Office of Public Health Workforce Development.pptVIP

Labor Issues Low unemployment rate nation and statewide Average age of professional nurse is 46.5 60% of nursing work force works full time 23% works part time 17% of licensed nurses do not work in the profession Labor Issues CT. Dept. of Labor expected nursing opportunities to increase by 33% from 1996 to 2006 From 1994 to 1999, increase in CT nurses was 2.9% Student population from CT nursing schools declined from 925 in 1994 to 584 in 1999 Labor Issues CT ethnic and racial minorities increased significantly in last decade Multicultural growth creating market in health care industry Gender and racial disparities in CT nursing professions Office of Public Health Workforce Development Lies within Commissioner’s Office Study, monitor, and evaluate workforce issues, including Professional workforce shortages Public health worker competencies Work in partnership with other interested parties Partners Centers for Disease Control CT Hospital Association Local Health Directors UCONN Departments of Education Labor Professional Trade Organizations LTC Facilities CT Nurses Association CT National Guard Office Goals Enhance public health work force competencies through development of a public health work force certification program at: State Local Institutions of higher education levels Office Goals Establish marketing program to recruit and retain diversified public health workforce Office Goals Provide direct access to the Office of the Commissioner by the: Community Healthcare practitioners/providers State agencies Institutions of higher learning Others To address broad range of workforce issues Office Goals Establish “Health Tracks” for children starting in elementary school and following through primary and secondary education Collaborative effort with the Department of Education and local school systems Establish tutorial opportunities Office Goals Expand information available via Internet Web to serve as clearinghouse for health career information Resource