New Professionals Program
Purpose
The New Professionals Program is designed to equip new public health professionals with the confidence and expertise needed for successful, long-term careers in local governmental public health in North Carolina. This is achieved by providing a combination of education, coaching, and peer learning opportunities.
Eligibility
New full-time early career staff of NC Local Health Departments with less than two years of public health experience.
Curriculum
New Professionals Program participants will be enrolled in our curriculum, which includes the following:
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Synchronous Learning (Virtual Educational Sessions): Required educational sessions once a month that allow for hands-on practice building tangible and strategic skills needed for public health practice.
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Asynchronous Learning (E-Learns): Required e-learns based on the Public Health Services Framework that provide essential and contextual information about public health in NC and incorporate real-world examples, case studies, and knowledge checks. The e-learns complement the learning that takes place in the educational sessions and are designed so that the content applies to staff in various public health roles.
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1:1 Coaching Sessions: 30-minute coaching sessions with a professional coach every month, where fellows can discuss professional goals, program progress, and their skills application project.
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Applied Learning Opportunities:
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Skills Application Project: A required project to be completed during the program that will be based on the participant’s area of interest and expertise, and allow for self-directed learning. Projects can be included in the professional portfolio and will be presented during the final monthly educational session.
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Professional Development Events: The opportunity to attend professional development and networking events identified by the Pathways Program Team. Participant attendance is strongly encouraged at the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA) Fall Educational Conference and the North Carolina Public Health Leaders Conference each year.
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How to Apply
The Pathways Program is committed to creating an environment where participants from all backgrounds feel valued, respected, and supported. We strive to provide accessible opportunities and cultivate a culture of collaboration that embraces diverse perspectives and experiences.
Interested candidates will upload their resume/CV and submit a personal statement about their interest in a career in public health and in this course (i.e., what they hope to accomplish by participating in the program). Individuals must also submit a letter of commitment from their supervisor, confirming they will support the candidate in the following: asynchronous trainings (e-learns), synchronous educational sessions, implementation of a skills application project, and professional development events.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the New Professionals Program timeline?The New Professionals Program is an 11-month program. New cohorts onboard in July of each year and take part in the program until the following June.
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How do I post my practicum opportunity for students to apply?If you are part of NCDPH or an LHD and are interested in posting a practicum opportunity on our Practicum Opportunities Database, please complete the Practicum Opportunity Submission Form to let us know your contact details and some more about the position. The Pathways Program Team will review your completed submission form and contact you with any questions or concerns.
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How are practicum opportunities selected?NCDPH and LHD host sites must complete a submission form to display practicum opportunities in our database. The Pathways Program Team will review completed submission forms for relevancy and completeness and contact the submitter with any questions or concerns. Approved opportunities will be displayed in the Practicum Opportunities Database, where students may apply.
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What is the Practicum Program timeline?Practica are ≥ 6 Weeks in length and offered during summer semesters. The Practicum Program begins the first week of June and ends at the end of July (end time may vary if opportunity is longer than 6 weeks).
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What is the Internship Program timeline?Internships are 12 weeks in length and offered during the Fall and Spring semesters. Fall internships begin the last week in August and end in November Spring internships begin the first week of February and end in April
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How are internship sites selected?NC Department of Public Health (NCDPH) and Local Health Departments (LHD) host sites must complete a submission form to display internship opportunities in our database. The Pathways Program Team will review completed submission forms for relevancy and completeness and contact the submitter with any questions or concerns. Approved opportunities will be displayed in the Internship Opportunities Database, where students may apply.
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How do I post my internship opportunity for students to apply?If you are part of NCDPH or an LHD and are interested in posting an internship opportunity on our Internship Opportunities Database, please complete the Internship Opportunity Submission Form to let us know your contact details and some more about the position. The Pathways Program Team will review your completed submission form and contact you with any questions or concerns. Once approved, we will display your opportunity on the Internship Opportunities Database, where students may apply.
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How do I post my internship opportunity for students to apply?If you are part of the NC Division of Public Health (NCDPH) or a Local Health Department (LHD) and are interested in posting an internship opportunity on our Internship Opportunities Database, please complete the Internship Opportunity Submission Form to let us know your contact details and some more about the position. The Pathways Program Team will review your completed submission form and contact you with any questions or concerns. Once approved, we will display your opportunity on the Internship Opportunities Database, where students may apply.
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What if my agency wants to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a selected candidate’s academic institution?Agencies wishing to establish formal agreements, including MOUs, with academic institutions are encouraged to consult with their business office or legal team and the academic institution’s program director or advisor to determine a path forward.
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How are internship and practicum sites selected?NC Division of Public Health (NCDPH) and Local Health Departments (LHD) host sites must complete a submission form to display internship opportunities in our database. The Pathways Program Team will review completed submission forms for relevancy and completeness and contact the submitter with any questions or concerns. Approved opportunities will be displayed in the Internship Opportunities Database, where students may apply.
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Who should apply?Recent graduates within 3 years of graduating from a related degree program are welcome to apply for open positions listed on the DPH Fellowship Opportunities Database. When applying for an open position, interested candidates should ensure their degree reflects the requirement of the position. NCDPH is looking for candidates that have: A strong academic record Excellent written and verbal communication skills A desire to work collaboratively as part of a team A genuine interest in advancing public health in North Carolina NCDPH and the Pathways Program welcomes candidates from all backgrounds and encourages those interested in applying to check open positions listed on the DPH Fellowship Opportunities Database.
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What is the DPH Fellowship timeline?The DPH Fellowship is 2 years (22 months) in length; each year, fellows will be employed in an 11-month full-time temporary position through the state’s Temporary Solutions program. New cohorts onboard in July, work full-time (40 hours/week) for 11 months until May, and take a mandatory 30-day break in June.
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What will my compensation and benefits package look like at NCDPH?If selected for a DPH Fellowship position, you will be employed in an 11-month full-time temporary position for each year of the program through the state’s Temporary Solutions program. Hourly pay is position dependent. A high-deductible health insurance plan will be available within the first month of onboarding. No other benefits are offered. To learn more about Temporary Employment at NCDPH, please visit their FAQ page.
