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History of GBPHLI
The 1998 Institute of Medicine Report states that, “Today,
the need for public health leaders is too great to leave their emergence
to chance.” In the same report, the IOM also noted that the public
health system was in jeopardy due to a lack of fundamental infrastructure
support. The events of September 11 and related Bioterroism attacks have
created a compelling need for the public health system to be able to plan
for and respond to new Homeland security risks. The Academic Council on
Linkages has identified ‘Leadership and Systems Thinking’ as
core competencies for public health professionals. The need for leadership
training is especially critical at this time, since experts anticipate
that between 30-40% of the senior public health workforce will leave full
time employment within the next five years. This tremendous drain of experienced
leadership must be met with a well-prepared pool of emerging leaders. In
order to meet these challenges, the Centers for Disease Control has helped
to support a network of 20 Public Health Leadership Institutes (PHLI’s)
in 43 states that provide specialized leadership training for the public
health workforce. Nevada and Utah are two of the seven states not currently
aligned with a PHLI.
On August 14, 2002, public health leaders from Nevada and Utah met in
Salt Lake City to formally establish a joint venture to address this critical
training need. The Great Basin Public Health Leadership Institute (GBPHLI)
was initiated under the general direction of the Utah Department of Health
(UDOH) and the Nevada Public Health Foundation (NPHF). Additional partners
were invited to participate, including representatives from Utah’s
twelve local health departments, the University of Utah graduate public
health program, the Association for State and Territorial Health Officials
(ASTHO), the Public Health Program Practice Office (PHPPO) of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Washoe County Health District
(WCHD), Clark County Health District (CCHD), and the Nevada State Health
Division (NSHD). This strategic planning session was facilitated by Dr.
Kathy Kennedy, the Director of the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental
Leadership (RIHIEL), a Colorado/New Mexico/Wyoming partnership. During
this meeting, the group formulated vision and mission statements, and developed
a set of guiding principles. Three key tasks were identified that were
necessary to develop the program: (1) Establishment of a formal governance
structure; (2) development of a business plan; and (3) development of the
content and framework for the training program.
A ten-member Advisory Committee (AC) was created to address these tasks,
with five members from each state. Most of the members of this AC are graduates
of one or more PHLI’s. One of the first tasks was the development
of a request to CDC for a grant for initial funding. The UDOH pledged financial
support from their Bioterrorism Grant, and the NPHF was able to secure
a small grant from the Nevada Health Trust Foundation. When adequate base
funding was established, the GBPHLI hired a part-time Executive Director
to help coordinate and manage the development of the Institute. This position
became full-time in May, 2003. Eight members of the AC (four from each
state) were accepted into the National Public Health Leadership Institute
(NPHLI) class of 2003-05. These two teams worked together to develop the
curriculum framework for the program. A business plan was drafted and edited
as progress was made and key goals were achieved. An agreement was reached
to create the GBPHLI as a private, non-profit entity that could represent
both states equally; being aligned with all partners, and controlled by
neither state. The final details for this governance plan are still being
decided.
The GBPHLI joined the National Public Health Leadership Development Network
(NPHLDN) in early, 2003. The Network is a consortium of organizations represented
by both academics and practitioners dedicated to building public health
leadership programs and skills in order to achieve optimal health outcomes
in communities. The mission of the Network is to increase public health
leadership capacity through the promotion of linkages among state, regional,
national, and international leadership programs.
The GBPHLI program has been developed utilizing data obtained a survey
of 12 existing PHLI’s, and from a survey of UT/NV public health workers
conducted during the summer of 2003. The overall program reflects a subset
of the national standards for competency-based curriculum framework accepted
by the NPHLDN. The scholars who are selected to participate in this program
are middle to senior leaders in state and local public health departments
in Nevada and Utah. They also include other leaders from the private and
non-profit centers, such as Community Health Centers, or community-based
delivery systems. Scholars will come from diversified professional backgrounds:
Nurses, physicians, environmental scientists, health educators, administrators,
and other allied professions. Elected and/or appointed public officials
may also apply. All scholars are linked together as critical members of
the public health team and the public health system.
The GBPHLI has developed this program to provide a systematic and integrated
learning experience for busy adult learners. The year-long program has
been designed to offer scholars an opportunity to challenge their current
leadership abilities, and to learn new leadership skills. Each scholar
will work on a public health project during the course that will afford
them the opportunity to immediately apply their new skills and insight
on leadership while in the program. The curriculum for this program is
based upon a set of ten leadership competencies. Scholars will receive
individualized coaching and mentoring as they progress through the program.
Each scholar will be required to participate in a 360º feedback process.
They will also study two textbooks and have additional reading assignments
throughout the year. The program is designed around three (3) 3-1/2 day
onsite workshops. Prior to the first workshop, and during the interim periods,
scholars will participate in self-study and distance learning events.
The faculty that have been selected for both the on-site training and
distance learning events are experts in their field. They have demonstrated
a capacity to address working adult learners. They blend the best of academic
and practical experience. Many of the faculty selected as instructors for
the GBPHLI have demonstrated their excellence as instructors in other PHLI
programs.
Scholars selected for this program will sign a letter of commitment to
declare their ability and willingness to apply themselves throughout the
year. While there are no minimum requirements for participation (i.e. undergraduate
or graduate degrees), the individuals will typically have that level of
formal education. The Selection Committee will consider their leadership
experience and how they anticipate applying their new skills to the practice
of public health. Scholars will also need to demonstrate that their organization
(and supervisor) are willing to offer adequate financial support, as well
as time for their attendance and participation.
The GBPHLI has secured the necessary infrastructure support and funding
to operate the Institute and deliver the first year’s program. This
includes the acquisition of almost all of the necessary equipment and supplies
for the first full year of operation. The budget for the program reflects
revenue from the primary funding sources (UDOH, NSHD, CDC, NPHT), as well
as projected tuition revenue. The first class is expected to include 36
scholars. The Institute has already completed an application for continued
funding from ASTHO/CDC for the 2004-05 year.
Formal evaluation for the program will be conducted throughout the program
year by adapting evaluation tools that have been successfully utilized
in other PHLI’s. The program will be modified according to results
of the evaluation. The Institute is being created as a quality organization,
therefore, it will develop appropriate measures to determine operational,
as well as program, effectiveness. Measures will include customer satisfaction
(scholar level), as well as partner satisfaction measures (faculty, sponsors,
etc.).
The business plan that follows provides added detail on the history of
the Institute, as well as a detailed operations plan, and a plan to sustain
the Institute over time. The GBPHLI journey began at a meeting in St. Louis,
in April, 2002. Most Institutes have taken an average of three years from
concept to operation. The GBPHLI has been able to complete this process
in less than two year. This reflects the strong support from the primary
sponsors, the dedicated service of the Advisory Committee, and the acceptance
of a strong and unifying vision for the Institute, to help foster a “healthy
future for the people of the Great Basin.”
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