UNIVERSITIES AS RESOURCES TO STATE HEALTH AGENCIES

In a survey of the 50 State health agencies in the spring of 1992, off icials were asked about their manpower and research needs in the speci fic areas of administration, behavioral and social science, education and information, environmental health, environmental protection, epide miology, laboratory, law, occupational health, policy and planning, an d statistics. In all, 40 agencies (80 percent) responded. Indepth tele phone interviews to determine whether universities and schools and gra duate programs in public health filled these needs completed the data collection process. Agency officials indicated that their resources we re least adequate in environmental protection, behavioral and social s cience, and occupational health. They did not feel their research need s were being met. There was a general feeling that universities and sc hools and programs in public health have different agendas than State agencies and that practical solutions to the shortage of research reso urces are not forthcoming from these sources. Suggestions are made as to what can be done to improve relationships between those who train p ublic health personnel and those who employ them.