In February 2001, Minnesota’s 91 local public health (LPH) agencies completed a Web-based grant application for Year 2 Health Alert Network (HAN) funds. HAN, funded by a grant from CDC, electronically connects public health agencies. Web-based grant applications and surveys submitted electronically to databases decrease time and expense of sending out multiple copies of paper surveys and reminder cards to non-responders, and decrease time and errors of inputting the responses manually. During a health threat, an online survey could quickly collect information about available resources or needs in LPH agencies. To do this, a public health workforce with Web skills is necessary.
To receive Year 2 funds, Minnesota’s LPH agencies were asked to complete their grant application/survey online. The Year 2 Web-based application had two purposes: 1. To apply for non-competitive Year 2 funds and gather data about grantee progress made in electronic communication capacity during Year 1; and 2. To measure and build Web skills: finding a URL, entering a case-sensitive password, completing and submitting a survey that included buttons, pull down lists, and text fields, and navigating to and from other sites in order to complete application.
This presentation will describe the survey results from both perspectives. “Help” calls and e-mails, the number of logons before successful submission, and incomplete survey items will be used to measure the skill of LPH users and identify training needs. A discussion of lessons learned in the development and rollout of a Web-based grant application will also be included.
See www.health.state.mn.us./divs/dpc/han/alert.htmLearning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: (1) Discuss the two purposes of a Web-based grant application for local public health agencies: data gathering and skill building; (2) Describe the structure and content of the Web-based application; (3) Describe the results relative to local public health electronic communication infrastructure and skills; (4) Assess the users' (managers in local public health agencies) skills relative to online reporting; (5) Evaluation the process and product of the Web-based grant application; and (6) Identify and discuss skill strengths and training needs.
Keywords: Local Public Health Agencies, Information Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Minnesota Department of Health; Macromedia's Dreamweaver (the software used to develop the online survey)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment and purchaser of software