Priority 4: Career Pathways in Public Health

Budget Request: $5 Million
House Bill: HB 3916
Chief sponsor: Representative Rob Nosse

Oregon needs more public health workers who speak the same language and come from the same background as the people they serve. But many people with diverse backgrounds and language skills can’t afford the training required to work in public health. This bill will provide $5 million per biennium to pay for training, student loan reimbursement and workforce development. The money will be split among two organizations.

The Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH) will receive $2 million to help local public health recruit, train and retain their workforce and $1.5 million to train and expand the community paramedic and mobile integrated health workforce.

The Oregon Community Health Workers Association (ORCHWA) will receive $1.5 million to train and expand the CHW workforce.

Fact Sheet: Training incentives help to grow a diverse workforce

Story: Incentives make dream job possible for Madras woman

Story: A paramedic who makes house calls

Video: Training incentives support Oregon’s public health workforce.