Working together - getting to the core of public health: A strategy for teaching the public health core functions to public health staff at a local health department

Susan J. Carr, RN, MPH, Carr Consulting, 2029 Verdugo Blvd. #773, Montrose, CA 91020, Bridget Ward, MS, RN, PHN, Organizational Development and Training, Los Angles County Department of Health Services, 241 Figueroa, Rm 346, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213 240-8132, bward@dhs.co.la.ca.us, and Jonathan Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health, Health Officer, County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services-Public Health, 313 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A course, tailored for the Los Angeles County Public Health (LACPH) workforce, to review the core functions of public health and their application to daily public health practice will be described. Two facilitators and one epidemiologist from LACPH team-teach the course providing an overview of assessment, assurance and policy development, as well as ways to visualize possibilities in approaching public health issues. The 10 essential services are woven throughout this course. Designed for professional, technical and administrative staff, 700+ LACPH staff have attended since its inception in 2001. Participants consistently evaluate the course as very good or excellent and recommend it to their colleagues and staff. Comments include: “I saw my role within the big picture of what public health does”. “This is the best information I’ve received.” A strong interest from staff to attend the program continues. This interactive program includes case scenarios, role-plays and small group exercises designed to engage participants in discussions. Each course mixes staff from diverse units, disciplines, and programs to encourage networking, intra-organizational cooperation, and fostering of collaborative projects to help improve the health status in their communities. Participants share experiences and best practices related to the core functions and essential services. This course is a foundational piece in LACPH workforce development and the percentage of staff that have attended is one measure of performance in each program’s public health report card.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

1. Identify ways to involve staff in developing and facilitating an educational program on the core functions of public health for local health department staff.
2. Describe the design of one activity that will engage participants in thinking of ways to increase internal and external partnerships in their practice.

Keywords: Core Functions, Professional Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

Handout (.ppt format, 1433.5 kb)

Health Administration Educational Posters

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA