Column examines how capacity building enhanced environmental health preparedness in North Carolina, suggesting effective frameworks for broader applications.
In this column, the authors examine how strategic partnerships and innovative staffing approaches strengthened environmental public health emergency preparedness in North Carolina. Supported through the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the initiative addressed longstanding preparedness challenges, including limited staffing capacity and competing operational priorities. A temporary staffing model enabled dedicated personnel to focus exclusively on preparedness activities during nonemergency periods, resulting in the development of guidance documents, training programs, tabletop exercises, and online preparedness resources. These tools were actively used during subsequent emergency events and gained interest beyond North Carolina. The authors highlight the staffing model’s flexibility, efficiency, and scalability, demonstrating how targeted investments in workforce capacity and interorganizational collaboration can strengthen preparedness infrastructure. The column presents a replicable framework for integrating environmental health into broader emergency preparedness efforts and enhancing community resilience.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bryant et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: