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

Abstract #68419

Tanya Uden-Holman, PhD¹, Dawn Gentsch, MPH, CHES¹, and Christopher Atchison, MPA². (1) Center for Public Health Practice, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 5186 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52242, 319-384-8708, tanya-udenholman@uiowa.edu, (2) College of Public Health, University of Iowa, E220B GH, Iowa City, IA 52242

The mission of the Upper Midwest Public Health Training Center (UMPHTC), and its partners in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, is to build the capacity of the public health workforce through training and education. In order to develop training programs and materials that meet the specific needs of this multidisciplinary tri-state effort an assessment was developed.

The framework for this assessment was the essential public health services model. Respondents included health educators, local public health practitioners, public health nurses, environmental health specialists, laboratorians, administrators, and others. In addition to asking respondents about training needs, training barriers, and preferred training modalities, a series of questions focused on the percentage of time that the respondent works with various disenfranchised populations and diverse groups. Results indicate that basic public health knowledge, enforcement of regulations, cultural competency and linking people to needed personal health care services are training priorities in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Based on the results of the assessment, training programs using the ten essential public health services and core competencies as a framework will be developed. To assist in this process a matrix is utilized to plot the assessment data and identify priorities and next steps. This matrix also assists agencies and local health department administrators who are trying to enhance their personnel through competency development. Finally, recognizing the importance of making training and education relevant to public health professionals, UMPHTC is utilizing a unique approach of incorporating practitioner stories into training and education activities.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Articulate the methodology used to collect the state-level assessment data
• 2) Describe the results of the state-level UMPHTC workforce assessment
• 3) Identify next steps based on the survey data to include for the development of training and education programs in the Upper Midwest

Keywords: Needs Assessment, Essential Public Health Services

Related Web page: www.public-health.uiowa.edu/UMPHTC/

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.