All Aboard G-TRAIN!
A Web-based Collaborative Approach to Assessing the Training Needs of Georgia's Public Health Workforce
Moose Alperin, MPH, CHES, Senior Associate Faculty
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
May 15, 2003
Sponsored by
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University
The Emory University School of Medicine And The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University
In the past 25 years, the practice of public health has shifted from clinical delivery of services to a focus on community-based interventions. Threats of bioterrorism, chemical weapons, and nuclear/radiologic exposure have expanded the role of public health personnel. These realities coupled with the November 2002 release of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports, “Who Will Keep the Public Healthy?” and “The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century”, have provided a backdrop to address the need of public health leaders to systematically assess the capacity of their workforce to function in today's world. In Georgia, the Emory Academic Center for Public Health Preparedness at the Rollins School of Public Health and the Georgia Division of Public Health have collaborated to create the Georgia Training Resources and Inventory Network (G-TRAIN). G-TRAIN is a web-based method of providing an ongoing assessment of training needs in Georgia's public health workforce. G-TRAIN users complete a series of profiles - including a competency assessment. Institutions that provide instructional activities complete course profiles. Based on competency results, individuals can search for courses that meet their training needs and register for courses. Self-reports can be generated by individuals or aggregate reports by state/district staff. While G-TRAIN is initially funded by the Emory Academic Center for Public Health Preparedness and the Division of Public Health's Focus Area G money, the potential scope of the initiative is much broader. G-TRAIN provides an opportunity for Georgia's public health community to address recommendations outlined in the IOM reports.
Melissa “Moose” Alperin, MPH, CHES, is a Senior Associate Faculty in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and the Director of the Southeastern Institute for Training and Evaluation (SITE) at the Rollins School of Public Health. She holds a Masters degree in Health Promotion and Education and is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Educational Technology. Moose has over eight years of experience in conducting public health training and managing programmatic evaluations. She has designed and conducted over 40 computer-based trainings for public health and human service professionals throughout the United States and internationally.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this lecture, participants should be able to:
- Describe G-TRAIN;
- List relevant recommendations from the new IOM reports; and
3. Discuss the importance of Schools of Public Health and practice partners working together to address workforce development needs.