Public Health Essentials

• Community health leaders
• Emerging public health leaders
• Public Health volunteers
• Volunteers working with high risk populations
• Outreach coordinators

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented health challenge worldwide, and New York State (NYS) was not exempt. NYS was heavily affected during the onset of the pandemic, especially in the cities and downstate areas. Through state and local policies and interventions, the number of incidents fell in the summer and early fall. Later in the year, however, surges and clusters of infection affected the entire state. Both state and local governments continue working to manage the acute crisis events and make plans for long-term interventions.

Through this professional certificate program designed for NYS Public Health employees and volunteers, you will study fundamental public health principles and practices to enable you to be part of the goal of controlling and managing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. You will examine how to review and interpret data so you can focus your efforts, and you will practice critical communication skills so you can support your community in making behavioral choices that prevent infection and illness. You will also explore the science of how SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission occurs, how the COVID-19 illness develops and how it affects people, and the most current data on how to prevent the spread and severity of the illness — including how to maximize the uptake of vaccinations. While you may initially use what you learn in this certificate to help New York reduce the effects of COVID-19 on New Yorkers, you will also be positioned to use the knowledge and skills you gain to support the long-term goal of maximizing good health for all New Yorkers beyond the focused COVID-19 concerns.