259060 Florida Department of Health Workforce: Profile of Hispanic Women

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Silva-Suarez Georgina, MPHE , Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL
H. Virginia McCoy, PhD , Stempel School of Public Health Center for Health Policy and Research, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Muni Rubens, MPH , Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL
Background: The success of public health (PH) efforts relies on having committed, competent, and well prepared health professionals. Florida is one of the States with the largest Hispanic population and they are major part of the PH workforce.

Method: A data-collection survey was designed to identify training needs of the Florida Department of Health (DOH) workforce. The Survey was e-mailed to 17,837 employees on May 3, 2011. Of this, 5,698 employees began the survey and 3,685 (64.7%) completed it. The instrument assessed demographic information, experience in PH, and perception of PH competencies.

Results: Of the 3,685 employees who finished the survey, 546 (14.8%) were Hispanics and over 80% (n=454) were women. The majorities were Puerto Rican (35.5%), followed by Cuban (15%) and Mexican (10.8%). Most of the Hispanic women were working at entry-level positions (n=79.9 %). Almost 50 % reported having practical knowledge in PH, while 21.1% reported advanced knowledge. Hispanic women showed interest in receiving training in health promotion, leadership, team-work, new trends in HIV prevention, basic PH needs and health status. Most of them (80%) preferred hands-on and face-to-face training rather that online or satellite broadcast trainings. Major barriers for Hispanic women not participating in training were lack of financial support and lack of time.

Conclusion: Hispanic women must reinforce their PH competencies in order to face the new challenges that may arise in the field. Training targeted to the Hispanic population will be developed and offered during spring 2012.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify training needs among women in DOH workforce in Florida 2.Assess the perception of public health competencies among women DOH employees 3.Differentiate the training needs among Hispanics and Non-Hispanics

Keywords: Needs Assessment, Professional Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm a doctoral student and a currently working for the Puerto Rico- Florida Public Health Training Center (PR-F PHTC). I was part of the team which undertook the Needs Assessment of the Florida Department of Health employees. Presently I'm working on developing face-to-face training courses for Hispanic employees of Florida Department of Health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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