Strengthening the Public Health System in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands

Description

CDC announces supplemental funding for the recipient initially funded under the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) CDC-RFA-OT16-1601: Strengthening the Public Health System in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) on July 1, 2016. This supplemental FOA permits the eligible recipient to apply for four new projects that provide capacity building assistance (CBA) through the following activities: 1) incorporate tuberculosis into the existing framework related to the development of a comprehensive STD/HIV prevention plan for the Pacific Islands jurisdictions; 2) improve the knowledge, competence, and performance of the public health workforce, particularly nurses and outreach workers, on TB control and prevention that will lead to the tuberculosis burden in the USAPI; 3) increase access to the Immunization Information System (IIS) at vaccine provider sites and improve the breadth of knowledge and capacity to utilize the IIS among a variety of public health staff; and 4) build laboratory coordination capacity across the USAPI. The supplemental funding provides additional opportunities to strengthen the USAPI public health system related to workforce development, laboratory quality management implementation, and access to critical information systems. CBA is defined as activities that strengthen and maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to sustain or improve systems, and organizational, community, or individual processes and competencies. It is delivered through technical assistance, training, information sharing, technology transfer, materials development, or funding that enables organizations to operate in a comprehensive, responsive, and effective manner. The eligible recipient has the capability, expertise, reach, and history of providing capacity-building assistance relevant to implementing this program’s key strategies and activities to achieve expected outcomes. The program strategies include workforce development to enhance knowledge, skills, and competencies; organizational development to improve management structures, processes and procedures within and between organizations and public and private sectors; and partnership development to build relationships to address community needs, manage resources, and communicate with the public. The recipient is expected to select three of the six program outcomes and demonstrate measurable progress during the budget year. Program outcomes include: 1) public health leadership, 2) public health systems and infrastructure, 3) public health workforce, 4) public health laws and policies, 5) public health practices and services, and 6) public health monitoring and surveillance systems. Strategic investments in capacity building for the USAPI are expected to generate improvements in the quality, efficiency, effectiveness and prevention of public health services and related outcomes, thus ultimately improving population health.

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