Articulating a Narrative Strategy for Public Health Leaders

Overview

Leaders from the Center for Disease Control's Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce convened to discuss the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) initiative. This convening aimed to clarify the PHIG's objectives and evaluation process, foster ongoing collaboration, and ensure the grant’s alignment with CDC strategic priorities. Participants included members of the National Evaluation Team (NET) who were responsible for the grant’s ongoing assessment.

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Overview

Leaders from the Center for Disease Control's Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce convened to discuss the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) initiative. This convening aimed to clarify the PHIG's objectives and evaluation process, foster ongoing collaboration, and ensure the grant’s alignment with CDC strategic priorities. Participants included members of the National Evaluation Team (NET) who were responsible for the grant’s ongoing assessment.

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Deliverables

Discovery and Landscape Analysis

Facilitated Design Thinking Workshops

Recommendations and Integration Plan

Challenges

Public health infrastructure is an ambiguous concept, particularly in the context of PHIG. Participants emphasized the need for a narrative strategy that conveys a clear “big picture” of how public health infrastructure evolves and impacts health outcomes. The PHIG’s flexibility allows for varied implementation, but without a clear narrative, progress is difficult to measure. The narrative should include stories from multiple levels—departmental, jurisdictional, and individual perspectives. This provides tangible examples of how funds are being used and the corresponding impact on public health. The narrative should also emphasize sustainability, highlighting why investing in foundational public health capabilities is crucial for long-term success.

Approach

Public health infrastructure is an ambiguous concept, particularly in the context of PHIG. Participants emphasized the need for a narrative strategy that conveys a clear “big picture” of how public health infrastructure evolves and impacts health outcomes. The PHIG’s flexibility allows for varied implementation, but without a clear narrative, progress is difficult to measure. The narrative should include stories from multiple levels—departmental, jurisdictional, and individual perspectives. This provides tangible examples of how funds are being used and the corresponding impact on public health. The narrative should also emphasize sustainability, highlighting why investing in foundational public health capabilities is crucial for long-term success.

Results

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Key outcomes included recommendations for refining measures, fostering ongoing collaboration, and aligning PHIG investments with broader public health goals to enhance infrastructure and health outcomes.