W Ponce De Leon Avenue

TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO CAPACITY BUILDING FOR GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS - THE SUBMISSION ADDRESSES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COVERING FIVE DISTINCT STREAMS OF WORK FOCUSED ON EXPANDING IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM CAPACITY IN LOW-AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WORK PLANS ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUBMISSION.

UNDER THIS FIVE-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, USAID INTENDS TO TRANSFER FEDERAL GLOBAL HEALTH (GH) ASSISTANCE FUNDS BY AWARDING ONE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO AN ORGANIZATION OR TO A CONSORTIUM OF ORGANIZATIONS. WHO’S 2030 NTD ROADMAP GAP ASSESSMENT, AND RECENT WHO NTD GLOBAL PARTNERS MEETING, HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL GAPS IN DISEASE-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR MAPPING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AVAILABILITY OF ACCURATE AND FIELD-FRIENDLY DIAGNOSTICS, AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, TO NAME SOME. WITHIN USAID’S EXISTING FLAGSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS, ACT | EAST LED BY RTI AND ACT | WEST LED BY FHI360, ENDEMIC COUNTRIES AND IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER THESE HIGHLIGHTED CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION. BY FOCUSING ON EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, ENDOR WILL SUPPORT NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND LOCAL NGOS BY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING HIGH LEVEL FOCUS AREAS: 1. FOSTERING AND CONVENING A NETWORK OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDING YOUNG AND MID-CAREER RESEARCHERS, AND IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING NTD OR NEEDS IN A MORE DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE MANNER; 2. DEFINING AND UNDERTAKING RELEVANT COORDINATED RESEARCH INITIATIVES AS PRIORITIZED BY USAID AND USAID NTD PROGRAM IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS TO TARGET THE GAPS AND BARRIERS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE WHO 2030 NTD ROADMAP AND THE NTD COMMUNITY; 3. IMPROVING THE TIMELINESS AND QUALITY OF OR INITIATIVES THROUGH ISSUANCE OF SUBAWARD AGREEMENTS UNDER ENDOR DIRECTLY TO LOCAL AND ENDEMIC COUNTRY INSTITUTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PERSISTENT AND NEW CHALLENGES, AND TRANSLATING THESE INTO PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE ENDEMIC COUNTRY ISSUES; AND 4. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE NTD DONOR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH IS EQUITABLE AND APPROPRIATE TO MEET PROJECT NEEDS.

TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO CAPACITY BUILDING FOR GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS - THE SUBMISSION ADDRESSES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COVERING FIVE DISTINCT STREAMS OF WORK FOCUSED ON EXPANDING IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM CAPACITY IN LOW-AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WORK PLANS ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUBMISSION.

UNDER THIS FIVE-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, USAID INTENDS TO TRANSFER FEDERAL GLOBAL HEALTH (GH) ASSISTANCE FUNDS BY AWARDING ONE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO AN ORGANIZATION OR TO A CONSORTIUM OF ORGANIZATIONS. WHO’S 2030 NTD ROADMAP GAP ASSESSMENT, AND RECENT WHO NTD GLOBAL PARTNERS MEETING, HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL GAPS IN DISEASE-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR MAPPING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AVAILABILITY OF ACCURATE AND FIELD-FRIENDLY DIAGNOSTICS, AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, TO NAME SOME. WITHIN USAID’S EXISTING FLAGSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS, ACT | EAST LED BY RTI AND ACT | WEST LED BY FHI360, ENDEMIC COUNTRIES AND IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER THESE HIGHLIGHTED CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION. BY FOCUSING ON EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, ENDOR WILL SUPPORT NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND LOCAL NGOS BY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING HIGH LEVEL FOCUS AREAS: 1. FOSTERING AND CONVENING A NETWORK OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDING YOUNG AND MID-CAREER RESEARCHERS, AND IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING NTD OR NEEDS IN A MORE DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE MANNER; 2. DEFINING AND UNDERTAKING RELEVANT COORDINATED RESEARCH INITIATIVES AS PRIORITIZED BY USAID AND USAID NTD PROGRAM IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS TO TARGET THE GAPS AND BARRIERS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE WHO 2030 NTD ROADMAP AND THE NTD COMMUNITY; 3. IMPROVING THE TIMELINESS AND QUALITY OF OR INITIATIVES THROUGH ISSUANCE OF SUBAWARD AGREEMENTS UNDER ENDOR DIRECTLY TO LOCAL AND ENDEMIC COUNTRY INSTITUTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PERSISTENT AND NEW CHALLENGES, AND TRANSLATING THESE INTO PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS TO SOLVE ENDEMIC COUNTRY ISSUES; AND 4. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE NTD DONOR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH IS EQUITABLE AND APPROPRIATE TO MEET PROJECT NEEDS.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY - PANDEMICS POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT WITH HIGH SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS FOR COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES. HIGH PROFILE OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19, EBOLA, ZIKA, AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING, STRENGTHENING AND MAINTAINING GLOBAL CAPACITY TO PREVENT, DETECT AND RESPOND TO POTENTIAL EPIDEMICS. INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION AND NATIONAL ACTION ARE BOTH VITAL TO PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT VARIABILITY AROUND THE WORLD IN COUNTRIES’ AND REGIONS’ CAPACITY TO DETECT AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. TEPHINET HAS WORKED SINCE ITS INCEPTION TO CLOSE SOME OF THE GAPS IN CAPACITY FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND OUTBREAK DETECTION. IN PURSUIT OF THE VISION THAT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS THE APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY CAPACITIES NEEDED TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF ITS OWN POPULATION, AND TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS TO PROMOTE GLOBAL HEALTH, TEPHINET OPERATES UNDER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES DESIGNED TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A WELL-TRAINED FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGY PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE IN SURVEILLANCE, OUTBREAK DETECTION, RESPONSE AND PREVENTION. TEPHINET PRIORITIES INCLUDE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF FETPS; FACILITATING WORKFORCE MOBILIZATION IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES; SUPPORTING CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE; NETWORK STRENGTHENING; AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO FETPS. THIS PROPOSAL WILL ENABLE TEPHINET TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE FETP ENTERPRISE, THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP OF LEADERS, FUNDERS, IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY BY DEVELOPING APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY CAPACITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ADDRESSING WORLDWIDE GAPS IN COUNTRY AND REGIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY REQUIRES FETPS TO BE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF TRAINING IN APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY (I.E. BASIC, INTERMEDIATE, OR ADVANCED) WITHIN COUNTRIES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE WITH A LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT ENSURES THAT GRADUATES ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, RESPONDING TO OUTBREAKS, SERVING AS SUSTAINABLE IN-COUNTRY KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING RESOURCES FOR FUTURE TRAINEES, AND INFLUENCING POLICY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES. IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND DISSEMINATION OF HIGH QUALITY LEARNING MATERIALS IS VITAL TO INCREASE CAPACITY ACROSS ALL LEVELS (COUNTRY, REGIONAL, GLOBAL). IN CASES WHERE OUTBREAKS OCCUR, IT IS CRITICAL THAT THERE IS A REPOSITORY OF SKILLED PERSONNEL WITH UP-TO-DATE TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS TRAINING THAT CAN BE TAPPED INTO QUICKLY FOR MOBILIZATION. ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FETPS THROUGH THEIR INSTITUTIONALIZATION INTO COUNTRIES’ NATIONAL MINISTRIES OF HEALTH AND NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTES IS KEY TO MAINTAINING THEIR LONG-TERM ROLE IN ADDRESSING NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPACITY. UNDERLYING ALL OF THESE STRATEGIES WILL BE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF A GLOBAL GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WHICH WILL FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION AMONGST GLOBAL, REGIONAL AND COUNTRY LEVEL ENTITIES THAT SHARE THE COMMON GOAL OF ACCELERATING GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY THROUGH INCREASED WORLDWIDE FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CAPACITY. THE TEPHINET PROGRAM, A PROGRAM OF THE TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH, WILL IMPLEMENT THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROPOSAL. FIRST INCORPORATED IN 1997, TRAINING PROGRAMS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS NETWORK (TEPHINET) IS A GLOBAL NETWORK OF FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS (FETPS), TRAINEES, AND GRADUATES.

CDC-RFA-IP21-2103 - THE PARTNERSHIP FOR INFLUENZA VACCINE INTRODUCTION. SEE ATTACHED.

CDC-RFA-IP21-2103 - THE COMPONENT FUNDING PROVIDED UNDER THIS NOTICE IS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING CAPACITY OF VACCINE DELIVERY IN PRIORITY COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE EQUITABLE UPTAKE OF COVID-19 VACCINES, PARTICULARLY IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO SUPPORT ACCELERATION OF COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAMS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EVALUATE THE EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL-OUT TO IMPROVE FUTURE RESPONSES, AND SUPPORT MASS VACCINATION IN UP TO 7 COUNTRIES.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY - THIS CONTINUING APPLICATION FOR COAG NU2HGH000044 IS TO REQUEST NEW COMPONENTS 1 TO 3 FUNDING AND INTERIM CARRYOVER TO IMPLEMENT NEW AND CONTINUING CORE ACTIVITIES UNDER THESE FOUR PRIORITY AREAS QUALITY ASSURANCE NETWORK STRENGTHENING FETP STRENGTHENING INSTITUIONALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY MONITORING EVALUATION LEARNING AND ADAPTATION.

USAID FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FOR PROGRAMS OVERSEAS

STATE AND REGIONAL PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATIONS

STATE AND REGIONAL PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATIONS

HEALTH CENTER CONTROLLED NETWORK - PROJECT TITLE: HEALTH CENTER CONTROLLED NETWORK APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: GEORGIA ASSOCIATION FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, INC. HCCN GRANT NUMBER: H2QCS30241 TOTAL PARTICIPATING HEALTH CENTERS: 35 ADDRESS: 315 WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, SUITE 1000, DECATUR, GA 30030-2433 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: DUANE A. KAVKA, CEO PHONE NUMBERS (VOICE): (404) 659-2898 (FAX): (404) 659-2801 E-MAIL ADDRESS: DKAVKA@GAPHC.ORG WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.GAPHC.ORG/ GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING REQUESTED: $1,205,000 NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED: THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, INC. (GAPHC) IS THE PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ALSO SERVES AS THE GEORGIA FQHC HEALTH CENTER CONTROLLED NETWORK (GA HCCN). GEORGIA HEALTH CENTERS HAVE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HIT) PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF SOPHISTICATION, WITH A NEED FOR SUPPORT AND COORDINATION IN THE AREAS OF DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS, INTEROPERABILITY AND DATA SHARING, UDS+ IMPLEMENTATION (ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF DE-IDENTIFIED PATIENT-LEVEL DATA FROM HEALTH CENTERS TO THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HSRA) THROUGH AUTOMATED REPORTING PLATFORMS), ADDITIONAL VALUE-BASED CARE (VBC), AND STRENGTHENING CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT. THE GA HCCN’S NETWORK OF 33 FQHCS AND 2 LOOK-ALIKE HEALTH CENTERS LEVERAGES HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE, ENHANCE QUALITY OF CARE, IMPROVE OPERATIONAL AND CLINICAL PRACTICES, AND ACHIEVE COST EFFICIENCIES. PROPOSED SERVICES: GA HCCN WILL SUPPORT HEALTH CENTERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS – TO ASSIST PHCS IN ADVANCING AND OPTIMIZING CLINICAL, FINANCIAL, AND OPERATIONS DATA TO IMPROVE CLINICAL QUALITY, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND OPERATIONS; INTEROPERABILITY AND DATA SHARING – TO ASSIST PHCS IN IMPROVING BIDIRECTIONAL INTEROPERABILITY WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH BY STRENGTHENING CARE COORDINATION, REDUCING UNNECESSARY MEDICAL TESTING AND DATA DUPLICATION, AND IMPLEMENTING MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE REFERRAL AND INFORMATION SHARING PROCESSES TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE PROVIDER BURDEN; UDS+ IMPLEMENTATION – TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PHCS THAT SUBMIT SOME OR ALL DISAGGREGATED PATIENT LEVEL DATA IN THEIR UDS+ REPORTS IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR AS REQUIRED BY HRSA; ADDITIONAL VALUE-BASED CARE (VBC) – TO AID PHCS IN USING DATA TO UPDATE OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND CLINICAL PROCESSES IN HEALTH IT SYSTEMS TO PREPARE FOR, DELIVER, PARTICIPATE IN, OR UPDATE VALUE-BASED CARE THAT ENHANCES THE PATIENT AND PROVIDER EXPERIENCE, IMPROVES HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND REDUCES HEALTH DISPARITIES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED; AND STRENGTHENING CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT – TO ASSIST PHCS DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING ASSESSMENTS AND ADVANCED TECHNIQUES TO PROTECT AGAINST THREATS TO HEALTH CENTER DATA. POPULATION GROUP(S) TO BE SERVED: IN 2023, GEORGIA HCCN PHCS PROVIDED CARE TO 688,962 PATIENTS. NINE IN TEN FQHC PATIENTS WITH KNOWN INCOMES (90.1%) ARE INDIVIDUALS LIVING ON INCOMES AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES (FPG). THE VAST MAJORITY (69.3%) ARE LIVING ON INCOMES BELOW 100% FPG. MORE THAN A QUARTER (26.3%) ARE UNINSURED, WHILE 27.5% ARE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID OR CHIP, AND 12.8% ARE ENROLLED IN MEDICARE (UDS DATA: GEORGIA, HRSA, 2023). NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING HEALTH CENTERS AND SERVICE DELIVERY SITES: 35 PARTICIPATING HEALTH CENTERS (33 HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM AWARD RECIPIENTS PLUS 2 LOOK-ALIKE HEALTH CENTERS) WITH 387 SERVICE DELIVERY SITES. POTENTIAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS IMPACTED: 688,962.

HEALTH CENTER CONTROLLED NETWORK

TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO CAPACITY BUILDING FOR GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS - THE SUBMISSION ADDRESSES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COVERING FIVE DISTINCT STREAMS OF WORK FOCUSED ON EXPANDING IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM CAPACITY IN LOW-AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WORK PLANS ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUBMISSION.

CDC-RFA-PW24-0080 STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE NATION'S HEALTH

TASK FORCE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO CAPACITY BUILDING FOR GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS - THE SUBMISSION ADDRESSES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING COVERING FIVE DISTINCT STREAMS OF WORK FOCUSED ON EXPANDING IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM CAPACITY IN LOW-AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WORK PLANS ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUBMISSION.

BUILDING CAPACITY IN IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS HOUSED IN STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES - IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS (IIS) ARE A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE U.S., ENABLING NATIONAL PROGRESS ON CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION RATES. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF IIS BECAME EVEN MORE EVIDENT, AS THESE SYSTEMS SERVED AS A CORE COMPONENT OF THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE. CDC HAS LONG PRIORITIZED ADVANCING THE CAPABILITIES OF IIS AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE DATA THEY CONTAIN. CDC’S LONG-TERM VISION INCLUDES STANDARDIZED, INTEROPERABLE SYSTEMS THAT CAPTURE, USE AND EXCHANGE IMMUNIZATION DATA ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS INSTITUTE (PHII) PROPOSES TO DRAW UPON ITS 32 YEARS OF IIS AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO JOIN CDC IN THIS GOAL OF ADVANCING IIS. SINCE PHII FIRST LAUNCHED IN 1992 AS THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION-FUNDED PROGRAM ALL KIDS COUNT, IT HAS BEEN PHII’S PRIMARY MISSION TO PROVIDE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR PRACTITIONERS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING IIS. THREE DECADES AGO, PHII PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN FOSTERING THE FIRST IIS PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE VITAL ROLE OF IIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH LANDSCAPE THROUGH GUIDANCE, TOOLKITS, DIRECT SUPPORT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IN 20 YEARS OF PARTNERING WITH CDC ON THIS WORK–INCLUDING 16 YEARS UNDER A CDC COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT–WE HAVE SEEN IMMENSE SUCCESS ON THIS FRONT, AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES AS A TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE IIS COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DESCRIBE A STRATEGIC AND COORDINATED SET OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER BUILD CAPACITY IN IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS HOUSED IN STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, AND TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE THE DATA QUALITY AND INTEROPERABILITY OF IIS, BY ADDRESSING THREE COMPONENTS OF CDC’S VISION FOR IIS: 1) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT; 2) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; AND 3) EDUCATION. THE PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES RESPOND TO THE PRIORITY NEEDS OF IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTIONS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH PHII’S PRIOR WORK WITH THESE POPULATIONS. CONSISTENT WITH THE CDC’S PUBLIC HEALTH 3.0: A CALL TO ACTION TO CREATE A 21ST CENTURY PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, PHII PROPOSES TO: A) IMPROVE IIS WORKFORCE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS EXPECTED AND EMERGING STANDARDS OF IIS PROGRAMS; B) INCREASE USE OF IIS STANDARDS, RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AVAILABLE TO JURISDICTIONS; C) ENHANCE WORKFORCE RESOURCES TO MEET RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION NEEDS; D) DEVELOP WORKFORCE STAFFING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ALL IIS FUNCTIONAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; E) INCREASE USE OF TOOLKITS BY IMMUNIZATION JURISDICTIONS TO SUPPORT BEST PRACTICES IN IIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; F) INCREASE JURISDICTIONS’ IIS STAFF USE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING OFFERINGS; AND G) INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AT CDC MEETINGS WITH JURISDICTIONS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON NATIONAL STANDARDS AND THE FEDERAL SECTION 317 IMMUNIZATION GRANT. LONG TERM OUTCOMES ARE TO INCREASE IIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUILD WORKFORCE CAPACITY, INCREASE IIS STAFF KNOWLEDGE, AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTE A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE IIS NETWORK ACROSS THE NATION.

BUILDING CAPACITY IN IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS HOUSED IN STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES - IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS (IIS) ARE A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE U.S., ENABLING NATIONAL PROGRESS ON CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION RATES. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF IIS BECAME EVEN MORE EVIDENT, AS THESE SYSTEMS SERVED AS A CORE COMPONENT OF THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE. CDC HAS LONG PRIORITIZED ADVANCING THE CAPABILITIES OF IIS AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE DATA THEY CONTAIN. CDC’S LONG-TERM VISION INCLUDES STANDARDIZED, INTEROPERABLE SYSTEMS THAT CAPTURE, USE AND EXCHANGE IMMUNIZATION DATA ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS INSTITUTE (PHII) PROPOSES TO DRAW UPON ITS 32 YEARS OF IIS AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO JOIN CDC IN THIS GOAL OF ADVANCING IIS. SINCE PHII FIRST LAUNCHED IN 1992 AS THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION-FUNDED PROGRAM ALL KIDS COUNT, IT HAS BEEN PHII’S PRIMARY MISSION TO PROVIDE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR PRACTITIONERS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING IIS. THREE DECADES AGO, PHII PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN FOSTERING THE FIRST IIS PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE VITAL ROLE OF IIS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH LANDSCAPE THROUGH GUIDANCE, TOOLKITS, DIRECT SUPPORT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IN 20 YEARS OF PARTNERING WITH CDC ON THIS WORK–INCLUDING 16 YEARS UNDER A CDC COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT–WE HAVE SEEN IMMENSE SUCCESS ON THIS FRONT, AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES AS A TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE IIS COMMUNITY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DESCRIBE A STRATEGIC AND COORDINATED SET OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER BUILD CAPACITY IN IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS HOUSED IN STATE, TRIBAL, LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL (STLT) PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, AND TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE THE DATA QUALITY AND INTEROPERABILITY OF IIS, BY ADDRESSING THREE COMPONENTS OF CDC’S VISION FOR IIS: 1) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT; 2) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; AND 3) EDUCATION. THE PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES RESPOND TO THE PRIORITY NEEDS OF IMMUNIZATION AND IIS PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTIONS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH PHII’S PRIOR WORK WITH THESE POPULATIONS. CONSISTENT WITH THE CDC’S PUBLIC HEALTH 3.0: A CALL TO ACTION TO CREATE A 21ST CENTURY PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, PHII PROPOSES TO: A) IMPROVE IIS WORKFORCE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS EXPECTED AND EMERGING STANDARDS OF IIS PROGRAMS; B) INCREASE USE OF IIS STANDARDS, RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) AVAILABLE TO JURISDICTIONS; C) ENHANCE WORKFORCE RESOURCES TO MEET RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION NEEDS; D) DEVELOP WORKFORCE STAFFING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ALL IIS FUNCTIONAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; E) INCREASE USE OF TOOLKITS BY IMMUNIZATION JURISDICTIONS TO SUPPORT BEST PRACTICES IN IIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; F) INCREASE JURISDICTIONS’ IIS STAFF USE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TRAINING OFFERINGS; AND G) INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AT CDC MEETINGS WITH JURISDICTIONS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON NATIONAL STANDARDS AND THE FEDERAL SECTION 317 IMMUNIZATION GRANT. LONG TERM OUTCOMES ARE TO INCREASE IIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUILD WORKFORCE CAPACITY, INCREASE IIS STAFF KNOWLEDGE, AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTE A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE IIS NETWORK ACROSS THE NATION.

CDC-RFA-PW24-0080 STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE NATION'S HEALTH - THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC DREW ATTENTION TO LONGSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING WORKFORCE DECLINES, FRAGMENTED PROGRAMS, SILOED HEALTH SYSTEMS AND LAGGING TECHNOLOGY IN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE US. THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM STRAIN AND RESOURCE GAPS. THE PANDEMIC UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH DATA, INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE TO SUPPORT A MORE TIMELY, EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND EQUITABLE RESPONSE TO THE NEXT NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR GLOBAL PANDEMIC. THE PANDEMIC ALSO REVEALED THE CRITICAL NEED TO UPSKILL THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE IN INFORMATICS. TO ADDRESS ONGOING HEALTH DISPARITIES, PROMOTE EQUITY IN HEALTHCARE AND ADDRESS EMERGING HEALTH THREATS, TODAY’S PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE MUST BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY USE INFORMATION TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE, INFLUENCE POLICY AND COMMUNICATE WITHIN MULTIPLE INFORMATION CHANNELS TO PROMOTE HEALTH, REDUCE HEALTH INEQUITIES AND RESPOND QUICKLY TO HEALTH THREATS. THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS INSTITUTE (PHII) PROPOSES TO DRAW UPON ITS 32 YEARS OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN DEPLOYING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT ONGOING CDC PRIORITIES TO BUILD CAPACITY IN STLT AGENCIES AND REINFORCE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS PROPOSAL IS A CATEGORY B: WORKFORCE SEGMENTS IN GOVERNMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS APPLICATION. THE WORKFORCE SEGMENT IS PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICIANS, THOSE WITH FORMAL TITLES AND ROLES AS PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICIANS OR THOSE WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGED ROLE IN GUIDING OR IMPLEMENTING INFORMATICS ACTIVITIES WITHIN STLT AGENCIES. PHII PROPOSES TO: A) ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, SKILLS AND TOOLS REQUIRED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS WORKFORCE TO MEET THE EVOLVING CHALLENGES TO POPULATION HEALTH; B) ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICIANS AND OTHER LEADERS TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN STRATEGIC, STRUCTURED AND CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING ABOUT COLLECTIVE IMPACT; AND C) ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICIANS, PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO HARNESS THE POWER OF EXISTING AND NEW TYPES OF INFORMATION AND IT TO IMPROVE POPULATION HEALTH AND ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES. THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH STLT PRACTITIONERS NATIONWIDE IN ALL 10 HHS REGIONS. THE ACTIVITIES WILL, IN THE LONG TERM, IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL AND SYSTEMS CAPACITY TO ADDRESS EQUITY-FOCUSED PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES, IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND REDUCE HEALTH INEQUITIES. THESE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ALIGN WELL WITH PHII’S VISION FOR EVERY PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCESS, USE AND SHARE TIMELY INFORMATION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY - THIS CONTINUING APPLICATION FOR COAG NU2HGH000044 IS TO REQUEST NEW COMPONENTS 1 TO 3 FUNDING AND INTERIM CARRYOVER TO IMPLEMENT NEW AND CONTINUING CORE ACTIVITIES UNDER THESE FOUR PRIORITY AREAS QUALITY ASSURANCE NETWORK STRENGTHENING FETP STRENGTHENING INSTITUIONALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY MONITORING EVALUATION LEARNING AND ADAPTATION.