Nutrition services in state and local public health agencies: How do we measure up in 1987?

The Public Health Nutrition workforce and its future challenges: the US experience

“…Although very little is known about this overall public health nutrition workforce, considerably more is known about the workforce employed in or funded by governmental health agencies. This is because since 1985 the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors (ASTPHND) has conducted periodic workforce surveys (48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53) . Prior to 1994, these workforce studies were conducted by surveying state nutrition directors to describe full-time budgeted nutrition personnel employed in their respective governmental health agencies.…”

“…Prior to 1994, these workforce studies were conducted by surveying state nutrition directors to describe full-time budgeted nutrition personnel employed in their respective governmental health agencies. Personnel described in these studies provided predominantly population-based services and not one-on-one diet counselling (48)(49)(50)(51) .…”

“…In 1994 it funded 78 % FTE (52) and by 1999-2000 it funded 81?7 % FTE (53) . Although federal funding has been the primary means of funding public health nutrition personnel, ranging from approximately 76 % in 1985 to 87 % in 1999-2000, proportional funding of WIC has increased, while that of other federal funding sources, such as the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and the Preventive Services Block Grant, has remained flat or decreased (48,50,52,53) (Table 1). This significant level of WIC funding impacts not only how public health nutrition personnel function but also with whom.…”

“…This is in contrast to other block grants, such as the Maternal and Child Health and Preventive Services Block Grants, which may impact larger groups, communities, policies and systems. The 1985 workforce survey excluded personnel delivering one-on-one diet counselling ( 48 ) , while the 1987 survey excluded those who spent more than 40 % of their time in direct-care services ( 50 ) . In 1994, personnel delivering direct nutrition services were included in the workforce surveys ( 52 ) , and in 1999–2000 the workforce was described overall and as those working in WIC and in programmes other than WIC ( 53 ) .…”

“…WIC’s impact is in large part due to its significant funding of the workforce. In 1985 and 1987, WIC funded 62 % and 55 % of budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, respectively ( 48 , 50 ) . In 1994 it funded 78 % FTE ( 52 ) and by 1999–2000 it funded 81·7 % FTE ( 53 ) .…”