Join the Public Health Foundation (PHF) for the 2024 Public Health Learning Forum! Sessions will be taking place virtually October 15-18th, with this year’s theme being "Workforce Development In Action." Sessions will focus on training and tools to support public health workforce development and build governmental public health workforce capacity. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic sessions covering topics such as organizational culture, the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), and more.
Opening Panel Building Bridges: State and Local Collaboration in Workforce Development Action
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 1-2:30pm EDT
Description: Join us for the opening session of the Public Health Learning Forum: Workforce Development in Action! This session will begin with welcoming remarks from the Public Health Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, followed by a dynamic discussion with the Kentucky Department for Public Health highlighting state and local collaboration for effective workforce development. Learn from Kentucky’s experiences and explore strategies that you can apply to enhance collaboration and build a strong public health workforce.
Presenters: Ron Bialek, President, PHF, Steven Stack, Commissioner, Kentucky Department for Public Health, Joe Finkbonner, Chair, PHF Board of Directors; Former Executive Director, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, Leslie Ann Dauphin, Director, Public Health Infrastructure Center, CDC, Taban Herrington, Chief of Staff, Kentucky Department of Public Health, Rebecca Gillis, Director, Division of Public Health Protection and Safety, Kentucky Department of Public Health, Sara Jo Best, President, Kentucky Health Departments Association and Director of Lincoln Trail District Health Department
Laying the Groundwork: Essentials of Public Health Workforce Development
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 3-4pm EDT
Description: What makes a strong workforce development program? Join this interactive session to learn the basics of workforce development planning and action. Explore why workforce development is important, how workforce development plays a role in health department accreditation, how retention and recruitment relate to workforce development planning, and opportunities to better meet workforce development needs within your organization.
Presenters: Ron Bialek, President, PHF, Sonja Armbruster, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF, Grace Davis, Project Associate, PHF
Culture Catalysts: Transforming Tribal Public Health Through Core Values and Staff Development
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 1-2:30pm EDT
Description: Discover how the Winnebago Public Health Department (WPHD) has successfully transformed its organization by embedding core values and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development for staff. Dr. Mona Zuffante, the Winnebago Chief Public Health Officer, will share insights on how the department addresses the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, implements quality improvement and performance management strategies, and focuses on capacity-building initiatives. These efforts not only enhance workforce retention and boost organizational performance but also lead to improved community health outcomes. This session provides valuable perspectives from a leader in Tribal public health, showcasing innovative approaches to building capacity within a Tribal health department.
Presenter: Mona Zuffante, Chief Public Health Officer, Winnebago Public Health Department (NE)
Now What?! Tools to Move From Workforce Assessment to Strategic Decision Making
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 3-4pm EDT
Description: Public health workforce development is a high priority for local health departments. This session will share new tools and methods developed by PHF to help local health departments go beyond the public health workforce calculator and capacity self-assessment to prioritizing actions to move forward, while making strategic decisions on workforce needs.
Presenters: Carol Moehrle, VP of Programs, PHF, Les Beitsch, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF, Matt Stefanak, Performance Improvement Expert, PHF
Maximizing Workforce Excellence: Leveraging the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals and TRAIN Learning Network
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 1-2:30pm EDT
Description: Join this session to explore two valuable resources widely used in public health workforce development: the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) and the TRAIN Learning Network (TRAIN). A consensus set of knowledge and skills for the broad practice of public health, the Core Competencies help to identify areas for professional development, and TRAIN, as the largest collection of public health training, offers numerous opportunities for filling those development needs. Learn the latest on resources and tools available to support implementing the Core Competencies in training and other workforce development efforts and leveraging TRAIN to provide and track competency-based training.
Presenters: Mayela Arana, Senior Program Manager, PHF, Jennifer Harmon, TRAIN Learning Network Engagement Manager, PHF
Pathways to Justice: Inclusive Practices Shaping the Kansas Heartland
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 3-4pm EDT
Description: Join for an insightful session focused on how the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is leveraging a quality improvement and performance management framework to drive equitable, inclusive, and justice-centered practices within the agency. This session will guide participants through KDHE’s journey, highlighting the organization's past experiences, current strategies, and future objectives designed to meet the evolving needs of Kansas communities. An overview of how KDHE adapts to changing environments and navigates challenges will be shared, offering valuable insights into the department’s approach to continuous improvement and responsiveness in public health. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how KDHE is working to ensure that its practices are fair, inclusive, and effective in making a positive impact across the state.
Presenter: Jade Ramsdell, Performance Improvement Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Unlocking Potential: Enhancing Capacity Through Academic Health Department Partnerships
Friday, October 18, 2024, 1-2:30pm EDT
Description: Interested in strengthening your organization's capacity to attract well-trained public health students, engage in practice-oriented research, and strengthen community partnerships? Join this session to learn more about academic health department (AHD) partnerships – formal partnerships between health departments and academic institutions – and hear success stories of partnerships in action from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (OH) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Explore the many benefits these collaborations offer and practical resources and tools to help you build and expand your own partnerships.
Presenters: Christine Beluk, AHD Manager, Massachusetts Department of Health, Sarah Worthington, Academic Public Health Manager, Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (OH), Mayela Arana, Senior Program Manager, PHF
Closing Panel Continuing Our Successes in Public Health: Advocating for the Workforce
Friday, October 18, 2024, 3-4pm EDT
Description: Wrap-up a week of learning by celebrating the public health workforce in this uplifting closing session! Advocating for the workforce is crucial to sustaining and expanding public health successes. Hear from public health leaders and colleagues about successful ways they have advocated for the public health workforce. Join us to reflect on the positives and strategize for impactful action moving forward.
Presenter: Carol Moehrle, VP of Programs, PHF, Ron Bialek, President, PHF, Joneigh Khaldun, Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer, CVS Health, Denise Fair Razo, Chief Public Health Officer, Detroit Health Department, Shelley Hearne, Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Judy Monroe, President and CEO, CDC Foundation