Skip to main content

Training for Public Health Employees in Wisconsin

Training materials are intended for state, regional, and local public health employees in Wisconsin.

These training materials are free of charge and are for educational use only. If you have any questions, email Christie Reese at Christie.Reese@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Public Health 101

Public Health 101, formerly known as Public Health Employee Orientation, began in January 2024. Public Health 101 covers the following topics:

  • Introduction to Working in Public Health
  • Public Health System in Wisconsin
  • Health Equity
  • Performance Excellence
  • Self-Care and Workplace Well-Being.

This foundational public health orientation includes virtual trainings available on an on-demand basis through TRAIN, as well as live workshops offered quarterly.

Public Health 101 offers many benefits for local and Tribal health staff to participate! Just a few of the benefits include:

  • Connecting participants with the mission of public health in Wisconsin.
  • Learning how to apply public health theory and frameworks.
  • Fostering connection and collaboration between state, local, and Tribal public health.
  • Focusing on health equity and self-care/workplace wellbeing.

For more information on Public Health 101, please refer to the frequently asked questions below or email Christie Reese at Christie.Reese@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Resource documents

Framing for Social Change webinar series

Framing for Social Change is a three-part webinar with the FrameWorks Institute, a think tank known for its empirical approach to communication on social issues.

Part One: Why Does Framing Matter

How we say what we say has consequences for policy support. Framing theory will be used to look at how our brains process information. Examples will show how small changes in communication can yield big differences in response.

Part Two: Anticipating Public Thinking and Common Communications Traps

This webinar draws on the FrameWorks Institute’s body of research on the communications aspects of public health and other related issues. Strategies to avoid when trying to engage the public on public health policy issues will also be covered

Part Three: Framing Health Equity

Explore the FrameWorks Institute’s research on the communications aspects of health equity. Practical takeaways include evidence-based recommendations on how to frame racial equity and racial disparities and a tested approach for explaining the social determinants of health.

Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance Program

Provides data, fact sheets and information on occupational injuries and illnesses. Staff can assist local health departments with questions related to workplace exposures or outbreaks. Contact us at dhsocchealth@dhs.wi.gov or visit the occupational health page.

Occupational Health and Safety Resources (PDF)

Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene’s occupational health training and consultation resources

WisCon at WSLH provides occupational health trainings and free consultation services to both businesses and public agencies. In 2023, DHS has partnered with WisCon to create trainings of particular interest to local public health. These trainings and services are designed to enhance local health departments capacity to handle relevant workplace health and safety concerns in their jurisdictions and can also help local health departments protect the health and safety of their workforce.

The Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (WCLPPP)

WCLPPP supports local health departments, health care providers, and community groups that work to prevent, identify, and treat childhood lead poisoning. The program also maintains the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Surveillance System. For more information, email DHSLeadPoisoningPrevention@dhs.wisconsin.gov, visit the Lead-Safe Wisconsin website, or explore the links below.

Health Equity Assessment and Resource Team (HEART) learning communities

Vimeo showcase of recorded presentations (Slide decks for presentation listed below)

Health equity resource guides

Housing as a social determinant of health

Health equity survey summary

LTHD Health Equity Strengths and Needs Survey Results Summary, P-03277 (PDF)

Performance Excellence, or PE, is adapted from the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework and is the comprehensive system for performance management and quality improvement in the Division of Public Health (DPH). It encompasses the Public Health Performance Management System Framework and specifically utilizes Results-Based Accountability (RBA) as the foundation for data-informed decision-making.

Training

The Division of Public Health (DPH) courses below are available on the TRAIN Learning Network site, and it is recommended that they are completed in order. To get started, navigate to train.org to create an account or log in. Then, select the Course Catalog tab and type in the course ID to conduct a search, or click the links below to open the course page.

  1. Wisconsin Public Health - Performance Excellence Part 1: Performance Excellence Overview (Course ID: 1120101)
  2. Wisconsin Public Health - Performance Excellence Part 2: Results-Based Accountability (Course ID: 1120104)
  3. Wisconsin Public Health - Performance Excellence Part 3: Turn the Curve Thinking (Course ID: 1120109)

Resources

The intersections of the public health performance management system and key quality improvement methodologies are explained in the Performance Excellence Methodologies, P-03256 (PDF) publication.

Region V Public Health Training Center

The Region V Public Health Training Center (RVPHTC) seeks to advance the skills of the current and future public health workforce to improve population health outcomes. Part of the Public Health Learning Network (PHLN), the RVPHTC develops online and in-person trainings on a variety of public health topics.

Learn more about our available trainings, including our Training Needs Assessment.

Public Health Learning Navigator

The Public Health Learning Navigator is an interactive resource for finding public health learning modules that includes a vetting process. Before a training module is made available, the content is reviewed and screened for quality standards.

Learn more about the quality review process, or browse available training modules.

New to Public Health Residency Program

The New to Public Health (N2PH) Residency Program is an innovative, professional development program designed to support new public health professionals transitioning into a local, regional, tribal, or state public health agency.

Visit the New to Public Health Residency Program to learn more.

Archived resources

Archived public health new employee orientation sessions

2022 Vimeo showcase of recorded presentations (Slide deck for presentation listed below)

2021 Vimeo Showcase of recorded presentations (Slide decks for presentations linked below)

General topics

Glossary

 
Last revised August 7, 2024