Managed by CDC’s Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support, the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) is a training program for early-career public health professionals who have a recent college degree and an interest in public service and public health. Throughout the two-year program, associates complete a comprehensive training curriculum and work at a host organization to gain hands-on experience that will serve as the foundation for their careers in public health.  The salary and other related costs of the Associates are paid by the CDC.

The PHAP program needs many more rural host sites that can include county Extension offices.  

Host sites orient their associates to their respective agencies/organizations and train PHAP associates in a wide range of public health competencies.  Associates are assigned to one subject area that is selected by their host sites. These subject areas focus on the nation’s most pressing public health priorities.

Having an public health trained individual working in a county Extension office can expand the capacity of the local team to address such issues as immunization education, chronic disease, health aging, children's health, cancer prevention and screening, mental health, and a broad array of other community health issues.

For more information about becoming a host site, visit https://www.cdc.gov/phap/index.html

A technical assistance workshop for applying to become a host site will be held on January 26 from 2:00 - 3:30 PM Eastern.  To register for the webinar, visit https://www.cdc.gov/phap/becom...stsite/webinars.html

Additional assistance in preparing host site applications tailored specifically for Cooperative Extension, if desired.