nevada Public Health: Utilizing the Public Health Workforce Calculator and Workforce Capacity Self-Assessment Tools to Develop a Framework for Workforce Investment”
   • JPHMP Direct – “Striving for the Minimum Package of Public Health Services: The Northern Nevada Public Health Experience” 
5. Additional resources
   • NACCHO360 PowerPoint presentation – Assessing Workforce Needs: Tools and Techniques from the Public Health Foundation
   • CDC webinar PowerPoint presentation – PHF: Assisting Local Health Departments to Assess Workforce Capacity Needs
   • Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, Essential Public Health Services, and Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS)
   • Foundational Public Health Services eLearning Series