Strengthening Georgia’s public health infrastructure and workforce: a qualitative analysis of focus group data
Abstract
Background: Georgia’s public health agencies have been thinly resourced even as demand grows for services and programs. COVID-19 stretched resources even further, as public health workers (PHWs) took on new responsibilities and saw public confidence in their authority wane. To effectively restore Georgia’s public health (PH) system, community members, policymakers, and other audiences must understand the roles and value of PH, and its challenges, opportunities, and needs.
Methods: To better understand the strengths, challenges, opportunities, and needs of Georgia’s PH system, Georgians for a Healthy Future conducted three focus groups with rural and non-rural PHWs working in local and district agencies. Thirteen PHWs participated representing nine agencies. The conversations were transcribed and analyzed for major themes and trends.
Results: Participants described the services and programs that PH agencies provide and their impacts on community members. Participants shared that they observed differences between the value that policymakers express about PH and the resources that policymakers allocate to sustain PH services. They also described the challenges that inconsistent funding and workforce poses to their programs and services. Participants identified under-resourced services that would help to protect and promote health in Georgia if properly resourced (ex: continued or expanded funding for effective pilot programs), as well as policy solutions they would like state leaders to consider.
Conclusion: Georgia PHWs are highly knowledgeable about the needs and characteristics of their communities, agencies, and systems, as well as the resources needed to effectively carry out their work. Regularly and systematically soliciting the input of PHWs in Georgia would help identify how state policymakers can more effectively support and invest in Georgia’s public health system and workforce.
These findings are being used to create and implement a public engagement plan and actionable recommendations for policymakers with the aim of strengthening PH in Georgia.
Keywords
public health, health equity, focus group, workforce, public health policy
Strengthening Georgia’s public health infrastructure and workforce: a qualitative analysis of focus group data
Background: Georgia’s public health agencies have been thinly resourced even as demand grows for services and programs. COVID-19 stretched resources even further, as public health workers (PHWs) took on new responsibilities and saw public confidence in their authority wane. To effectively restore Georgia’s public health (PH) system, community members, policymakers, and other audiences must understand the roles and value of PH, and its challenges, opportunities, and needs.
Methods: To better understand the strengths, challenges, opportunities, and needs of Georgia’s PH system, Georgians for a Healthy Future conducted three focus groups with rural and non-rural PHWs working in local and district agencies. Thirteen PHWs participated representing nine agencies. The conversations were transcribed and analyzed for major themes and trends.
Results: Participants described the services and programs that PH agencies provide and their impacts on community members. Participants shared that they observed differences between the value that policymakers express about PH and the resources that policymakers allocate to sustain PH services. They also described the challenges that inconsistent funding and workforce poses to their programs and services. Participants identified under-resourced services that would help to protect and promote health in Georgia if properly resourced (ex: continued or expanded funding for effective pilot programs), as well as policy solutions they would like state leaders to consider.
Conclusion: Georgia PHWs are highly knowledgeable about the needs and characteristics of their communities, agencies, and systems, as well as the resources needed to effectively carry out their work. Regularly and systematically soliciting the input of PHWs in Georgia would help identify how state policymakers can more effectively support and invest in Georgia’s public health system and workforce.
These findings are being used to create and implement a public engagement plan and actionable recommendations for policymakers with the aim of strengthening PH in Georgia.
