Kentucky Institute of Public Health Practice Enhancement

Member Organizations Eastern Kentucky University

Kentucky Health Department Association

Recent national studies have reported a shortage of trained public health professionals. In Kentucky, more than half of the public health workforce lacks formal education/training in the essential services of the core functions of public health. The viability of the public health infrastructure in the Commonwealth depends on a capable workforce fully competent to respond to the challenge of assuring health to all Kentuckians.

During the fall of 2006, a survey was administered to measure the core competencies of directors of local health departments in Kentucky. The analysis and interpretation of this survey information has identified specific educational needs of the public health workforce. Using this information, this project will establish a model for demonstrating collaborative efforts by the Kentucky Institute of Public Health Practice Enhancement to develop a curriculum addressing the identified educational needs of the public health workforce.

The University of Kentucky’s Prevention Research Center, a funding source for this project, has two goals that are consistent with the aims of the Institute: 1) maintaining an ongoing partnership with providers of public health at the local level and 2) providing technical assistance and training to practitioners. An additional source of funding is the Southeast Public Health Training Center. The Kentucky Institute of Public Health Practice Enhancement will serve as a bridge between academia and public health practice in this collaborative effort for addressing the workforce development of public health practitioners at the local and state levels. The Institute will provide a practice-based environment for the public health workforce, students and faculty to learn and to teach.

Mission Statement

To improve the health outcomes and quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Kentucky by enhancing public health practice

Purpose

To enhance the professional development of the public health workforce in the Commonwealth

 

BYLAWS OF THE KENTUCKY INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Kentucky Institute for Public Health Practice Enhancement is to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Kentucky by enhancing public health practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

ARTICLE I: NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization is Kentucky Institute of Public Health Practice Enhancement, hereinafter referred to in the Bylaws as the Institute.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

SECTION I: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Institute shall be to develop and deliver post-secondary and continuing education courses to address identified educational and training needs of the public health workforce in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

SECTION II: FUNCTION

The functions of the Institute shall include the following:

1. Provide a professional application of interdisciplinary scientific scholarship through community engagement to create and disseminate knowledge in furthering the core public health functions.
2. Facilitate communication and interaction among local public health leaders and institutions.
3. Establish and support linkages among local public health leaders, state public health leaders, public health departments, and universities that are educating public health leaders.
4. Serve as a bridge between academia and public health practice in this collaborative effort for addressing the workforce educational development of public health practitioners at the local and state levels.

ARTICLE III: BOARD MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I: GOVERNING BOARD

Each of the following organizations shall appoint one representative to serve on the Governing Board of the Institute:

• Eastern Kentucky
• Kentucky Health Departments Association
• Kentucky Public Health Association
• University of Kentucky
• University of Louisville
• Western Kentucky University

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

The Director of the Institute shall be appointed by the Dean of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and be approved by the Governing Board. The Governing Board shall elect a chairperson and a secretary from its membership.

ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES

Committees may be appointed in such a manner and for such a length of time as may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the members present at a meeting of the Governing Board at which a quorum is present.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

SECTION I: REGULAR MEETINGS

Governing Board meetings shall be held at a time and place agreed upon by its members or as called by the Chair. The Board shall meet at least semi-annually.

SECTION II: QUORUM

Unless otherwise provided in a resolution, four members of the Governing Board present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENT AND REVIEW OF BYLAWS

SECTION I: AMENDMENT

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board. The Bylaws may be amended by ballot at any regular, or special, meeting. The proposed amendment shall have been distributed to the Board two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting, or two (2) weeks in advance of the requested vote.

SECTION II REVIEW:

The Governing Board shall review bylaws annually.

ARTICLE VIII: EFFECTIVE DATE

These Bylaws shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting of the Governing Board having been provided a copy of the proposed Bylaws prior to the meeting. These Bylaws become effective immediately upon approval.

Approved: 19 February, 2008

Executive Director

Dudley Conner
Kentucky Public Health Association
Kentucky Health Department

Director

Raymond Hill
University of Kentucky

Administrators

Renee Blair
Kentucky Health Department

David Dunn
Western Kentucky University

Vickie Sanchez
Eastern Kentucky University

Richard Wilson
University of Louisville

Purpose

Continuing education courses are designed to provide a bridge between academia and public health practice for public health practitioners. Each course will highlight key topics for those working in the public health arena. These are to be 1 to 2 hour continuing education courses that will be made available through KEN-NECT. The first course will be in April and the remainder courses will follow every three months.

Continuing Education Courses

• Core Functions and the 10 Essential Public Health Services: This course provides an understanding of the framework made by NPHPSP for public health practice. Course will be offered May 19, 2009, more information to follow in the near future.
• Integration of Research into Public Health Practice: This course provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between what we learn from research and what we actually carry out in practice.
• Introduction to Public Health: This course provides a foundation for the discipline of public health.
• Policy and Advocacy: This course examines how policy becomes law and how public health advocacy influences legislators.
• Population Health Improvement: This course is designed to teach the student how to apply the principles of public health to improve the health status of the population.

KIPHPE Continuing Education Courses Brochure (pdf format)

Purpose and Background

Public health is an important issue facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky. According to the American Public Health Association, Kentucky currently ranks 37th in the nation for overall health. Some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth include a high rate of smoking, a high rate of cancer and cardiovascular disease death, a high rate of preventable hospitalizations, and high levels of air pollution. The University of Kentucky President, Dr. Lee Todd, often refers to the “Kentucky Uglies” which are those attributes that are addressable with current technology and knowledge but make Kentucky less than it could be if those attributes did not exist. It is imperative to promote and educate a competent Public Health workforce. Although Bachelor’s, MPH, and DrPh programs are available at various universities in Kentucky, there is nothing available for people who wish to pursue Public Health education without completing a specific degree in Public Health. The certificate is designed to introduce students to Public Health and encourage interests in Public Health through a sequence of courses.

This proposal for an 18-credit hour undergraduate certificate is intended to enhance the training opportunities for students with an interest in public health.

Objectives

To prepare students with an interest in Public Health to address the multi-factorial issues in Kentucky. To provide students with theoretical, practical, and relevant educational experiences in Public Health to enhance the health and welfare of individuals, families, and communities.

Curriculum

The Undergraduate Certificate consists of 18 required credit hours.

Required Courses in Existence Throughout the University of Kentucky

• CPH 201- Introduction to Public Health
  • Course Rationale: This course provides the student with basic knowledge about the discipline of public health. After receiving a philosophical and political orientation to public health, students will begin to acquire functional knowledge of the strategies most often applied in public health practice. Key content areas (such as HIV prevention, maternal and child health, reducing obesity rates, and reducing tobacco addiction) will become focal points for the investigation of these strategies.

Required Courses in Development

• Interpretation of Health Data
  • Course Rationale: This course is an introduction to basic concepts of statistics as applied to public health. Major topics to be covered include descriptive statistics, theoretical distributions, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, analysis of variance, and non-parametric tests.
  • Syllabus (pdf format)
• Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Course Rationale: This course is a study of the distribution and determinants of disease and injury. Applications of epidemiology to Public Health practice will be emphasized.
  • Syllabus (pdf format)
• Introduction to Environmental Health
  • Course Rationale: This course is an introduction to basic concepts of environmental health and its application to public health. Throughout the semester, this course covers the theory and practices of assessing, controlling, and preventing environmental hazards that may adversely affect health.
  • Syllabus (pdf format)
• Introduction to Health Education and Health Promotion
  • Course Rationale: The course is designed to be part of a five course series on the fundamentals of public health. This specific course will introduce students to the basic concepts and competencies related to the behavioral and social sciences and the practice of health education and health promotion.
  • Syllabus (pdf format)
• Introduction to Public Health Administration
  • Course Rationale: This course is designed to introduce the student to the theories and practice of management as they are applied to the public health setting. It addresses the application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes and their relationship to organizational effectiveness. Management in public health has much to learn from management in other industries. Even if health care delivery and public health services are operated as a non-profit enterprise, the theories and practice of management developed in profit-oriented business can be applied. As students in Public Health you will likely be involved in managing partners, volunteers, and/or subordinates in some part of the public health system. At whatever level, management means working with people, planning, using scarce resources, providing services, and working toward objectives. This course is designed to stimulate critical thinking about modern public health administrative issues and develop selected management techniques and perspectives.
  • Syllabus (pdf format)

Purpose

Brown bags are one hour sessions designed be an informal venue for students, faculty, and public health practitioners to listen in on selected topics in public health. A new session is offered on the last Wednesday of each month. Each month a new speaker highlights a different topic. Future brown bag session topics are to include: Current Public Health Issues and Events, Advocacy and Policy, Marketing Public Health, and more. Brown bags are held at the University of Kentucky, College of Public Health. People interested are also able to participate through KEN-NECT.

Sessions

February 2009 - Foodborne Illness Session (pdf format)

March 2009 - Current Public Health Issues Session (pdf format)