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BACKGROUND: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS) provides the MICA (Missouri Information for Community Assessment) web data query system to disseminate health data to local health departments (LHDs) and other stakeholders. LHDs expressed a need for training on the tools and community health assessment in general.
METHODS: The MODHSS Bureau of Health Care Analysis and Data Dissemination (BHCADD) consulted with LHDs and Missouri's Center for Local Public Health Services to develop a series of training courses that address the content and features of the tools, basic health statistics, and strategies for communicating health statistics to diverse audiences. This session will describe all aspects of planning Missouri's health data trainings, including curriculum development, recruitment, funding, and partnership building, as well as evaluation methods used.
RESULTS: Evaluation and survey results, as well as anecdotal feedback and increased demand for the courses, indicate that Missouri has developed and implemented a successful training program that assists in building epidemiological capacity at the local level. Since 2009, 724 individuals have attended at least one of the courses. Many public health stakeholders in addition to LHDs now attend the trainings, including staff from nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, and hospitals and clinics. During the most recent summer trainings, 6 of the 15 initially offered courses filled within three business days. Two additional courses were scheduled in late summer due to the high demand. Selected scores and comments from course evaluations will be shared.
CONCLUSIONS: Missouri's health data training program could be easily adapted for other states/jurisdictions. Materials that could be customized for use in other areas will be made available. These include agendas, learning objectives, evaluations, and handbooks. Presenters will also discuss ideas for future expansion of the training program through webinars and review sessions.