What to know
CDC seeks to expand the current Preparedness Field Assignee (PFA) program to meet the growing preparedness and response needs of PHEP jurisdictions. The PFA program places field assignees in jurisdictions to work alongside state and local public health preparedness professionals. This will ensure a robust and skilled workforce and increase public health emergency preparedness and response capacity.
How to Become a PFA Host Site
CDC’s Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR) is committed to supporting PHEP jurisdictions and preparedness program operations by providing trained public health preparedness staff.
DSLR is continuing a phased approach to strategically grow its field-based footprint and invites PHEP jurisdictions to apply to host PFAs. Interested jurisdictions must submit their applications to dslrpfa@cdc.gov. by 11:59 p.m. EST, on Friday, February 23, 2024.
CDC will fund the salaries of PFAs to develop skills and field experience in state and local emergency preparedness and response.
PFA Host Site Eligibility
CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement recipients may apply to host a Preparedness Field Assignee (PFA).
PHEP recipients who currently do not host a PFA may apply during the 2024 application period.
Agencies must meet the following requirements to apply to host a PFA:
- Be one of the 62 direct recipients of the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement;
- Develop a work plan that allows the PFA to gain experience in public health emergency preparedness and response;
- Provide training and on-the-job work experiences suitable for early career field assignees with at least two years of public health experience;
- Support and encourage PFA professional development;
- Provide the PFA with a supervisor who has prior supervisory experience; and
- Demonstrate the capacity to provide field staff with valuable work experience and specific emergency preparedness and response training.
Selected host sites will be required to sign a formal CDC Agreement to Detail, which covers the terms and conditions of the placement of CDC field staff.
