Education and Workforce Development Branch

The Education and Workforce Branch Is responsible for ensuring a well-trained, competent workforce at the state and local levels. The branch helps prepare the workforce and community partners of responders and receivers to respond to a bioterrorism event or other public health emergency. The branch supports these efforts through four programs described below.

The Education and Workforce Branch staff is responsible for maintaining and technical assistance for the TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN). TRAIN is a multi-functional Web-based training host system for health organizations. Currently used in 27 states, the subscription to Kentucky's TRAIN system is paid for by the Kentucky Department for Public Health. 

TRAIN is a free service health organizations may to use to list training information for staff or the public and it is free for the public to access.  Note: Not all content on TRAIN is available to the public. The content provider for the training determines access to the materials.

DPH uses TRAIN to provide organized, cost-efficient delivery of documenting educational programs and training courses using a variety of formats such as face-to-face, videoconference, Webcast, datacast, satellite and online modules. These programs are available for multiple disciplines as well as lay individuals. Since TRAIN is an online management system these programs and trainings are available to anyone with computer access 24 hours, 7 days a week.  

Kentucky TRAIN currently has 25,000 registered users with the expectation that this number will continued to grow. 

Access TRAIN

The Module Development unit in the Education and Workforce Branch creates training modules for DPH, hospitals, local health departments, and DPH partners.

These are interactive training modules developed for TRAIN with video and often use Adobe Captivate animation processes to provide much more easy to use Web-based training. 

The Kentucky Department for Public Health Distance Learning Network (KEN-NECT) is managed by the The Education and Workforce Branch. The branch is responsible for providing technical assistance and expertise to the multi-media systems used by CONNECT.

KEN-NECT communicates training and other information to those involved with the Department of Public Health. The branch works with numerous communication methods, including:

• 48 video sites
• 64 satellite sites
• Live/archived Web-casting through TRAIN
• Datacasting to all local health departments, DPH and 127 hospitals
• Podcasting

The Continuing Education of the Education and Workforce Branch provides continuing education training units to ensure the quality of programming and help our workforce maintain professional licenses and credentialing. 

While the Continuing Education Unit coordinates obtaining CEUs with a variety of professions (physicians, social workers, certified health education specialists, registered sanitarians, etc.), the Continuing Education Unit actually administers the Kentucky Board of Nursing - Nurse Education Providership.

The administration of the Kentucky Board of Nursing - Nurse Education Providership provides Nursing CEU contact hours for face-to-face, video conference, Webcasts and online module training. 

Additionally, the Continuing Education Unit administers the Commission on Dietitian Registration Providership approval of continuing professional education credits for face-to-face and videoconference training.