Community-based public health efforts build on the assumption that communities possess many of the assets needed to address public health challenges. This panel presentation reports on an innovative effort to promote the exchange of skills and expertise among 39 community groups and 14 health departments participating in a statewide community-based public health initiative in California. Panelists, including staff from the initiative’s program office as well as community group and health department representatives, will report on their roles in supporting development of a network of participants who share skills and expertise with each other. The panelists will discuss the use of electronic communications, newsletters, technical assistance, training and an innovative “skills bank” designed to provide incentives for groups to share their expertise in exchange for “credits” that they can use to acquire needed training and technical support. The presentation will also describe efforts to institutionalize the learning community so it remains viable after the initiative funding has ended. See www.PartnershipPH.org
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify community assets for health improvement in terms of skills and expertise possessed by community groups and health departments. 2. Describe the use of a “skills bank” for promoting the exchange of training and technical assistance among community groups and health departments working in partnership to improve community health. 3. Discuss the role of electronic communications and newsletters in promoting the exchange training and technical assistance among participants in a statewide community-based public health initiati
Keywords: Community Assets, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.