Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112777

David Johnson, MPH, Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support, 250 South 4th Street, Room 510, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1372, 612-673-3948, david.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us and Tricia Todd, MPH, Office of Public Health Practice, Minnesota Department of Health, 2943 McKinley St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418.

The Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) was created three years ago as a pilot project of the National Turning Point Program – National Leadership Development Collaborative www.turningpointprogram.org While Robert Wood Johnson provided the initial funding, the program was created through a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Public Health Association and the Local Public Health Association of Minnesota. This year the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health joined on as a partner.

The program was created to respond to the anticipated need for future leaders in public health. The changing demographics mean that most local, state, and national health organizations will face a significant turnover in leadership in the next five to ten years. Through research we found that while there are many leadership development options they tend to be available for people already in leadership positions. There are very few programs that identify and prepare future leaders.

Leadership development programming for emerging leaders is different than programming for seasoned leaders. Emerging leaders who have not yet served in leadership roles express concern that they “don't feel ready” to take on leadership responsibilities even when others feel confident in their leadership abilities. Emerging leaders tend to be more open to learning about their own leadership style and taking action to adjust their style to be more effective. Emerging leaders have a high desire for guidance and coaching especially as they take on leadership responsibilities.

The Emerging Leaders' Network was designed to identify a diverse group of emerging leaders in public health and provide them with information and skill-building experiences that build the confidence they need to be leaders. Participants learn about personal leadership potential, identify opportunities for growth, and create a personal leadership development plan; gain knowledge and experience in applying collaborative leadership practices; learn how to build productive professional networks; and become part of a larger public health network, by virtue of being a member of the cohort

While Minnesota's Emerging Leaders' Network provides training for individuals, it also provides an opportunity for a diverse group of 12 prospective public health leaders to learn to work together, gain respect for the unique contributions each person can bring to an issue, and benefit from the support that the cohort can provide.

Many individuals have been engaged in the Emerging Leaders Network, as members of the steering committee, advisors, faculty and in other roles. Evaluation from all directions has been overwhelmingly positive. At the same time, there have been tremendous lessons learned in constructing and implementing the Emerging Leaders Network.

Learning Objectives:

1.Describe the need and value of identifying and nurturing future leaders 2.List specific steps in designing and implementing a leadership program 3.Identify unique components of a leadership program for emerging leaders
• Understand and describe the unique collaborative nature of the partnering organizations responsible for the program.

Keywords: Leadership, Workforce

Related Web page: www.mpha.net/eln/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation