WED-070 - Evidence-based Interventions for Public Health Workforce Development: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Nevada Workforce Initiative

Brief Abstract Summary: This mixed methods evaluation examined the ARPA Nevada Health Workforce Pipeline, which tailored evidence-based interventions (EBIs) and evidence-supported practices (ESPs) to strengthen public health workforce development. A total of 282 applications were received in year 2024-2025, with 156 scholarships awarded across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels (mean GPA 3.75). Participants represented diverse demographics and all levels of undergraduate, graduate students. Projects addressed chronic disease, maternal health, suicide prevention, housing, and environmental health. Quantitative data showed high engagement with agencies (86%) and professional organizations (79%), while qualitative analysis from FGDs (n=15) highlighted themes of time management, mentorship, resources, and coordination challenges. Results show that tailoring EBIs/ESPs enhanced student skills, though global replication requires balancing fidelity with adaptation to cultural and resource contexts.

Detailed abstract description:

Background:
Strengthening the public health workforce requires integrating evidence-based interventions (EBIs) and evidence-supported practices (ESPs) into experiential learning models that adapt to contextual and institutional factors. The ARPA Nevada Health Workforce Pipeline at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) provides a case study in tailoring EBIs and ESPs to enhance academic training, professional readiness, and program sustainability. Evaluating public health workforce training is essential to determine whether programs effectively build the competencies, skills, and confidence needed to address evolving community health challenges. It also ensures accountability, guides resource allocation, and provides evidence to refine and scale training models for sustainable workforce development.

Methods:
A mixed methods design incorporated quantitative analysis of scholarship applications, demographics, and project outcomes, alongside qualitative thematic analysis of focus group discussions (FGDs). For year 2024-202, 282 applications were submitted, and 156 scholarships were awarded to undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students. Mean GPA was 3.75, with applicants completing an average of 45 credits. Demographic profiles indicated 70% females, 24% male, and 6% gender diverse; 49% Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 23% Black/African American, 19% White, and 15% Hispanic/Latino.

Results:
Thirty-three projects were completed within one and/or extending up to two and three semesters. Engagement with governmental agencies was high (86%), and professional organization membership reached 79%. Projects addressed chronic disease prevention, maternal health equity, suicide prevention, LGBTQIA+ housing, and environmental health. FGDs (n≈30 participants) identified six major themes: time management as the most cited barrier, strong mentor responsiveness (85% positive), adequate resources (scholarships reduced financial strain), hybrid coordination challenges, competing commitments, and communication clarity. Students reported significant gains in leadership, policy analysis, and applied research competencies.

Conclusion:
Tailoring EBIs and ESPs to student and community contexts enhanced skill acquisition and program outcomes, though challenges in time, mentorship, and coordination remain caveats for scaling. Replication in global contexts must balance fidelity to evidence-based models with adaptation to cultural and resource variability, ensuring sustainability and relevance across settings. The mixed methods program evaluation demonstrates that integrating evidence-based interventions and evidence-supported practices into experiential learning models significantly strengthens workforce development and advances public health education. Findings highlight how tailoring interventions within academic–community partnerships enhances training outcomes, while providing transferable insights for sustainable, evidence-informed workforce pipelines.