title: Full-time employees of U.S. local health departments, 1992-1993.
abstract: This article describes a study to assess the most recent data on full-time U.S. local health department (LHD) staff positions. The authors used data from the National Association of County and City Health Officials' 1992-1993 national survey of LHDs. The study concludes that nurses, environmental specialists, sanitarians, and administrators constitute the core of the public health workforce in smaller and mid-sized LHDs. Numerous vacancies in these core occupations signal a weakness in the front lines of public health and vulnerability in its ability to respond to urgent health threats. To address these problems, a renewed commitment to recruiting, retraining, and retaining the local public health worker is urgently needed.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gerzoff
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce