The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44905

Carolyn J. Stemshorn, MPH, Group Health Community Foundation, 1730 Minor Ave, STE 1500, Seattle, WA 98101, (206)287-4382, stemshorn.c@ghc.org and Betty Bekemeier, RN, Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, University of Washington, 1107 N.E. 45 Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105.

In the summer of 2001, the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, (located in the University of Washington's School of Public Health and Community Medicine) in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Health, developed two training modules based on a public health training needs assessment completed in 2000. Many important lessons were learned through the processes of developing and implementing the two courses, Leading and Managing the Change Process and Building Community Partnerships to Respond to Public Health Issues. The modules employed a mixed set of distance learning (DL) methods to meet perceived learning needs and provided multiple ways to get information to people. Results of a formal and informal evaluation indicated that distance learning methods are of high interest to those in practice who particularly face barriers of distance from training and difficulty in leaving the work site. At the same time issues such as a need for a high level of individualized technical support became very apparent. The course designers and instructors learned a great deal about using DL media with the Public Health practice community. These "lessons learned" will be presented during this session as an opportunity for others working in workforce development to capitalize on these experiences for delivering training to their own practice community.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will

1)Learn about two new learning resources developed for public health professionals at the UW Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, and designed for delivery via distance learning techniques; and
• Become familiar with "lessons learned" related to the development of public health courses involving distance learning delivery modalities.

Keywords: Distance Education, Workforce

Related Web page: healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/projects/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (University of Washington), Group Health Community Foundation (Seattle, WA), Washington State Department of Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.