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Training for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health HIV-Related Training Contact:
Susan Thompson The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, AIDS Activities Coordinating Office contracts with HFP to provide training programs for health department staff, conferences and workshops for department-funded providers, planning and staffing of policy advisory committees and collaboration on developing program evaluation, continuous quality improvement strategies, and Public Health Core Competencies initiatives. Since 1991, the AIDS ETC has served as the training arm for several other units of the health department in establishing new program initiatives, releasing new guidelines and enhancing provider and staff competencies. Maternal and Child Health Training Contact: Natalie Levkovich Through a contract with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Early Childhood, Youth and Women's Health, HFP serves as the training provider for all DECYWH-funded programs. In this role, HFP trains home visitors and other community health staff to work with pregnant women and families with young children. Newly hired staff receive in-depth training related to reproductive health, including modules on pregnancy, labor and delivery and postpartum care. They also receive extensive training related to infant/toddler development, including modules on health and safety, temperament, early learning, language development and guidance. In addition, staff members participate in several days of training related to the processes of home visiting and working with families. Training topics include building relationships, intervention planning, making referrals and problem solving. All sessions are interactive and information is conveyed through a variety of modalities including case studies, role-plays, visual aids, training games and the use of models and props. Training for new supervisors is provided on an as-needed basis and includes a review of key maternal and child health topics along with core management topics such as: setting goals, developing program plans, managing time, delegating responsibility, evaluating performance and building a team. All program and DECYWH staff members, including supervisors, are invited to participate in conferences and other ongoing training opportunities. Smoking
Cessation in Health Centers Contact: Claire Jones The Health Federation is implementing a smoking cessation program in Philadelphia’s District Health Care Centers in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Ambulatory Health Services and the Tobacco Control Program. HFP employs and oversees Smoking Cessation Counselors who, on a scheduled basis, offer group smoking cessation programs and individual participant follow up to patients who are ready to stop or reduce their use of tobacco products. Participants must be patients of a District Health Care Center and may be self-referred or referred by a medical provider. The group intervention is based on the Freedom from Smoking curriculum of the American Lung Association. Smoking Cessation Training for Providers Contact: Claire Jones Through a contract with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Tobacco Control Division, HFP trains front-line health care providers to help their patients stop smoking. Providers are brought up to date on the latest research findings regarding smoking and smoking cessation, including prevalence rates for specific populations, new and emerging health risks, pharmacotherapy advances and promising trends in addiction counseling. Providers are then trained in a brief intervention strategy known as the 5 A's: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist and Arrange. Through this intervention, they are able to record their patients' smoking histories, educate them regarding the risks of tobacco use, assess their readiness to quit, provide them with supportive and motivational materials, and refer them to additional resource -- all within the context of a normal office visit. Patients who decide to quit are given on-site help at the city health centers by Smoking Cessation Specialists, who facilitate education and support groups and provide individualized long-term follow-up for participants. Most importantly, providers are guided in implementing the intervention in their own settings through a variety of tracking and documentation tools, are are provided with regular technical assistance and support to ensure ongoing success. For more information about the Training Institute: |
