Using the Kirkpatrick Model to Conduct an Outcome Driven Evaluation of Public Health Leadership Institutes

It is well noted that leadership is essential to assure the public’s health. For over twenty years Public Health Leadership Institutes (PHLIs) have been the primary source of leadership development.  PHLIs have struggled, however; to show the effectiveness.  This presentation will share the results of recent study that was completed to determine the impact of the current PHLI model by evaluating past participants’ perceived improvement and use of the skills necessary to lead. This was accomplished by determining a standard set of skills needed for leadership and by developing and administering a survey based on the Four Level Kirkpatrick Model. 

The survey was administered to 517 PHLI graduates from five different programs.  A total of 205 individuals from twenty states responded to the survey.  Past graduates perceived a moderate to high level of skill improvement because of their training.  Since completing the training, graduates also provided evidence that they use the skills in practice. 

The study, however; did uncover limitations.  The results from the study support that the current PHLI model is a leader development model and not a leadership development model.  This could explain why there is little evidence of organizational or community outcomes of PHLIs.  A leader development model makes it very difficult to measure organization and/or community outcomes or return on investment because the training and outcomes are individual-based.  It is recommended that by changing the current model to a leadership development model will allow the training to impact individual, organizational and community needs.