Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Assessing Emergency Preparedness and Bioterrorism Training Needs Designing and Implementing a Region Wide Assessment Suzanne Swadener Northwest Center for Public Health Practice Carolyn Stemshorn Evaluation Team, Group Health Community Foundation A collaboration between: Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Presentation Objectives Background Emergency preparedness- bioterrorism training needs assessment instrument Challenges of implementation Lessons to be applied nationally

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Background CDC funding post 9-11 –Focus on emergency preparedness –Required to complete training needs assessment Bioterrorism competencies –What is a competency? –Developed by Columbia School of Nursing

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Bioterrorism Competencies

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Development of NWCPHP Instrument Developed in collaboration with NWC partner states Instrument based on: –CDC/Columbia Emergency and BT Preparedness Competencies –Other Resources: DOJ, NPHPSP, Core Competencies

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation The NWCPHP Instrument Assesses individual worker training needs Fulfills Focus Area G Critical Capacity #16 requirements Targets public health professionals Flexible design

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation The NWCPHP Instrument Content from BT Competencies 9 versions 4 sections Mix of Likert Scale and multiple choice questions pages Administration = ~ 20 minutes

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Questions, Section I, II

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Questions, Section III-IV Training preferences –Specific topics –Type of courses –Learning setting –Incentive and barriers –Computers and Internet Demographics

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Sites Using NWCPHP Instrument States Alaska* Idaho* Wyoming* Montana* Public Health Ready Sites Thurston County, Washington* Tarrant County, Texas Tulsa County, Oklahoma Cherokee Nation * NWCPHP provided Technical Assistance

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation What’s Next Individual sites –Use results to develop training plan –Re-assess in 1-3 years to measure changes NWCPHP create regional report of training needs

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Challenges Assessment using competency statements Evolving role of PH in emergency prepardness Defining target population Recruiting non-traditional public health population Analyzing and “translating” the results Limitations of self-assessment

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Results: Top Needed Topics Emergency response partners Individual’s roles and responsibilities Emergency response protocols, and procedures Emergency response laws, regulations, and ordinances Surveillance/ epidemiology Incident command systems Communication

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Lessons to Apply Nationally Collaborative model: NWCPHP/ State partnership Using BT/EP competencies to assess training needs Using results to develop training plan Creating models for assessment/ planning/evaluation – example: Project Public Health Ready model

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Questions?

Northwest Center for Public Health Practice University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine Evaluation Team Group Health Community Foundation Contacting Us… Suzanne Swadener, Assistant Director Northwest Center for Public Health Practice Carolyn Stemshorn, Project Manager Evaluation Team, Group Health Community Foundation