Public Health Fiscal Austerity #4: Measuring Fiscal Stress: Indicators and Early Warning Systems (On Demand-No CE)

PLEASE NOTE: No CE or certificate are available in this course.

This webinar overviews quantitative and qualitative measures of fiscal stress (e.g., fund balance ratios, grant volatility, vacancy rates, deferred maintenance) and demonstrates how to interpret signals before crisis conditions emerge. This webinar is part of a year-long series convened by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Center for Public Health Systems to discuss practical strategies for protecting communities when budgets tighten.

This training was originally held on April 22, 2026. To view more information about the upcoming live webinars in this series, visit the 2026 Public Health Fiscal Austerity Webinar Series.

Note on Accessibility: This training includes closed captions, a written transcript, and a copy of the slides.

Audience

Public health professionals in all settings, including state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments

Learning Objectives

• Explain the concept of “fiscal stress,” including how to identify or measure stress signals.
• Describe potential indicators of fiscal stress (quantitative and qualitative).
• Cite examples of fiscal metrics and approaches to identifying and managing fiscal stress.

Instructors

J. Mac McCullough, PhD, MPH, Associate Director for Community Engagement and Impact, Boise State University School of Public and Population Health

Jeff Ketchel, MA, Director, Public Health Systems, Washington State Department of Health

Noah Stuby, MBA, Deputy Health Commissioner, Greene County Public Health (Ohio)

Moderated by: 

Jason Orr, PhD, MPH, Researcher, Center for Public Health Systems at the University of Minnesota

Sponsors

This training was a collaboration of the Region V Public Health Training Center and the Center for Public Health Systems at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers ($940,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Region V PHTC, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Technical Information

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Contact us at rvphtc@umich.edu with questions.