As a service fellowship, the Public Health Prevention Service (PHPS) assigns prevention specialists (PS) to work in public health agencies.

We encourage health agencies to take advantage of this opportunity to provide a practical learning experience for the prevention specialist and address the public health priorities of your agencies while receiving a PS to help you meet your public health needs.

About the Public Health Prevention Service

The PHPS is a 3-year training and service program for public health managers.

We prepare prevention specialists for leadership positions in public health programs. As part of this commitment, we place prevention specialists in 2-year assignments in public health agencies throughout the U.S. and its territories.

Prevention specialists are prepared to work in public health agencies to help solve real public health problems. Their qualifications include the following:

• Master's degree in public health or a management-related field.
• Strong interest in a leadership and management career in public health.
• One year of public health work experience.
• One year of on-the-job training at CDC.

Assignments

The 2-year field assignments are designed to meet the needs of the health agency, and the overall training objectives of the PHPS.

Assignments must

• Provide challenging and meaningful work.
• Allow the PS to develop and apply their skills.
• Provide opportunities for the prevention specialist to meet performance requirements.

PHPS Program Responsibilities

If your application is accepted, the PHPS program provides public health agencies with

• A qualified PS for a 2-year assignment.
• Salary and employment benefits for the prevention specialist.
• PHPS related training expenses.
• Ongoing support for the agency and prevention specialist, with periodic site visits.

Health Agency Responsibilities

The health agency must provide the prevention specialist with

• Training and learning opportunities.
• Office space and equipment required for completing the assignment.
• Periodic assessments of performance, portfolios, and professional development.
• Travel expenses for assignment-related activities and professional development opportunities.
• Appropriate mentoring and supervision.
• Meaningful assignments in program management.

Mentoring

Mentoring is very important to us. We expect health agencies to devote time and resources to the mentoring of our prevention specialists.

How to Request a Prevention Specialist

The steps of the process are outlined below. Refer to the Health Agency Request Guide  (9 pages; 92KB) for details.

Step 1: Letter of Intent

Submit a 2-page letter of intent (LOI) describing the assignment. See a Sample LOI  (2 pages; 23KB).

Step 2: Full Application

If your LOI is accepted, you will be invited to submit a full application describing the proposed assignment. See a Sample Full Application  (10 pages; 92KB).

Step 3: Open Recruitment

If your full application is accepted, you will be invited to participate in Open Recruitment. During this 2-week period, health agencies are encouraged to discuss their potential assignments with prevention specialists.

Step 4: Interview Day

After Open Recruitment, selected health agencies are invited to formal interviews with prevention specialists in Atlanta, Georgia. Primary supervisors are expected to participate. The health agency is responsible for all travel-related expenses.

Timeline

January 16	Deadline for LOI
March 11	Notification of accepted LOI
April 6	Deadline for full application
April 27–May 8	Open Recruitment
July 11	Interview Day in Atlanta
Early October	PHPS 2-year assignment begins

More Information

For more information about our fellowship program see the PHPS website.

For more information about requesting and mentoring a fellow, contact

Public Health Prevention Service

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road, NE

Mailstop E-92

Atlanta, GA 30333

Phone: 404-498-6120

Fax: 404-498-6125

E-mail: OWCDPHPS@cdc.gov