State health departments serve populations statewide. Positions with state agencies may not always be described as “frontline” work, but they are diverse, and responsibilities vary from job to job. Some roles may be more frontline than you think!
All 50 states and Washington D.C. have public health departments, but governance varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. If you have a specific geography in mind where you would like to serve, you can learn about the governance structure here.
Working at the state level, you will learn from the diverse communities that make up the great state you serve. This offers distinct opportunities to elevate the voices of underrepresented communities within priorities, policies, and programs.
State public health positions require large-scale collaboration with local communities, tribes, and/or partners in the private and non-profit sectors. Building a strong network of peers in the field may come more easily when working at the state level. Therefore, you may identify a fast-track path to growth in your career!
Here, your impact will be statewide. The programs, initiatives, data, campaigns, or processes you oversee go beyond the geographical location you reside in.
State Public Health departments are leaders and primary points of contact for decision making and recommendations to ensure all people have equitable access and opportunities to live safe and healthy lives.
Consider the following when exploring and applying for roles in state public health!
…what I look for in a new employee is someone who comes in with an equity focus.
Attitude is first for me. Training can always come after.
Don’t limit yourself. Public Health is a broad field, so explore the opportunities. Don’t be afraid to see what other areas of public health you might be interested in, you might be surprised at what your favorite part of the field is.
If somebody is applying to a position in governmental public health, they should be persistent. We have a pretty thorough application system. We get a lot of applications. Reach out to the hiring authority who is responsible for that particular job, if you’re able… make sure that they understand your interest.
Looking for a specific state health department website?
Use the CDC Public Health Professional Gateway State & Territorial Health Department Directory.
To find local governmental public health jurisdictions, see - www.naccho.org
