Instructions
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts
Search “Colorado” in the search bar, which will reveal population data for the state of Colorado as well.
The website should now have two columns of data: one column for the U.S. and one for the state of
Colorado. The most accurate U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years because the
https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson3/section1.html
Question 1 (0 points)
This assignment is to be completed individually. You may discuss the assignment with classmates and
consult course materials and other reference materials in order to develop your individual responses to
the assignment. However, the answers you submit for the assignment must represent your o wn
individual work, and you may not submit answers obtained from others. By selecting “Yes” below, you
are affirming that you have complied with these requirements and with the Honor Code of the Colorado
School of Public Health.
• o Yes
• o No
Question 2 (20 points)
The de Beaumont report estimates that a total of 183,500 workers are needed at state and local public
health agencies across the U.S. Use this result along with an estimate of the total number of people who
reside in the U.S. as of 2020 (from the U.S. Census Bureau as of April 1, 2020) to calculate a worker-to-
population ratio that indicates how many public health workers are needed per 100,000 residents in the
U.S.
________ public health workers are needed per 100,000 residents of the U.S.
Question 3 (20 points)
Let’s assume that Colorado requires the same ratio of public health staffing as the U.S. that was found in
#2. If so, we can apply the U.S. worker-to-population ratio to Colorado’s resident population in order to
estimate how many public health workers are needed in Colorado. To do this, find the estimate of the
total number of people who reside in the state of Colorado as of 2020 (from the U.S. Census Bureau).
Then you can apply this estimate to the worker-to-population ratio in #2 in order to estimate how many
public health workers may be needed in Colorado. Make sure to round your final answer up to a whole
number.
Using the ratio in #2, I estimate that ________ public health workers are needed in Colorado based on
the number of state residents in 2020.
Question 4 (20 points)
The de Beaumont study estimates that approximately 70% of the public health workers needed in the
U.S. are needed to work in local health departments, and 30% are needed to work in state health
departments. Let’s apply these estimates to your answer in question # 3 above in order to estimate how
many local health department workers are needed in Colorado. Make sure to round your final answer
up to a whole number.
Using the final answer in #3, I estimate that ________ workers are needed for staffing local health
departments in Colorado.
Question 5 (20 points)
Now let’s take the answer in #4 above and convert it into a worker-to-population ratio specifically for
local health departments in Colorado. To do this, use the information about the total resident
population in Colorado that you used in #3 above.
Using the final answer in #4, I estimate that ________ local health department workers are needed per
100,000 residents of Colorado.
Question 6
Studies indicate that rural areas require public health worker-to-population ratios that are
approximately 20% larger than the worker-to-population ratios needed in urban areas due to less
efficiency in performing public health functions for smaller and less geographically compact populations.
Let’s use this information together with the final answer to question # 4 to determine how many of
Colorado’s local health department workers should be allocated into rural vs. urban areas of the state.
To do this, let’s first assume that approximately 14% of the residents of Colorado currently reside in
rural areas, with the remaining 86% residing in urban areas. Based on the research cited above, we
know that the staffing ratio for rural areas must be 1.2 times (20% larger) the staffing ratio of urban
areas. In reverse, the staffing ratio for urban areas is 20% less than rural areas, or 0.83 times that of
rural areas ((20/120)*100%). We can estimate the number of local health department workers needed
in rural areas of Colorado by working through some simple arithmetic. Calculate A through D step by
step. Caution: Use your final answer for #4, but do not round intermediate numbers to whole numbers as
this will affect the precision of the final number. Round the final answer up to a whole number.
Calculations:
A. A. Rural population in 100,000s = [0.14 * (Total Colorado Population)] / 100,000
B. B. Urban population in 100,000s = [0.86 * (Total Colorado Population)] / 100,000
C. C. Rural staffing ratio = (#4 Answer) / [(A) + 0.83*(B)]
D. D. Rural local health department workers needed in Colorado = (C) * (A)
Submit your final answer for (D): I estimate that ________ local health department workers are needed
in rural areas of Colorado. Make sure to round your final answer up to a whole number.
Extra Credit
5 extra credit points will be given for answering the following questions. Keep your answer to 1-2
paragraphs. There is no one right answer, but it is possible to have a completely wrong answer. You
must make one strong argument that has some kind of real-world evidence to back up your response to
get full points (include a resource citation if needed). You can use reading material in class or
information outside of class.
Question 7 (Extra Credit)
Contact tracing is a crucial process for abating the spread of a contagious disease. The inability to
conduct sufficient contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted staffing shortages of local
and state public health departments. Reflect on the full-time worker-to-population ratios you calculated
for public health departments as a floor and not a ceiling. Suggest one way health departments can be
prepared to temporarily expand their workforce as needed during epidemics/outbreaks so that they can
continue to carry out routine tasks and also add extra needed services to contain ep
