A model for training public health workers in health policy: the Nebraska Health Policy Academy

• Published in: Preventing chronic disease 2014-05, Vol.11, p.E82, Article 140108
• Main Authors: Brandert, Kathleen, McCarthy, Claudine, Grimm, Brandon, Svoboda, Colleen, Palm, David, Stimpson, Jim P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academies and Institutes - organization & administration; Capacity Building; Community-Institutional Relations; Competency-Based Education - methods; Curriculum; Health Personnel; Health Policy; Humans; Local Government; Nebraska; Pilot Projects; Public Health - education; Public Health Practice - standards; Public Policy; Staff Development; State Government; Tools and Techniques
• ISSN: 1545-1151; 1545-1151
• DOI: 10.5888/pcd11.140108

There is growing recognition that health goals are more likely to be achieved and sustained if programs are complemented by appropriate changes in the policies, systems, and environments that shape their communities. However, the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to create and implement policy are among the major needs identified by practitioners at both the state and local levels. This article describes the structure and content of the Nebraska Health Policy Academy (the Academy), a 9-month program developed to meet the demand for this training. The Academy is a competency-based training program that aims to increase the capacity of Nebraska's state and local public health staff and their community partners to use public health policy and law as a public health tool. Our initiative allows for participation across a large, sparsely populated state; is grounded in adult learning theory; introduces the key principles and practices of policy, systems, and environmental change; and is offered free of charge to the state's public health workforce. Challenges and lessons learned when offering workforce development on public health policy efforts are discussed.