Stakeholder Assessment of Public Health Training Needs: A Mixed Methods Approach

Introduction There is no uniformity in the definition of the public health workforce across states. The majority of HRSA funded Public Health Training Centers defined the public health workforce as the governmental (state and local health departments) public health workforce. Purpose of the Stakeholder Needs Assessment The purpose of the Stakeholder Needs Assessments is to identify and prioritize public health training needs among key stakeholders in Nebraska including: community organizations, local health departments, health care provider organizations and tribal health leaders. The findings from the needs assessment will be used to inform outreach/education and training activities of the Great Plains Public Health Training Center. Objectives of the Needs Assessment To Identify and describe (within community organizations, tribal health organizations, health care provider organizations and Local Health Departments in Nebraska): Stakeholders' perspectives of public health competencies of the workforce; and Specific training needs of stakeholders.

Methods The Stakeholder Needs Assessment employs a mixed methods approach with surveys of local health department directors and staff and key informant interviews of tribal health leaders, and representatives of community organizations, and health care provider organizations. The surveys will be web-based and the key informant interviews will be conducted by telephone. The data collection for the Needs Assessment will be completed by June 2012, and the results will be disseminated to public health practitioners in the State and will be used to draft a strategic plan to address the state's public health training needs.

Results Forthcoming