Jennifer kertanis headshot 24152456360

NACCHO President Jennifer Kertanis Testified Before Congress on Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce Issues

Feb 24, 2021 | Theresa Spinner

“We are planning and ramping up as a key player in the largest mass vaccination campaign our nation has ever embarked on and working with community partners to disseminate credible information, calm fears, dispel myths, and develop and implement plans to protect the highest at-risk groups including Black Americans, Latinx people and the elderly of all races.”

Washington, DC, February 24, 2021 — Today Jennifer Kertanis, MPH, Director of Health at the Farmington Valley Health District, and President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee in a hearing titled “Ready or Not: U.S. Public Health Infrastructure.” Ms. Kertanis leads a health department serving a population of approximately 110,000 in ten towns west of Hartford, CT.

In her prepared remarks Ms. Kertanis discussed the role of local health departments in responding to the pandemic. “Local health departments provide testing and contact tracing services, monitor the health of those who may have been exposed to COVID-19, and support them to self-isolate. We are planning and ramping up as a key player in the largest mass vaccination campaign our nation has ever embarked on and working with community partners to disseminate credible information, calm fears, dispel myths, and develop and implement plans to protect the highest at-risk groups including Black Americans, Latinx people and the elderly of all races.”

Regarding workforce deficits Ms. Kertanis noted local public health has long been under resourced. “The Great Recession of 2008 hit all sectors of local government hard, but whereas other sectors were able to bounce back, funding for public health did not recover. NACCHO’s research shows that over time, average local health department expenditures per capita decreased 30%, from $80 in 2008, to $56 in 2019.”

“Local public health budget cuts show themselves most clearly in workforce reductions that have made the current pandemic response even more challenging…local health departments have actually lost 21% of their workforce capacity since 2008, with the number of full-time equivalent employees dropping from 5.2 per 10,000 people in 2008 to 4.1 per 10,000 people in 2019.”

“That is why over the past year, NACCHO has organized and led over 100 stakeholder organizations in a call to create a federal loan repayment program for public health professionals who complete a term of service in a local, state, or tribal health department that would help to fill these workforce gaps. “

“A baseline of public health investment and services is essential so that all Americans can be confident that the public health system is strong no matter where they live. Investing in our governmental public health infrastructure now is also important to our overall future preparedness to effectively and efficiently address pandemic response and other threats to our nation’s health,” Ms. Kertanis concluded.

You can watch the full video of the hearing here.

###

About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s nearly 3,000 local health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.


National association of county and city health officials naccho squarelogo

About Theresa Spinner

Theresa Spinner is the Director, Media and Public Relations at NACCHO.

More posts by Theresa Spinner

Related Posts

I Stock 1405816313 1

Public Health is Local: NACCHO’s Recommendations for the...

The incoming Presidential Administration and 119th Congress have a unique...

Oct 22, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate

Public Health is Local: NACCHO’s Recommendations for the...

Doctor Prescription Medication Health

House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Hearing on...

The House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing to examine chronic...

Sep 27, 2024 | Lauren Soule, Anastaseya Kulikova

House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Hearing on...

United States Supreme Court

Chevron Overturned: What the Supreme Court Action Means...

The most recent U.S. Supreme Court term was filled with notable decisions on...

Aug 23, 2024 | Molly Curington

Chevron Overturned: What the Supreme Court Action Means...

Capitol Close Up Dome

Senate Appropriations Committee Passes FY25 Labor-HHS...

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY25 Labor-HHS Appropriations...

Aug 09, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate, Lauren Soule

Senate Appropriations Committee Passes FY25 Labor-HHS...

US Washington Capitol

Energy & Commerce Hearing with CDC Officials

This week the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing...

Jul 26, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate

Energy & Commerce Hearing with CDC Officials

Capitol Bulding

House Appropriations Committee Passes FY25 Labor-HHS Bill

Coverage of the FY25 House Appropriations Committee Labor-HHS funding bill

Jul 12, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate, Lauren Soule, Molly Curington

House Appropriations Committee Passes FY25 Labor-HHS Bill

US Washington Capitol At Night

House Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2025...

House L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Majority released bill text for the...

Jun 27, 2024 | Victoria Van de Vate, Lauren Soule

House Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2025...

Website New Episode w Special Guests
  • Press Release Podcast

NACCHO’s Podcast From Washington: New Changes to the WIC...

On this week’s episode: New Changes to WIC Program and Local Health Officer...

Apr 19, 2024

NACCHO’s Podcast From Washington: New Changes to the WIC...

  • Tools & Resources Communications & Public Relations Public Health and Homelessness

NACCHO Social Media Strategy - National Public Health...

National Public Health Week (NPHW) was from April 1 to April 7, 2024.

Apr 11, 2024 | Emma James

NACCHO Social Media Strategy - National Public Health...

Back to Top