Public Health Departments and

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• Public Health Departments and
• Agency Collaboration within the Aging Network
• Cindi Melanson, MPH, CHES
• Public Health Prevention Service
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• August 20, 2009

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Outline of Presentation

• Overview of the Public Health Prevention Service
  (PHPS)
• Opportunities for health agencies
• Prevention specialist assignments
• Application logistics
• Questions/Comments

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PHPS Mission Training and Service
To contribute to the development of a highly
trained public health workforce of prevention
specialists with public health experience and the
management and leadership skills necessary to
promote the health of populations at the
global, national, state, and local levels.

PHPS Class of 2008
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Prevention Specialists learn through

• Responsible work at the community, state, and
  national levels
• Hands-on work assignments
• Training that includes case studies,
  classroom, and distance learning
• Supervision and mentoring by experts from CDC,
  state, and local health agencies

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PHPS Competency Domains

• Analytic Assessment and Epidemiology
• Basic Public Health Science
• Policy Development and Program Planning
• Communication
• Cultural Competency
• Community Relations and Community
• Dimensions of Practice
• Financial Planning and Management
• Health Services Organizations
• Leadership Professionalism

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Training and Service Focus

• Year One
• Two assignments at CDC

• Years Two and Three
• Single assignment in a public health agency

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Classes 1997-2008 Field-Based PHPS


13
3
4
1
3
9
5
15
8
1
6
3
4
2
2
4
1
3
13
1
2
1
11
6
7
2
7
23
4
5
1
17
4
3
2
5

15
5
22
2
2
7
14
14

5
7
No assignments yet
Puerto Rico - 1
American Samoa - 1
New partners
US Virgin Islands - 1
N. Mariana Islands - 1
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Responsibilities

• PHPS provides
• A qualified prevention specialist for 2-year
  assignment
• Salary and employment benefits for the prevention
  specialist
• PHPS related training expenses
• Ongoing support for the agency and prevention
  specialist
• Health agency provides
• Training and learning opportunities
• Required office space and equipment
• Periodic assessments of performance, products and
  professional development
• Travel expenses for assignment-related activities
  and professional development opportunities
• Appropriate mentoring and supervision
• Meaningful assignments in program management

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PHPS Field Assignments

• Designed to meet the needs of the health agency
  and overall training objectives of PHPS and
  prevention specialist
• Assignments must
• Provide challenging and meaningful work
• Allow the prevention specialist to develop and
  apply skills
• Provide opportunities for prevention specialist
  to meet PHPS performance requirements
• Types of activities
• Grant and project management
• Staff planning
• Program implementation and evaluation
• Policy development

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Eligible Agencies

• State and local health departments
• Departments of environment
• U.S. territorial health departments
• Indian Health Service area offices
• Tribal organizations
• Other public health agencies that have an active
  collaboration with a state or local health
  department

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Highlights of CDC Experiences

• Contributions to
• CDC Directors testimony to Senate Committee on
  Aging regarding older adults and preparedness
• Protecting Vulnerable Populations during Public
  Health Emergencies funding proposal
• Aging and Health Resource Guide (to be posted on
  CDC Healthy Aging internet site)
• Shingles vaccine communication materials for
  older adult population

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Highlights of Current Field Assignments

• Physical activity education at independent living
  center for adults 65 in Milwaukee, WI
• Coordination of state-wide Safe Aging Coalition
  in KY
• Development of policy portfolio for best
  practices to promote healthy aging (KY, for
  National Assoc. of Chronic Disease Directors)
• Implementation of heat-related morbidity and
  mortality prevention program in NYC (gt65 years)
• Coordination of ACHIEVE initiatives including
  community garden for seniors in Houston, TX
• Assessment of health and social and economic
  measures of older adults in Manchester, NH

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Phases of Field Assignment Process and
Approximate Dates

• One Request for Applications (RFA) - Dec-Jan
• Two Letters of Intent (LOI) Jan (175/year)
• Three Application Process March-April
• Four Open Recruitment April - May
• Five Interview Process - July
• Six Matching Process July August
• Seven Statement of Agreement - September

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Questions?
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ContactCindi Melanson, MPH, CHESDirectorPublic
Health Prevention ServiceCDC404-498-6389CMela
nson_at_cdc.govwww.cdc.gov/phps