Category: Learning Module

Format

Policy Analysis in the Policy Process and How Systems Thinking Fits In

Course Objective

Define Stage Two of the CDC policy process i.e. Policy Analysis
List types of evidence that can be reviewed as part of the policy analysis phase
Assess feasibility of available policy options via framing questions and rubrics
Identify and define key variables in a complex public health issue
Sketch and interpret a simple systems map/ causal loop diagram
Define and identify leverage points in a system and assess their potential impact on the system
Discuss the importance of systems modeling and explore how systems models can be used to ask and answer policy-relevant questions

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Date: June 30th 2021

Subject Matter Experts:
Helen de Pinho, MBBCh, FCCH (Public Health), MBA
Assistant Professor at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, and Associate Director of the Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program (AMDD) at Columbia University

Sylvia Pirani, MPH, MS
Public Health Practice Consultant

Using a scenario focused on the opioid problem in the fictitious ‘Tycho County’, this course will describe how the ‘Policy Analysis’ stage of the CDC policy process can be implemented by a health department using systems thinking tools and approaches.

Recommended Pre-Requisites:

Participants will be able to:

Define Stage Two of the CDC policy process i.e. Policy Analysis
List types of evidence that can be reviewed as part of the policy analysis phase
Assess feasibility of available policy options via framing questions and rubrics
Identify and define key variables in a complex public health issue
Sketch and interpret a simple systems map/ causal loop diagram
Define and identify leverage points in a system and assess their potential impact on the system
Discuss the importance of systems modeling and explore how systems models can be used to ask and answer policy-relevant questions

Strategy and Policy Development in the Policy Process and How Systems Thinking Fits In

Course Objective

Define Stage Three of the CDC policy process i.e. Strategy and Policy Development
Describe the steps that Health Departments can follow to develop an enactment strategy and draft an actual policy
Understand how systems thinking tools can help strengthen the strategy and policy development process

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Date: June 30th 2021

Subject Matter Experts:
Sylvia Pirani, MPH, MS
Public Health Practice Consultant

Helen de Pinho, MBBCh, FCCH (Public Health), MBA
Assistant Professor at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, and Associate Director of the Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program (AMDD) at Columbia University

Using a scenario focused on the opioid problem in the fictitious ‘Tycho County’, this course will describe how the ‘Strategy and Policy Development’ stage of the CDC policy process can be implemented by a health department using systems thinking tools and approaches.

Recommended Pre-Requisites:

Participants will be able to:

Define Stage Three of the CDC policy process i.e. Strategy and Policy Development
Describe the steps that Health Departments can follow to develop an enactment strategy and draft an actual policy
Understand how systems thinking tools can help strengthen the strategy and policy development process

Succession Planning and Workforce Development for Public Health Agencies

Course Objective

Define “succession planning” for public health agencies
Present the reasons for a succession planning process in public health agencies, even during challenging times
Explain the key elements of the succession planning process
Link the elements of change management to organizational succession planning
Clarify the critical success factors for succession planning in public health

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Date: June 30th 2021

Subject Matter Expert:
Emil J. Sadloch
President, Sadloch Development Associates & Instructor for Rutgers University’s Executive and Professional Education, School of Public Health, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

This course describes how health departments can undertake succession planning and workforce development efforts, even during ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) times, using a case study approach set in the fictitious Tycho County.

Recommended Pre-Requisites:

Participants will be able to:

Define “succession planning” for public health agencies
Present the reasons for a succession planning process in public health agencies, even during challenging times
Explain the key elements of the succession planning process
Link the elements of change management to organizational succession planning
Clarify the critical success factors for succession planning in public health

Vital Records and Vital Statistics: The Backbone of Public Health in America

Course Objectives

Outline the history of civil registration in what is now known as the United States of America.
Identify the Constitutional, legislative, and regulatory foundations that govern the functioning of the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).
Describe methods for accessing vital event data for research purposes
Analyze the forces that have made vital records important.
Describe the process and parties involved in registering a death.
Describe the process and parties involved in registering a birth
Explain the importance of records management to the maintenance of vital records and the operations of vital records offices.
Characterize the importance of the integrity of the information on birth and death certificates
Give reasons for the basic principles of vital records corrections and amendments.
Describe how vital statistics laws are modified in the United States.
Analyze frequently-proposed legislation.

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Date: March 2021

Presenter:
Gretchen Van Wye, PhD, MA
Assistant Commissioner and Registrar, Bureau of Vital Statistics,
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

If you had to develop a public health intervention designed to protect basic human rights, connect your target population with upstream social determinants of health like education, housing, and income, and ensure that their existential drive to exist were acknowledged, a birth certificate just might be it. Invisible and mundane to most of the world, birth certificates – and death certificates, as well – document the stories how of humans come into and go out of this world. And, come and go they do. Vital records are the documents that catalog these experiences millions of times each year in the U.S., and vital statistics are the subset of the information on these records that public health students and professionals know and love.

This course focuses on the history, policy, management, and protection of vital records and vital statistics in the United States and will open learners’ eyes to the surprisingly fascinating world of vital events.

Learners who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Outline the history of civil registration in what is now known as the United States of America.
Identify the Constitutional, legislative, and regulatory foundations that govern the functioning of the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).
Describe methods for accessing vital event data for research purposes
Analyze the forces that have made vital records important.
Describe the process and parties involved in registering a death.
Describe the process and parties involved in registering a birth
Explain the importance of records management to the maintenance of vital records and the operations of vital records offices.
Characterize the importance of the integrity of the information on birth and death certificates
Give reasons for the basic principles of vital records corrections and amendments.
Describe how vital statistics laws are modified in the United States.
Analyze frequently-proposed legislation.

Reducing Obesity and Diet-Related Diseases by Limiting Predatory Marketing of Unhealthy Food

Course Objective

Learning Objectives for Part I: Understanding Predatory Marketing

Define targeted and predatory marketing.
Distinguish between different types of predatory marketing, with examples.
Describe digital media avenues used for predatory marketing.
Explain how targeted marketing of unhealthy food leads to negative health outcomes, particularly for certain populations.

Learning Objectives for Part II: What Health Departments Can Do to Combat Predatory Marketing

Describe ways to increase awareness of predatory marketing in communities.
Describe how local, state and federal governments can regulate predatory marketing.
List at least 2 actionable strategies for communities to decrease predatory marketing practices.
List 3 policy measures that could be taken to limit predatory marketing of unhealthy food at the city/local, state OR national level.

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Launch Date: June 30th, 2020

Presenter:
Nicholas Freudenberg, DrPH, MPH
Distinguished Professor of Public Health, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Director, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute

Unhealthy food is the leading cause of premature death and preventable illness around the world today. Predatory marketing makes a significant contribution to this burden. Public health professionals can play an important role in reducing the prevalence and exposure to predatory marketing. This two-part training module develops an understanding of the current landscape of predatory marketing of unhealthy food and beverages, and how it promotes negative health outcomes particularly for vulnerable populations. This program will define the role of health departments in addressing predatory marketing, outline ways health departments can help document predatory marketing in their communities, and provide recommendations and examples of policy engagement activities public health professionals can get involved in.

Learning Objectives for Part I: Understanding Predatory Marketing

Define targeted and predatory marketing.
Distinguish between different types of predatory marketing, with examples.
Describe digital media avenues used for predatory marketing.
Explain how targeted marketing of unhealthy food leads to negative health outcomes, particularly for certain populations.

Learning Objectives for Part II: What Health Departments Can Do to Combat Predatory Marketing

Describe ways to increase awareness of predatory marketing in communities.
Describe how local, state and federal governments can regulate predatory marketing.
List at least 2 actionable strategies for communities to decrease predatory marketing practices.
List 3 policy measures that could be taken to limit predatory marketing of unhealthy food at the city/local, state OR national level.

Change Management: How Leadership can Support Staff During Crises

Course Objective

Explain key elements of the adaptive leadership model.
List the 4 dimensions of change readiness and list questions to be raised under each dimension.
Describe how a planned change initiative can be implemented using Kotter’s 8-step model.

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Launch Date: June 30th, 2020

Subject Matter Expert:
Emil J. Sadloch
President, Sadloch Development Associates & Instructor for Rutgers University’s Executive and Professional Education
School of Public Health, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

The Strategic Skills Training Series developed by the Region 2 PHTC aims to help prepare public health leaders and the public health workforce to develop the practices and competencies associated with being a Chief Health Strategist. This training is the second in the Strategic Skills Training Series focused on Change Management for Public Health Professionals. This module explains the utility of the adaptive leadership model and the 4 dimensions of change readiness to address public health workforce issues, specifically focusing on staff morale. It also guides you through Kotter’s 8-step model to plan, implement, and sustain change within an organization.

Participants will learn about the following:

Explain key elements of the adaptive leadership model.
List the 4 dimensions of change readiness and list questions to be raised under each dimension.
Describe how a planned change initiative can be implemented using Kotter’s 8-step model.

An Overview of the Policy Process in Public Health and the Need for Systems Thinking

Course Objective

Explain the role of policy engagement in public health
Describe how policy is understood in a Public Health 3.0 context
Define the role of a public health agency in policy making
List ways that systems thinking concepts and tools can strengthen the policy process

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Launch Date: June 30th, 2020

Presenter:
Sylvia Pirani, MPH, MS
Public Health Practice Consultant

Engaging in policy making is an essential activity of public health agencies and staff to achieve the goals of Public Health 3.0 and to work collaboratively to address the social determinants of health. This training provides an overview of the policy making process as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, draws on the COVID-19 and other complex public health problems to discuss the challenges commonly faced by public health agencies during this policy process, and makes the case for using a systems thinking approach to overcome these policy roadblocks and address unintended consequences.

Participants will learn about the following:

Explain the role of policy engagement in public health
Describe how policy is understood in a Public Health 3.0 context
Define the role of a public health agency in policy making
List ways that systems thinking concepts and tools can strengthen the policy process

Assessing your Audience for More Effective Cross-Sector Collaboration

Course Objective

Define an audience analysis
List approaches to audience analysis
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on situational characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on demographic characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on audience disposition and motivation

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Launch Date: June 30, 2020

Subject Matter Expert:
Nick Linardopoulos, PhD
Assistant Teaching Professor & Public Speaking Coordinator
Rutgers University, School of Communication & Information, Department of Communication

Multi-sector collaboration is increasingly important for addressing health challenges. This training focuses on assessing audiences to develop tailored communication strategies for building collaborative partnerships. Using a case approach based in fictitious Tycho County, this training will describe the steps of developing an Audience Analysis strategy in order to build cross-sectoral partnerships to address opioid misuse.

Participants will learn about the following:

Define an audience analysis
List approaches to audience analysis
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on situational characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on demographic characteristics
Describe how to conduct an audience analysis based on audience disposition and motivation

Taking Intelligent Risks: Leading Change that Works

Course Objective

Understand the role and importance of change in the workplace
Describe and identify reasons why people are resistant to change
Learn how to implement beneficial strategies to effectively manage change in the workplace

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Date: February 4th 2020

Presenter:
Dr. Paul Thurman
Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

In this month’s Log-in2Learn, participants will explore how to navigate change in the workplace with Dr. Paul Thurman, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The course describes the concept of change in a professional setting, what changes are needed to make healthcare companies agile and how to implement these changes in the workplace. The webinar also explores the barriers to intelligent change management, providing managers and leaders with actionable tips to overcome these barriers.

Participants will learn about the following three lessons about public health communication:

Understand the role and importance of change in the workplace
Describe and identify reasons why people are resistant to change
Learn how to implement beneficial strategies to effectively manage change in the workplace

A Systems Approach to Understanding Childhood Obesity

Course Objective

By the end of this module, you should know how to:

Describe public health as part of a larger inter-related system of organizations that influence the health of populations at local, national, and global levels.
Describe different stakeholders with the power to address childhood obesity.
Explain how local health departments (LHDs) can use systems thinking approaches while planning intersectoral initiatives to reduce inequities in childhood obesity.

…and see how you can incorporate these concepts in your practice to address a major public health crisis.

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This module developed by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center (PHTC) aims to explore how to use problem solving approaches inspired by systems thinking to reduce inequities in childhood obesity.* Systems thinking is a methodological approach that helps us better understand how complex systems operate, and how we can identify leverage points within systems to influence behavior. Since this is a foundational module, our goal is just to introduce how a systems thinking lens can be applied to a major public health issue.

In this module, you will learn how to identify the characteristics of a system in a public health context.

*To learn more about systems thinking, please enroll in the course ‘Introduction to Systems Thinking’, part of the Strategic Skills training series also offered by the Region 2 Public Health Training Center.