About this course

Conducting health screenings according to approved standards are an important school nurse responsibility. This training provides information on the regulations and practice standards for conducting vision, hearing, Body Mass Index, and postural screening of school-aged children. This is one of four training workshops mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in order to be licensed as a School Nurse.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to:

• Identify the laws and regulations that govern mandated school health screenings
• Plan and schedule school health screenings
• Manage school health screenings
  
• Document and interpret screening results
  
• Complete the referral process, including reporting to MDPH
  

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH, BSN, RN Director SHIELD/ Nurse Planner, BUSPH
• 
  Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN Director School Health Services
  Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• 
  Caitlin Pettengill, DNP, RN Assistant Director of School Health Services Massachusetts
  Department
  of Public Health

Special acknowledgements

• Thank you to the MA School Nurse Regional Consultants and the MA Department of Public Health School Health Services Unit for their contributions to this course design.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

About this course

Creating Persuasive Public Health Messaging is a one-hour self paced course for public health managers and leaders. An “online, self-paced” version of the Creating Your Marketing Pitch half day workshop, this version contains examples from Rhode Island and Ohio.

This training is a collaboration project between Region 1 PHTC (New England Public Health Center - NEPHTC) and Region 7 PHTC (Midwestern Public Health Training Center - MPHTC).

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Identify the four pillars of a strong brand
• Explain how to formulate a clear, concise, compelling, and consistent elevator pitch
• Explain how to build a strong brand message hierarchy
• Discuss common mistakes to avoid when creating persuasive messaging
• Apply the characteristics of effective messaging using realistic public health case studies

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Michele Levy 
  Marketing Consultant
  ML Brand Strategy Consulting

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

_{Acknowledgement: This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program.” This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.}

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

Sobre este curso

Como un promotor de salud en la comunidad, una función clave es proveerles cuidados a poblaciones vulnerables para poder conectarlos con los servicios apropiados. Para lograr esto, los trabajadores en el campo de la salud deben identificar cuando debería realizarse una tarea de alcance y como desarrollar un plan de alcance efectivo.

Qué aprenderás

Tras completar este curso, podrás:

• Describir qué son las tareas de alcance y los componentes del Modelo de Alcance de la Salud
• Identificar las cualidades y características de una población vulnerable y qué inicia el trabajo de alcance
• Conocer tips que te mantendrán seguro en tus esfuerzos
• Describir cómo seleccionar métodos y estrategias de alcance efectivos
• Listar los elementos de un plan de alcance efectivo

Experta en el Tema

• 
  Dawn Heffernan, RN, MS, CDE

  Directora
  Western Massachusetts
  Public Health Training Center
  

Horario de Registro y Contacto

El Certificado de Realización incluirá la duración del módulo. Generalmente 50-60 minutos equivalen a 1 hora de contacto. Las horas de contacto pueden utilizarse para cumplir con los requisitos de ciertas credenciales. Confirme con su ente acreditador para verificar si este tema cumple con sus requisitos de educación continua.

¿No puedes acceder al curso? Contacta a support@nephtc.org

Reconocimiento:

Este Proyecto ha sido/fue subsidiado por la Administración de Recursos y Servicios de Salud (HRSA) del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales de los Estados Unidos (HHS) bajo el número de subsidio UB6HP27877 “Programa Centro Regional de Entrenamiento en Salud”. La información, contenido y conclusiones son propias del autor y no deben considerarse como la posición o política oficial del HRSA, HHS o del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos.

About this course

This 10 module training series covers the basic principles of infection prevention and control that form the basis for CDC recommendations for dental health care settings.

The training was recorded with an audience of dental professionals in Vermont on June 10th 2019.  Adhering to the CDC script, presenter comments are excluded.  

Vermont and Rhode Island dental health care personnel and administrative staff  have a new option for learning about infection control in a dental practice setting! This 10 module series takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete and is based on the CDC's Basic Expectations for Safe Care training modules. This free course has been approved for 3.5 CE credits by both the RI and VT Boards of Dental Examiners.

CDC citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; October 2016.

Adapted from: Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Provide basic infection prevention principles and recommendations for dental health care settings.
• Reaffirm standard precautions as the foundation for preventing transmission of infectious agents during patient care in all dental health care settings.
• Access links to full guidelines and source documents that can be referenced for more detailed background information and recommendations.

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Kathy J. Eklund

  Director of Occupational Health
  and Safety, RDH MHP 

Ms. Eklund is the Director of Occupational Health and Safety, and the Forsyth Research Subject and Patient Safety Advocate at The Forsyth Institute. She is adjunct faculty at Regis College, Dental Hygiene Program where she teaches senior level courses in Oral Health Research and Evidence-Based Decision Making. Ms. Eklund serves as faculty for the New England AIDS Education and Training Center and HIVdent.org. She is a member and 2017-2019 Chair of the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) Board of Directors. Ms. Eklund is a consultant to the ADA Council on Dental Practice.

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

About this course

This self-study course introduces learners to the fundamental tools of Systems Thinking.

Systems thinking provides a framework for identifying and addressing the underlying causes of complex problems. This approach minimizes responding to problem symptoms and the associated unintended consequences of quick fixes.

This training will provide an overview of key concepts and specific tools for use with a systems thinking approach.

Systems thinking skills were identified as one of the top new skills needed by the public health workers in a recent report “Building Skills For a More Strategic Workforce” from the National Consortium for Public Health Workforce Development.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Define Systems Thinking and describe its application in understanding and resolving complex problems.
• Explain three Systems Thinking tools (the Iceberg, System Archetypes, and Belief/Action/Results (BAR) framework).
• Apply these Systems Thinking tools to an important issue in your workplace.

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Julia Ross, Systems Thinking Consultant

  Ross & Company, Inc.
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

About this course

School Nurses are responsible for providing care for students so they can be successful, healthy, and safe in school. School Nurses are managers of, and hold full responsibility for, the school's medication administration program. This course provides the key information every School Nurse needs to know about medication administration in Massachusetts public and private schools including:

• Regulations and oversight of medication administration and delegation in Massachusetts
• The School Nurse’s role and responsibilities
• Medication administration resources and compliance tools
• Step-by-step processes required for medication delegation
• Delegation training materials for unlicensed assistive personnel
• Guidance around individual student situations
• Guidance in how to register with the MA Department of Public Health (MDPH) to register for delegation and medication administration in the school setting

This is one of four training workshops mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in order to be licensed as a School Nurse. Participation in this workshop is also required every five years for School Nurses listed on the school district’s MDPH Medication Delegation Registration Application.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to:

• Outline a School Nurse's responsibilities around medication administration
  
• Identify a School Nurse's obligations  under Federal, State, and Local Regulations
  
• Describe types of medication delegation in a school setting and identify situations that can and cannot be delegated
  
• Describe the five rights of delegation
• Identify the best practice approach for several common student situations
  

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN

  Director of School Health Services
  Department of Public Health
  

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

The materials for this course may be audited at no cost. No credit or certificates are provided for this option. Auditing is recommended for anyone who wants to review the course material, access resources, or to refresh skills. Completion of a pre-test is required to begin the audit but, once you’ve completed the pre-test, you will have future access to the course without having to repeat it.

Course resources (i.e., forms, regulations, guidelines, ebook) are also available in SHIELD’s Medication Administration and Delegation Resources Section.

About this course

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 170,000 kids and teens are treated in an emergency department each year for sports or recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions. Playing or practicing with a concussion is dangerous and can lead to a longer recovery and an increased risk for more serious brain injury. This course will help you create an environment that supports students who have suffered a concussion and that allows them to safely return to learn and play.

This course contains four lessons with information about concussions, related Massachusetts laws and regulations, and guidelines for students to return to learn and play. After completion of a pre-test, post-test, and evaluation, a certificate of completion will be issued that satisfies the annual training requirement in Massachusetts regulation 105 CMR 201.007.

The certificate will be valid for one year, July 1 - June 30.

For clinicians: Note this course is eligible for participation credit only. For CME/CNE credit, see courses offered by MA Medical Society [ http://www.massmed.org/CME/ConcussionTreatmentManagementandPrevention/] or CDC [ https://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/clinicians/index.html]

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Michael Beasley, MD Division of Sports Medicine Boston Children's Hospital

• 
  Linda Brown Division of Violence and Injury Prevention Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• 
  Carilyn Rains, MEd, BSN, RN Director, School Health Services Plymouth Public Schools

• Alan Kulberg, MD, Concussion Clinic, Berkshire Medical Center


• Kathy Thornton, MS, LAT Injury Prevention & Athletic Training Southcoast Health

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Note there are two different options for enrolling in this course highlighted in the table below.

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

About this course

Local health departments are responsible for creating and maintaining conditions that keep people in their communities healthy and safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has defined and recently updated 10 essential public health services that communities should undertake to protect and promote the health of all people in their community. This training uses a case study (based on an actual infectious disease outbreak) to relate each step of the investigation to one of the 10 essential public health services. Public health professionals should be able to describe each of these essential services, and should work to ensure that all 10 services are provided in their community.

What you'll learn

After completing the training, you will be able to...

• Summarize the 10 essential public health services
• Describe the three local board of health (LBOH) responsibilities for infectious disease investigation: reporting, case investigation, and controlling further spread of infectious diseases
• Classify disease investigation activities into one of the 10 essential public health services
• Give examples of partners that are necessary to deliver the 10 essential public health services
• List the signs and symptoms of a specific pathogen linked to this case study

Subject Matter Experts

• 
  Anne Fidler, ScD

  Assistant Dean and Professor,
  Boston University 
  School of Public Health
  

• 
  Kathleen MacVarish, MS

  Associate Professor
  of the Practice
  Boston University 
  School of Public Health
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements. Select the Enroll Me button below to enroll for this course. 

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

* Yale School of Public Health, Office of Public Health Practice, a New England Public Health Training Center partner, is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. All CHES credit inquiries are managed by YSPH

About this course

As a community health outreach worker, a key function of the role is providing health outreach to vulnerable populations in order to connect them with the appropriate enabling services. In order to do so, community health workers must be able to identify when outreach should occur and how to develop the most effective outreach plan.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Articulate what outreach is and the components of the Health Outreach Model
• Identify qualities and characteristics of vulnerable populations and what triggers outreach
• List tips to keep you safe in your outreach efforts
• Describe how to choose effective outreach methods and strategies
• Outline the elements of an effective outreach plan

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Dawn Heffernan, RN, MS, CDE

  Director,
  Western Massachusetts
  Public Health Training Center
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Note there are two different options for enrolling in this course highlighted in the table below.

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

Acknowledgement:

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP27877 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program”. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this course

Whether you are managing a single program or an entire public health department, understanding the basic principles of branding and marketing can be crucial to your success. Every program and organization has key stakeholders. The goal of this course is to offer concrete strategies for communicating with those stakeholders in order to support your broader program and organizational goals.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Describe the four pillars of building a strong brand
• Outline the steps for developing an effective marketing communications plan which includes:
  • Understanding the mission and goals
  • Knowing the audience
  • Identifying the core umbrella messaging
  • Defining messaging by target audience, and
  • Identifying and prioritizing tactics
• Describe the importance of educating the staff and other stakeholders on desired brand behaviors, and
• Identify and track success metrics.

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Michele Levy

  Marketing Consultant
  ML Brand Strategy 
  Consulting
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

Acknowledgement:

This training was supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) with funds made available by the Grant or Cooperative Agreement Number 6 NB01OT009172-01-02, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services. This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31685 "Regional Public Health Training Center (PHTC) Program." This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this course

This course provides an overview of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and the risks it poses to people and pets. Learn how to monitor recreational waters for cyanobacteria (including distinguishing it from look-alikes), manage recreational waters when cyanobacteria is present, and track blooms. Information is provided on documentation through photographs, water sampling and reporting systems.

This training is intended for public health and environmental personnel, state and municipal employees responsible for management of recreational waters, citizen scientists participating in a cyanobacteria monitoring program, as well as anyone interested in learning about cyanobacteria and how recreational waters are monitored and managed from a public health perspective.

This training was developed in conjunction with the University of Vermont, Vermont Department of Public Health, and Lake Champlain Committee to address the concern about water quality in Vermont. Therefore, the regulations and administrative processes cited are specific to Vermont. However, the underlying science and public health implications are applicable to all states and jurisdictions.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to address the following questions.

• What are cyanobacteria?
• What are the risks to people and pets?
• How do you monitor for it?
• What should you do if you find it?
• How can you track instances?

Subject Matter Expert

• 
  Lynn Blevins

  Clinical Assistant Professor
  University of Vermont
  College of Medicine
  

Enrollment and Contact Hours

Note there are two different options for enrolling in this course highlighted in the table below.

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

If you wish to receive contact hours in Massachusetts, please go to the Massachusetts-specific training on Recreational Waters.

About this course

Have you ever attended a meeting that was disorganized, took much longer than it should have, and ended with nothing to show for it? We've all sat through meetings like that at some point in our careers. Not only are they frustrating to the attendees, but they also deplete one of our most valuable resources, time. In this training, you'll learn about the key components of successful meetings so you can plan, set up, and run a meeting that makes the best use of everyone's time.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Determine the need for a meeting
• Plan a successful meeting
• Set up a meeting
• Effectively run a meeting
• Follow up after a meeting

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

Acknowledgement:

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP27877 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program”. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

About this course

As a manager, you wear two hats that can be difficult to manage effectively. On one hand, you have to evaluate your employees and make decisions regarding promotions, demotions, salary actions, and terminations. On the other hand, you are also a coach and an advocate for your employees' success. Employees may be reluctant to be frank and discuss weaknesses or mistakes. While there is no perfect solution, this course will help you to understand the problems and provide you with a strategy to effectively balance these two inherently conflicting roles.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you will be able to...

• Apply the four-step coaching process
  
• Make clear separations between performance reviews and developmental coaching sessions
  
• Demonstrate how to listen effectively and with empathy
  
• Recognize how to discuss performance issues that will impact an employee's ability to achieve his/her goals

Enrollment and Contact Hours

The Certificate of Completion will include the length of the module. Generally 50 – 60 minutes is equivalent to 1 contact hour. Contact hours may be applicable towards continuing education requirements for certain credentials. Check with your credentialing body to verify if the topic meets its continuing education requirements.

Having trouble accessing the course? Contact support@nephtc.org

Acknowledgement:

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP27877 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program”. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.