The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66805

Danielle C. Landis, MPH, PhD and W. Michael Reid, PhD, MBA. Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B Downs, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33613, 813-974-8147, dlandis@hsc.usf.edu

The future of public health depends on academic/ practice partnerships to improve the public health infrastructure and workforce. The future of our nation in a public health crisis depends on public health leaders at all levels. This paper discusses an academic/practice/ private sector collaboration to develop training to prepare public health workers for "Crisis Leadership." The Florida Center for Public Health Preparedness worked with local health departments and national experts to develop this training. It incorporates core competencies and is unique in its content, delivery, and development processes. Beginning with an academic-driven framework, county health department employees developed the training foundation, informing and instructing academia on its challenges and outlining content and delivery. The formal curriculum was developed by private sector experts and academic Center staff, with all groups working together to develop and implement the final training modules. The final modules address preparedness, crisis response and recovery needs. The modules convey awareness, knowledge and skills that address management of threats from disasters as well as daily and recurring environmental, disease and other agency threats and crises. Program implications include: 1) contributions to the existing research base of crisis leadership; 2) availability of training curricula for implementation at the local, state and national level; 3) routes to effective partnerships and processes developed between academia, practice and private sector experts; and 4) greater awareness of existing challenges and environments for partners and how each can serve as a resource in approaching and resolving challenges in all sectors.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Learn about an existing "crisis leadership" training program developed for public health workers
• 2. Describe 10 steps involved in developing a crisis leadership training module
• 3. Discuss the benefits and challenges of collaborative efforts between academic, practice and private sectors
• 4. Discuss the 15 preparedness, crisis and recovery elements of a comprehensive crisis leadership training module and why they are important
• 5. Consider the importance of a combined training approach of self assessment, awareness, knowledge and application in skills development
• 6. Coordinate development of an agency/ community specific crisis leadership training module
• 7. Discuss steps necessary to effectively debrief, evaluate and modify training curriculum

Keywords: Leadership, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.