Region IV Public Health Training Center

Making Connections: Enhancing Collaboration through Effective Communication and Person-Centered Engagement Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on August 20, 2024.  Training Overview This webinar will focus on effective communication, increasing awareness, and the importance of active listening when engaging with colleagues, clients, and others. We will use interactive activities and discussions to teach techniques such as; active listening, positive reinforcement, and clear feedback. There will also be an emphasis on cultural humility. The goal is to improve communication with others in the workplace and in their community. About the Trainer Lamarr Lewis, MA, LAPC, CPRP Lamarr Lewis, is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University. His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, public speaker, facilitator, trainer, and human service professional. He has been a featured expert for such organizations as; Boeing, Region IV Public Health Training Center, Fulton County Probate Court, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and many more. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it.   CERTIFICATE:  The course contains two modules: a module to access the webinar and an 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 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. 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 July 15, 2021. Training Overview Recent research says that executives average 23 hours per week in meetings and 49% of participants considered unfocused meetings and projects as the biggest workplace time waster and the primary reason for unproductive work days.In this session you’ll learn tactics to reduce meeting attendance and make the meetings you are going to more efficient and (dare we say) more fun. From pre-meeting planning, to structured meeting styles, to post-meeting follow up, participants will do hands-on training that will improve any meeting they are running. Stop steamrollers before they start, draw out the quiet experts in the room, be strategic with your slide deck and keep your agenda on track. By energizing and activating meetings, hopefully we can get out of meetings a little faster and a little happier. 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 emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Shana Merlin The Founder of Merlin Works, Shana Merlin is one of the most experienced and effective improv-based trainers in Texas. Shana 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.Presenting and performing nationwide, some of her clients have included Dell, T-Mobile, Silicon Labs, The University of Texas and Deloitte. Winner of “Best Improv Teacher” in Austin from the Austin Improv Collective, Shana founded Merlin Works, in 2003 to provide custom training, interactive presentations, and comedy shows to businesses and organizations using improvisation.  Some of her most requested fun, interactive programs are on the topics of team building, communication, sales, persuasion, leadership, making meetings matter, 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

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on September 30, 2020. Training Overview Public health data are often imperfect, which means we have to rely on multiple data streams to get a clearer picture of the present situation. Proper understanding of data with context is the antidote to disinformation. In this webinar, we’ll go through how to find and evaluate data, identifying the merits and challenges of different data sets, to make sure we have the right data to answer our questions. 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 emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Amber Schmidtke, PhD At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Amber Schmidtke recognized there was a large gap between the way that scientists communicate and how non-scientists receive information. She has combined her roles as a public health microbiologist and college educator to provide meaningful analysis and explanation of disease trends to the public through a popular newsletter and podcast. As a result of these communication efforts she was invited to serve as a member of the Georgia COVID-19 Data State Task Force, advising government agencies on how to package their complex data to meet the needs of the public. In addition, she is a trusted resource for multiple local governments and news media outlets. Dr. Schmidtke holds a Ph.D. in medical microbiology and immunology from Creighton University. 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

Training Overview: This video provides an overview of joint information centers, crisis and emergency risk communication and working with a public information officer to communicate with the media. This training is intended for preparedness and response professionals in Georgia. This is a just-in-time training, and there are no prerequisites. This training addresses Capability 6, Function 1 of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: National Standards for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Public Health: identify stakeholders that should be incorporated into information flow and define information sharing needs. The course contains one 6-minute video. Participants will need a broadband internet connection and computer speakers. For technical support, please contact emoryphtc@emory.edu. For more information about hurricane response and recovery, visit the Georgia Hurricane Response Hub.    About the Course Developers: This course was developed by the Georgia Hurricane Response Hub at the Emory University Rollins Schools of Public Health in consultation with the Georgia Department of Public Health.   Funding for this project has been provided to the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) through a Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – NU1ROT000004-01-00). NNPHI is collaborating with Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health on this project.  Read more

Note: This is a recording of a webinar held on July 15, 2019. Training Overview This second webinar (part 2 of 2) will discuss a mental health response to human-created disasters. The phases of response to a human-created disaster will be described as well as the factors that lead to resilience. Case studies on recent human-created disasters will be discussed. It will also discuss the relationship between the mental health and public health sectors and how these two groups work together during a human-created disaster. 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 emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Will Wells, MSW and Sonya Jenkins William Wells works in Emergency Preparedness and Response for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. He coordinates behavioral health resources across the state in preparation, response and recovery activities related to natural and human-created disasters. With over 45 years of mental health experience Will has worked in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. Will holds his Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina.   Sonya Jenkins is the County Director of the Charleston Mental Health Center West Ashley Clinic located at 2100 Charlie Hall Blvd., Charleston, S.C.  Ms. Jenkins has more than 25 years of experience in the field of mental health, providing treatment to adults, children, adolescents, and their families. As an Independent Licensed Social Worker, she serve as one of the leaders of the Mother Emmanuel A.M.E Empowerment Center. Her aim is to provide healing support in a safe and healthy environment. 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 July 15, 2019. Training Overview This webinar is part one of a two-part series. The first webinar will discuss a mental health response to both natural and human-created disasters. The differences for each type of disaster will be discussed with a focus on natural disasters. Case studies from different natural disasters will be discussed. It will also discuss the relationship between the mental health and public health sectors and how these two groups work together during a natural disaster. 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 emoryphtc@emory.edu. About the Trainer Will Wells, MSW and Kristin James, MSW, CPM William Wells works in Emergency Preparedness and Response for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. He coordinates behavioral health resources across the state in preparation, response and recovery activities related to natural and human-created disasters. With over 45 years of mental health experience Will has worked in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. Will holds his Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina.   Kristin James is currently the Director of the Children, Adolescents, and their Families department and the Emergency Preparedness Director at Spartanburg Area Mental Health.  She has been with the Department of Mental Health since 2001, and worked in the School Mental Health program for several years until becoming CAF Director.  Kristin is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and holds two master’s degrees:  One from UNC – Chapel Hill in Rehabilitation Psychology and a Master’s in Public Health from American Military University. 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