The CDC Foundation Announces Third Cohort of Public Health Agencies Joining the Workforce Acceleration Initiative
New cohort expands emphasis on Tribal and Tribal-serving organizations and introduces new model to accelerate reach into rural communities,
As public health agencies (PHAs) across the country continue to modernize outdated technologies and strengthen the systems that protect communities, the CDC Foundation announced the selection of 24 additional state, tribal and local PHAs for the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). These new agencies expand WAI’s reach and build on significant momentum from the initiative’s first year, in which WAI supported 128 experts undertaking critical data modernization efforts in 49 public health agencies throughout the United States.
The newly selected agencies—including state and local health departments, Tribal Nations and tribal-serving organizations—reflect WAI’s strengthened emphasis on supporting tribal public health capacity. Additionally, Cohort 3 introduces WAI’s new multi-PHA application model, enabling multiple agencies to jointly recruit and deploy technical expertise. This approach helps broaden access to specialized talent in rural regions while supporting collaborative, cross-agency data modernization projects.
“With this announcement, we are deepening our commitment to helping public health overcome long-standing technology and workforce barriers,” said Rachna Chandora, chief program officer (acting), CDC Foundation. “This new cohort of agencies not only expands WAI’s reach into more communities, but also pilots new collaborative models that enable neighboring health departments and Tribal partners to share expertise, better connect their data and systems, and move faster on critical systems improvements.”
Early results from the initiative underscore how these investments are translating into real-world systems and workforce improvements.
“In its first phase, WAI has supported dozens of modernization projects— from helping systems connect and share information automatically to improving how data is managed and how technology investments are planned,” said Michelle Panneton, director for programs, Workforce Acceleration Initiative. “These new data and tech hires will help further advance CDC’s Public Health Data Strategy by expanding modern, interconnected systems that enable faster and more accurate public health decision-making.”
Cohort 3: Newly Selected Public Health Agencies
The following PHAs have been selected to participate in WAI Cohort 3:
- Alabama Department of Public Health
- Anchorage Health Department (Alaska)
- Bear River Health Department (Northern Utah)
- Chickasaw Nation Department of Health
- City of Worcester Division of Public Health (Massachusetts)
- County of Butte Public Health Department (California)
- Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department (Kansas)
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Administration
- Minnesota Department of Health
- Mississippi State Department of Health
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Public Health and Safety Division
- Multnomah County Health Department, Public Health Division (Oregon)
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
- Prince George’s County Health Department (Maryland)
- Public Health Madison & Dane County (Wisconsin)
- Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council
- Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services
- Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Foundation
- St. Mary’s County Health Department (Maryland)
- Tennessee Department of Health
- Utah Department of Health & Human Services
- Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness
These agencies will receive new technology and data experts with skills including engineering, software development, IT infrastructure, informatics and IT project management to accelerate modernization efforts and fill critical workforce gaps.
Building on WAI’s Early Impact
Since its inaugural year in 2024, WAI placements have contributed to:
- 23 Systems Improvement Plans
- 27 Data Governance Projects
- 31 Automation and Software Improvement Projects
- 25 Data Warehouse Projects
- 14 Data Linking Initiatives
- 24 Data Organization Projects
- 37 Interoperability Projects
- 35 Data Access, Analysis & Use Projects
From state health departments and city agencies to Tribal Nations and rural communities, WAI is helping jurisdictions accelerate progress on projects that would typically take multiple years—advancing many in 12–24 months.
WAI is also building long-term impact by strengthening the public health workforce of tomorrow, providing training and mentorship to new technical hires, skill-building opportunities for existing staff and tools and guidance for PHAs nationwide.
About the Workforce Acceleration Initiative
The Workforce Acceleration Initiative, WAI, is a national effort to strengthen public health’s technical workforce and accelerate information system improvements. The initiative is supported by a nearly $66 million award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through a partnership with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and supports CDC’s Public Health Data Strategy.
To learn more about WAI, visit cdcfoundation.org/workforceacceleration.