CDC’s Collaboration with Academia to Strengthen Public Health Workforce Capacity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is offering a discretionary funding opportunity titled “CDC’s Collaboration with Academia to Strengthen Public Health Workforce Capacity.” Administered through the CDC's Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS), this cooperative agreement aims to enhance public health workforce capabilities by leveraging academic partnerships to develop and disseminate educational and training programs. This initiative continues the efforts established under NOFO CDC-RFA-OE17-1701 and is targeted exclusively at its existing recipients. The program funds national organizations that represent accredited academic institutions in public health, medicine, and nursing, with a proven track record of collaboration and workforce development. This funding opportunity supports four distinct Workforce Improvement Projects (WIPs), each focused on a different strategic area. Project 1 focuses on developing a multi-certificate training program in Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR), with courses built on existing public resources and new content developed in partnership with subject matter experts. These certifications are designed for a broad audience including the general public and health professionals. Project 2 is geared toward increasing COVID-19 vaccine confidence among nurses and nursing institutions through webinars, motivational interviewing techniques, and dissemination of success stories via social media and traditional media channels. Project 3 will convene a national Public Health Data Modernization Workshop for recipients of a related cooperative agreement, supporting their development of leadership and technical skills in data infrastructure modernization. Eligibility is highly restricted and only open to four previously funded entities under the initial NOFO: Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applicants must be national organizations representing accredited institutions, capable of demonstrating broad academic engagement, collaboration with accreditation bodies, and the organizational capacity to manage complex, multi-faceted training programs. Each project within the NOFO has its own scope, but all center around improving the knowledge, preparedness, and capacity of the public health workforce. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 9, 2021, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers. Each applicant must demonstrate its technical approach, provide a comprehensive management and staffing plan including résumés and letters of commitment, and outline past performance on similar initiatives. Key evaluation criteria include the soundness of the technical approach, organizational experience, staff qualifications, and alignment with public health workforce goals. The total estimated funding for this opportunity was $300,000 with individual project funding ceilings ranging from $300,000 to $2,000,000, however these figures are subject to change in subsequent fiscal year periods. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The CDC will collaborate closely with selected recipients through the cooperative agreement model, providing technical assistance and ensuring alignment with federal public health priorities. All training materials and deliverables are expected to be made publicly accessible, including promotion through CDC platforms and partner networks. For more information, the contact for this opportunity is Anamika Rajguru, reachable via email at [email protected]. No direct link to a full PDF version of the NOFO was included in the available source. While the original deadline has passed, this funding opportunity appears to recur, and applicants should consult the CDC for future cycles or related initiatives.

Emphasize clarity in technical approach, demonstrate experience with national academic engagement and prior public health training efforts.