The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67869

Laurie M. Walkner, RN, MA, Iowa Center for Public Health Preparedness University of Iowa College of Public Health, 5197 Westlawn, Iowa City, IA 52242, 319-335-6836, laurie-walkner@uiowa.edu and Ralph Wilmoth, MPH, MPA, Johnson County Public Health, 1105 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, IA 52241.

Ensuring that Iowa’s public health workforce has the skills, knowledge and abilities to prepare for, promptly identify, and respond to new and emerging public health threats is the mission of the Iowa Center for Public Health Preparedness. In Iowa, a mix of health professionals as well as volunteers, deliver a wide range of public health services within a rural infrastructure. This broad-based workforce must have basic information regarding public health science and the systems of response. In response to the Center’s mission and the state’s rural infrastructure the Center and its partners have designed and implemented a unique train-the-trainer program. The concept of using a train-the-trainer program to disseminate training has been around for several years. What is unique about this program is that it partners with the practice community to ensure that this program will have relevance to its target audience, the practice community. The partners integrate the content into issues affecting them at the local level. They not only participate in the train-the-trainer program, but also help identify needs, curriculum and delivery modalities for other educational programs and trainings. The Iowa Center of Public Health Preparedness has identified these partners as Associates of the Center. They have their own network of community partners and can work with them to further train and educate.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Describe the mission and goal of the Iowa Center for Public Health Preparedness
• Discuss the collaborative approach used to develop the training program
• Identify the partners that have elected to become Associates of the Iowa Center for Public Health Preparedness
• Describe the roles that the Assoicates play in the Center and in their communities
• Explain the impact this training program has for the Center and communities

Keywords: Community Collaboration,

Related Web page: www.public-health.uiowa.edu/icphp/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Iowa Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of Iowa College of Public Health, and Johnson County Public Health
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.