Region IV Public Health Training Center

Note: These are recordings of live lectures held on May 5, 2015; May 6, 2016; May 19, 2017; and May 16, 2018. Training Overview Scott Maxwell, Founding Partner of Mathews and Maxwell, Inc. and Legislative Liaison for the Georgia Public Health Association will provide an update on the previous Georgia Legislative Session, including highlights of legislation and appropriations that will have an impact on public health. The presentation will also include a forecast for public health-related legislation. Scott will leave participants with some strategies for promoting public health in their local communities and across the state. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. Each recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Scott Maxwell Scott spent nearly a half-dozen years in Washington, where he served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and the Senate Armed Services Committee. He has also provided media relations and communications training for private corporations as well as employees of the Division of Family and Children Services and UGA’s Small Business Development Centers. Scott’s public affairs experience includes service as the Reading Clerk on the floor of the Georgia Senate and as a Public Information Officer assigned to disaster areas by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Scott is the immediate Past-Chairman of the Board for the State YMCA of Georgia. He is an active member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Professional Lobbyist Association. He and his wife, Jeanne, have three children. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Giving and Receiving Feedback for Personal and Professional Growth Note: This workshop has limited capacity. This is an online, interactive workshop on January 8, from 9:15am-12:30pm ET. Please note that this is 30 minutes later than most Public Health Practice Academy Workshops. Participants will use Zoom to join with both video and audio. This workshop is sponsored by The Region IV Public Health Training Center. Training Description: Without feedback, individuals and businesses cannot grow.  Feedback is the key to serving your community better and getting the most out of your team. But giving and receiving feedback can be incredibly uncomfortable and when done poorly, feedback can actually be destructive. In this interactive workshop, start to develop a ‘growth mindset’ to make feedback a continuing part of your culture, both in person and virtually.  Get tools on how to deliver SMART feedback that is specific, actionable and measurable. Use the COIN framework to structure a difficult conversation.  Learn the right questions to ask to solicit feedback and get coaching on how to handle feedback - good or bad - with courtesy and professionalism. So instead of shrinking from feedback you can embrace it for the opportunity it is.  About the Trainer: Fresh off her recent TEDx talk, Shana Merlin is touring her fun and interactive presentations nationwide. She specializes in using the tools and techniques from improvisational comedy to teach team building, communication, sales, persuasion, leadership, making meetings matter, medical communications, and creativity.  Some of her clients have included Methodist Medical Center, Region IV Public Health, Lone Star Dental Seminars, The University of Texas Dell Medical School and Texas Medical Liability Trust. Shana is an associate at the Center for Health Communication at the University of Texas, was a Professor of Improvisation at St. Edward’s University, and is the Founder of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,404,138.  The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is an on-demand webinar. Training Overview Without feedback, individuals and organizations cannot grow. Feedback is the key to better serving your community and getting the most out of your team. But giving and receiving feedback can be incredibly uncomfortable and unproductive. And when done poorly, feedback can actually be destructive. In this interactive and light-hearted session, learn the right questions to ask and how to handle the feedback – good or bad – with courtesy and professionalism. Get tools in how to deliver feedback that is specific, actionable, and measurable. So instead of shrinking from feedback, you can embrace it for the opportunity it is. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Shana Merlin, Founder of Merlin Works The Founder of Merlin Works, Shana Merlin, is a lecturer in the College of Medicine Texas A&M University and an associate at the Center for Health Communication at the University of Texas. Some of her most requested programs are on the topics of team building, communication, persuasion, leadership, medical communications, and creativity. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Grant Me Strength: Budgeting Basics for Public Health Warriors Note: This webinar was held on November 12, 2025, from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm ET.  Training Overview: Budgeting doesn’t have to be intimidating—it’s a core skill for every public health professional navigating grant-funded programs. This session breaks down the essentials of budgeting and reframes financial management as a strategic tool for program success. Through practical examples and a touch of humor, participants will learn how to build budgets that support sustainability, align with program goals, and tell a compelling story of impact.   About the Presenter: Beth Orero, MPH, is a seasoned public health warrior with over 15 years of experience managing complex, grant-funded programs across government, nonprofit, and healthcare sectors. She currently serves as a Learning Strategist at Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance, where she supports CDC Diabetes Prevention Program recipients through strategic training, technical assistance, and peer learning initiatives. Beth brings deep expertise in budget oversight, financial modeling, and securing federal funding to support sustainable public health infrastructure. She has successfully managed a $29M CDC Cooperative Agreement across 46 jurisdictions, led rapid workforce deployment, and improved financial systems for programs exceeding $10M in funding. Her work includes securing $1.5M in federal SPNS funding for HIV care and digitizing monitoring systems to enhance fiscal transparency. CERTIFICATE:  The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an evaluation module. After accessing these modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on April 20, 2021. Training Overview During this webinar, we will focus on helping public health professionals develop tools needed to enhance their self-care and overall wellness. Approaching wellness from a holistic perspective, participants will leave with actionable items to develop a plan for self-care. The objective is to increase the investment in their personal wellness and self-care while becoming an example for those they serve. This webinar will teach them how to relieve the stresses they face in healthy ways and help them identify mental health resources and natural supports. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Lamarr Lewis, LAPC Lamarr Lewis is a dedicated community servant, mental health advocate, published author, and change agent. As a community-based practitioner, he has worked with such diverse groups as; individuals living with a psychiatric disability, people in recovery, At-Hope (He does not use the term At-Risk) youth, and more. He tirelessly gives back to his community through homeless outreach initiatives, public speaking, mentoring, coaching, and finding ways to develop the next generation of leaders. He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and received his master’s degree from Argosy University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is currently the Program Manager for DeKalb Community Service Board’s Peer Support and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs as well as a mental health therapist and consultant. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than when he found it. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on June 8, 2017. Training Overview Zika presents unique challenges to communicators because of the complexity and unknowns of the virus. The webinar will highlight CDC communication during the response and basic concepts of integrated mosquito management. Information on communication best practices, research activities and findings, the domestic readiness campaign, and available resources will be shared. The biology of the mosquito that transmits Zika virus is different from the mosquito species that transmit arboviruses people are more familiar with, like West Nile virus. However, the basic concepts of integrated mosquito management are the same. These basic concepts and how they are used during an arbovirus outbreak will be presented. The course contains two modules: a content module and a resources and evaluation module. After accessing both modules, learners will earn a certificate of completion. When the certificate is available, learners will see a Certificate button on their dashboard. This recording is approximately 90 minutes. There are no prerequisites. Participants will need a broadband internet connection (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred browsers) and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact [email protected]. About the Trainer Victoria Carter, PhD, MPH Janet McAllister, PhD, BCE Victoria Carter, PhD, MPH is a Health Communication Specialist in the National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) Health Communication Science Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She is working with the communication leadership team for CDC’s Zika response. Before joining NCEZID, she worked in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases on childhood immunization and the STRIVE Ebola vaccine clinical trial in Sierra Leone.   Janet McAllister, PhD, BCE, is a Board Certified Medical Entomologist.  She works at the CDC in Ft. Collins, CO where she is a Research Entomologist with the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases. She conducts field and laboratory research on vector control and insecticide resistance in important vectors of arboviruses. She serves as the subject matter expert and point of contact for vector control after disasters. She is currently the vector control team lead on the CDC Zika response. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31680, Public Health Training Centers for $4,348,992. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. Read more