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

Abstract #114370

Wendy Kurz Childers, MPH, MA, CHES, Center for Public Health Preparedness, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1525 Clifton Road, NE, Office 107, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-7397, wchilde@sph.emory.edu, Melissa Alperin, MPH, CHES, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1525 Clifton Road, #107, Atlanta, GA 30322, and Kathleen R. Miner, PhD, MPH, CHES, Assoc. Dean for Applied Public Health, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-4218.

In order to maintain a strong front against both terrorist and natural threats, it is incumbent upon the public health system to employ workers who possess the skills and knowledge required to protect the health of the nation. The aim of a study conducted by the Center for Public Health Preparedness at Emory University is to contribute to an understanding of the learning needs of the public health workforce as they relate to bioterrorism and emerging health threats. The findings of a competency-based needs assessment conducted for public health workers in the state of Georgia will be presented. Specifically, this study uses data collected from Georgia public health workers to: 1) identify the bioterrorism and emerging health threat competencies that are regarded as “important” and “very important” to job responsibilities; and 2) the corresponding self-reported current levels of ability for those competencies. The findings show a gap between the job responsibilities and the related abilities of Georgia's public health workforce. Although there is significant variability in the extent of these differences, it is apparent that the gap persists across all competencies.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• describe how competencies were used in the administration of a statewide workforce development needs assessment;
• explain the findings of the study comparing job importance and ability related to emergency preparedness competencies among public health workers in Georgia;
• identify three priority areas for training public health workers in emergency preparedness in Georgia.

Keywords: Needs Assessment, Training

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.