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167613 Public Health Apprenticeship Program (PHAP): A collaborative workforce development initiative

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Glen Koops, MPH , Portfolio Management Project, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Krisitn Brusuelas, MPH , Portfolio Management Project, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Patricia D. Ragan, PhD, MPH, PA-C , Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
Mike Sage, MPH , Portfolio Management Project, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Dan George, BS , Bureau of STD Prevention and Control, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
Rebecca L. Lucas, PhD, MPH , Division of Disease Control, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
Christina Robinson, MPH , Continuing Education, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Federal, state and local government health agencies recognize a significant unmet need for public health workforce training and retention programs to meet future demands. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and its county health departments (CHDs) have partnered to provide opportunities to develop entry-level public health generalists for permanent program operations, management and leadership positions with the CDC, state and local health departments. The initial five-year pilot project in Florida serves as a model to develop similar programs in other states.

Following a competitive recruitment and selection process of both apprentices and CHD host sites, the three-year Public Health Apprenticeship Program was implemented in July 2007 with placement of 10 bachelor or master's level apprentices in CHD throughout Florida. Additional cohorts of 6-10 apprentices are anticipated to be placed in 2008 & 2009. Supervision and mentorship is provided by CHD staff and the sponsoring agencies.

The program provides salary, benefits, and didactic training. During their training, apprentices gain experience in two or three different program areas in order to develop specific competencies including knowledge of public health, agency operations, technology, communication and interpersonal skills, cultural competency, leadership, preparedness and emergency response, data analysis, networking, resource management, policy development, supervisory skills, and program planning, management and evaluation. Multiple process and summative evaluations occur throughout the program. Based on the experience and outcome measures to date, the program is well-positioned to produce highly qualified public health professionals.

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe the unique features of this collaborative workforce development project sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health. 2) Identify the specific competencies to be developed and the mechanisms in place in to achieve these. 3) Discuss the outcome of the pilot program to date, based on participant experiences, site visits and evaluations.

Keywords: Workforce, Public Health Careers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Deputy Director for CDC's Portfolio Management Program which is responsible for the concept, implementation, and management of the project represented in the abstract. I was previously the Senior Management Official for the state of FL and coordinated efforts with the state to implement this program initially as a CDC/State pilot project. I also have an MPH.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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