Public Health Systems Development - Office of the Secretary

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Learning and Development Overview:

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

People come from a variety of disciplines to work in public health. From administration and biology to nursing and zoology, they all have one thing in common: the work they do is aimed at protecting and improving the health of a whole community through actions that prevent the spread of diseases or that remove environmental risks to health. Health information changes rapidly, including science-based evidence about what treatments, policies and interventions are most effective. To assure that the public health workforce in Washington has access to current and timely education, two major venues are widely used to deliver various formats of training - SmartPH Learning Management System (SmartPH) and Washington Public Health Training Network (WAPHTN). These range from traditional classroom style instruction to web-based or distance learning and leadership development.

SmartPH Learning Management SysteM (SmartPH)

SmartPH is a web-based service that provides a way for Washington’s public health system to administer, deliver, and track training and education. Using SmartPH saves time over traditional training programs. It allows public health workers to take courses, manage their training records and target individual career plans. The system also allows for additional services such as handling of registrations, tracking of records and feedback collection.

Washington Public Health Training Network (WAPHTN)

WAPHTN is a system that links people in Washington State who are working toward achievement of public health goals, with training they need to improve public health. The network consists of:

Interdependent activities for developing and delivering high quality public health improvement training to Washington State and community health workers of diverse levels and settings
Partners who work together to carry out disease prevention activities
Shared resources of people and technology

WAPHTN provides access to traditional classroom style instruction/training as well as distance learning opportunities, satellite broadcasts, webcasts and self study courses. The process used to link people with training includes assessment, curriculum development, delivery and evaluation. The key to the network's effectiveness is the numerous partnerships it has developed, including the pivotal role of the University of Washington’s Northwest Center for Public Health Practice as well as training contacts throughout the state. WAPHTN serves as a primary link to the CDC Public Health Training Network, a national training network focusing on training opportunities through different distance learning formats.