Building Capacity of the Public Health System to Improve Population Health through National, Nonprofit Organizations

and nongovernmental components of the public health system such as: a) improve systems for response to public health emergencies related to the Zika virus; b) improve decision-making on evidenced-based health promotion and disease prevention; c) improve risk communication and evaluation; d) enhance epidemiology surge capacity for case identification and vector surveillance; e) build capacity of leaders' strategic responses to public health emergencies; and f) increase quality improvement in laboratory and information systems.For the purpose of this supplemental Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the public health system refers to activities undertaken within the formal structure of government and the associated efforts of private and voluntary organizations and individuals (IOM, 1988). The overall purpose of this program is to ensure the provision of CBA to optimize the quality and performance of public health systems, the public health workforce, public health data and information systems, public health practice and services, public health partnerships, and public health resources. Capacity building is defined as the development and strengthening of human and organizational resources and systems to enhance performance of functions, problem-solving, and achievement of objectives at individual, institutional and societal levels. It encompasses activities such as technical assistance, training, information sharing, technology transfer, materials development, or funding that enables an organization to better serve its population or to operate in a more comprehensive, responsive, and effective manner. Capacity building is expected to assist governmental and nongovernmental public health in fulfilling the mission of protecting and promoting health in their communities and effectively performing essential public health services. This FOA provides funding for CBA activities with target populations under three headings: Category A: Governmental Public Health Departments; Category B: Workforce Segments across Governmental Public Health Departments; and Category C: Other Governmental and Nongovernmental Public Health Components.The applicant’s CBA program is expected to demonstrate measurable progress among governmental and nongovernmental components of the public health system towards two or more of the following outcomes: 1) increased adoption of new or proven business improvements leading to management and administrative efficiencies or cost savings; 2) increased availability and accessibility of continuing education and training focused on public health competencies and new skills, including the use of experience-based internships and fellowships; 3) increased incorporation of core public health competencies into employee position descriptions and performance evaluations; 4) increased integration of state-of-the-art technology into data collection and information systems; 5) increased implementation of evidence-based public health programs, policies, and services; 6) improved capacity to meet nationally established standards, such as those for health department accreditation; 7) establishment and maintenance of diverse public health partnerships for meaningful cooperation and achievement of evidence-based public health strategies and interventions, such as the CDC Winnable Battles; and 8) improved quality, availability, and accessibility of public health education materials, training, and evaluation tools and resources. The FOA program strategies represent national recommendations and are based on the CDC Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support's priorities, program experiences, and evidence-based recommendations from national reports published by federal councils and national public health organizations: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020, IOM, and the National Prevention Strategy. These capacity-building program strategies and related activities are designed to position components of the public health system to fulfill their mission in protecting and promoting population health in the United States, United States territories, and Tribal nations. Applicants may propose to address one or more of the six program strategies and identifying corresponding activities. The activities should be proposed on the basis of the priority needs of the target population: 1) Public Health Systems and Organizational Improvement; 2) Public Health Workforce; 3) Public Health Data and Information Systems; 4) Public Health Practice and Services; 5) Public Health Partnerships; and 6) Public Health Resources, Communication and Evaluation.