Overview

Public health transformation requires reimagining and developing a common vision to ensure the mindsets, capacity, resources, and workforce necessary to provide equitable Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) and 10 Essential Public Health Services in order to advance health, wellbeing, and equity. It occurs through a fundamental shift in the way public health systems are structured, function, and interact through continuous quality improvement, innovation, partnerships, community-led efforts, and systems change. Simply put, it requires sustaining what is working, building on what can be improved, and reimagining what could be so that all people and communities can thrive.

Process for Transformation

Define your state’s goal for public health transformation.

For example, California’s Future of Public Health Workgroup aspires that Californians, working together, can enable all to live happier, healthier, and longer lives by closing the gap in life expectancy by 50 percent and reducing the disease burden by 15 percent within the next decade.

Use a transformation framework to guide your work and make necessary adoptions to fit your state’s unique needs.

Transformation frameworks include the FPHS, PHAB accreditation, Public Health Forward, and Public Health. 3.0, among others.

Engage existing partners and develop partnerships with new and varied organizations; this requires investing in relationships and building trust.

This includes engaging local public health departments and ensuring community voice in the process of identifying priority areas.

Establish plans and processes and identify resources needed to conduct a statewide capacity and cost assessment.

This may consist of engaging a contractor or partner to develop and implement the assessment or deciding to do this work with in-house staff time. In addition, this could include developing planning criteria to help guide the process (e.g., designing/tailoring the assessment tool, developing and implementing assessment activities, providing training and technical assistance, reviewing and analyzing the results, and preparing reports and other materials).

Secure funding and policy support.

Initial funding may be short term, so consider needs to establish a plan for sustainability.

Continuously reevaluate your transformation efforts based on existing needs.

Public health transformation does not end; efforts must continue to evolve. Innovation is one mechanism to support this continuous process.

Factors to Keep in Mind

  • Timing. Timing is important when it comes to transformation. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges and opportunities for all 21C states.
  • Communications and messaging. Develop consistent messaging about the need for transformation, your efforts, and your successes.
  • Shared services. Consider the role shared services may play in your transformation work.
  • Strategizing. Take the time to engage stakeholders in envisioning what a transformed public health system would look like for your state and outlining the steps to achieve it.
  • Learn from others. States are at various stages in their transformation journey; take the time to explore what has been tested and what has been successful, rather than reinventing the wheel.
  • Data. Modern data systems are essential in transformation.