Education and Workforce Development Branch

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

The Education and Workforce Development Branch staff is responsible for maintaining and providing technical assistance to users of the TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN). TRAIN is a multi-functional Web-based training system for health organizations. Currently used in 24 states, the subscription to Kentucky's TRAIN system is paid for by the Kentucky Department for Public Health. 

TRAIN is a free service to Public Health and their Health Care Partners.

DPH uses TRAIN to deliver organized, cost-efficient 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 and lay individuals. Since TRAIN is an online management system, these programs and training are available to anyone with computer access 24 hours, 7 days a week.  

The TRAIN system allows the posting of training courses, registration and communication with participants. It also allows the provider to obtain feedback on the training. As a learner, it maintains all the training in one simple electronic folder.

Kentucky TRAIN currently has 50,000 registered users with the expectation that this number will continued to grow. 

Online Training Module

This service makes existing face-to-face training available as an online training course. The course is interactive using established adult learning principle to assure a maximum learning experience. The online module is self-paced and can include pre-test/post-test to determine the level of understanding before and after the course is completed. Since online modules are Web based, the training is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

With this application, course providers could have a training course that allows the learner to be interactive with the training material; self-paced with immediate feedback on progress; through an exam to determine if the learner met the learning objectives.

The Module Development Unit also offers professional video services which support the online modules, webcast, datacast and videoconference efforts of the branch.

Videoconference

The Kentucky Department for Public Health Distance Learning Video Conferencing Network is managed by the Education and Workforce Development Branch. The branch is responsible for providing technical assistance and expertise to the multimedia systems used by DPH videoconferencing.

Videoconferencing communicates training and other information to those involved with the Department for Public Health and other state agencies. The branch works with numerous communication methods, including:

• 175 videoconference units in 90 counties 
• 64 satellite sites
• Live/archived webcasting through TRAIN

Webcast

This service allows for a meeting or training to be recorded through our videoconference system or with our professional cameras. These webcasts are then made available for others to review at a later date. They are generally accessed through TRAIN.

The continuing education of the Education and Workforce Development 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, certified health education specialists), 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.