The Environmental Public Health Profession: Continuing the Dialogue

Transcription

1 The Environmental Public Health Profession: Continuing the Dialogue April 20, 2011, Columbus, Ohio The Ohio Environmental Health Association planned the process and convened this discussion at its 2011 annual conference. The objectives were to: 1. continue dialogue initiated at the 2010 conference around the future of the environmental public health profession in Ohio 2. engage participants in the conversations they feel are most important to guide the direction of the profession in Ohio 3. identify actions that can be taken to achieve the desired future The format for the discussion was two-fold. During the first hour, an initial plenary session with all conference attendees was held. Brief, small group conversations were held and then discussed as a large group. During the second and third hours, a group of self-selected conference attendees continued the dialogue during two consecutive breakout sessions. During this session, participants identified topics of interest around a common theme. Summaries of key points from each conversation were captured and discussed within the larger group in order to facilitate connections across the small groups. The following is a summary of the products from each conversation. Responses from the first hour were themed by the facilitators and made available to the breakout session participants. The overall process for this discussion was designed and facilitated by the Center for Public Health Practice, within The Ohio State University College of Public Health. Page 1

2 Conversation 1 Plenary Session The purpose of this session was to engage the entire conference audience in a conversation that built on the work done at the 2010 conference and informed the process of the following breakout sessions. Participants were asked to engage in conversations at their table to formulate a response to the question: What could Environmental Public Health in Ohio ALSO be? The responses were themed into six groups as follows: THEME: Community Leader Seen as a leader. Resource for the community (not to see us as enforcement). Resource for the community. The known and proven go to agency for leadership on public health issues. The place to go to arrange meetings or workgroups for local stakeholders to find fixes for problems. Then, as time goes on, we always get the call whenever there is a question that involves public health. Experts in your community that are looked to as a resource. Leading, collaborative profession overseeing environmental factors that may result in human exposure and disease (airborne, food borne, waterborne, vector, etc.). The place to go to arrange meetings or workgroups for local stakeholders to find fixes for problems. Then, as time goes on, we always get the call whenever there is a question that involves public health. Better connected with other public health disciplines to assure we are making a measurable difference in the communities we serve. Respected Collaborative Recognized Valued Leaders A blueprint for the nation. Visible Page 2

3 THEME: Planning and Policy Leader An acknowledged and practicable value by the state legislature and governor s office. A factor in evaluating impacts of proposed legislation. Focusing much more on eliminating health disparities among minority and socio economically depressed communities. This could be achieved through more effective lines of communication and effective networking with other health care organizations within our communities. Drug abuse (prescription) and accidental poisoning collaborative efforts. In addition to regulating and advocating, possibly more project management and remediation of areas of concern. A defined goal, with metrics for improving the health of all citizens within the state. Be more preventative and proactive, vs. reactive. Promotion of PH in general. Effective in reducing disease and risk, and we know it! Focus more on chronic disease. THEME: Environmental Innovator Green Ohio Eco friendly Leading, yet collaborative Green functionally at local level (programmatic). I would like to see more environmental promotion of recycling/composting for our restaurants/groceries to eliminate the incredible food waste I see at inspections. I think as environmental advocates we could be a promoter of green issues. Sustainability of our community. THEME: Educator An extension of local public awareness through school education programs. Environmental Public Health educators. THEME: Resourceful How much more can we do with more for less? Better paying job. Well funded. We are a business. Helpful to business owners by sharing safe procedures that produce successful business models as opposed to just being regulatory in our presentation. Appreciated due to the recognized time and cost saving afforded the public. Stronger, faster, better. Flexible Funding opportunities. Page 3

4 THEME: Unified Unified one uniform agency (ex. FL). Unified We are a profession. Consistency skill level (programmatic). Understood Consistent Good communicators. Name change ( Public Health Inspectors working in the Public Health Inspection Division next door to the Public Health Nursing Division ). Breakout Sessions: Open Space Conversations The purpose of this session was to engage participants in structured small group conversations around topics chosen by the participants themselves. The process used to facilitate this was Open Space Technology. Open Space Technology is used to create time and space for people to engage deeply and creatively around issues of concern to them. The agenda is set by people with the power and desire to see it through. It is a simple and powerful way to invite organizations to thrive in times of swirling change. Participants were asked to propose conversation topics that addressed the following broad theme: What are the conversations we need to have together today in order to set about advancing the profession tomorrow? Summaries of each of the 6 conversations held follow: Conversation 1: What are the hurdles/barriers to accreditation and how do we deal with them? Who attended: Paul Rosile, Kim Cupp, Chad Brown EPH often left out of conversation $ Money expensive to apply? Some HD leaders don t see it as necessary Support any and all LHD s accreditation process to hold up as a model Financial Technical Page 4

5 Conversation 2: Should we change our name to the Ohio Environmental Public Health Association to facilitate better awareness? Who attended: Matt Johnson, Roy Croy, Bob Hasenyager, John McLeod, John Anders How will membership react to change? Encourage LHDs to change EPH at local level Have to change bylaws Approaching membership Electronic voting; more electronic items Branding Sanitarians as PH Sanitarians OEHA Board OEHA Membership Conversation 3: Past, Present and Future of Environmental Public Health Who Attended: Marc Marages, Anna McCoppin, Roy Croy, Keith Reely, Mike Trapp Who are we? What is our brand? Get the word out there newspapers, radio station Unified message Losing our identity over the years. Changing culture o Identity what we call ourselves o Profession s ability to adapt o How do you invite yourself into areas or projects not initially invited to? Marketing plan NA Page 5

6 Conversation 4: Respectful Communication and Passion in the Profession Who attended: Anna McCoppin, Mike Trapp, Marc Marages, Kim Casody More experienced staff mentoring younger sanitarians There is little communication at the OEHA level and ODH Survey staff regarding how to conduct inspections When possible, cross communication between counties and cross training? (smaller counties) Session at OEHA on productive communication Session on how to communicate during inspections o Productive communication o Especially for younger or newer NA Conversation 5: How do we better engage the EPH workforce to achieve consensus on future direction? Who attended: Jason Menchofer, Ann Tomlison, Kim Casody, John McLeod, Steve Ruckman, Shannon Self, Niki Lemin Individuals encounter barriers within their agencies that deter them from involvement in profession wide discussions. Communication breakdowns occur from top of EPH down, and from bottom up. (ODH LHDs or OEHA members) Newcomers to the profession need to be encouraged to provide input into EPH decisions/issues. Examine barriers to association and EPH involvement. Strengthen communication at all levels. Buy in from local boards of health and department management, state agency and association leadership, and general members of the workforce. Page 6

7 Conversation 6: How do we measure our worth? Who attended: Paul Rosile, Rick Setting, Jason Menchofer, Steve Ruckman, Dave Covell We do have data! Water Quality data o Marketing that data Learn Marketing skills to get our data to our community What do we do with the data? What do we monitor & measure? o Indicators are available! Data is powerful! Make it easy for our clients to use our data What if we find that our program does not impact public health? If you are going to be a professional, you need to prove your worth as a professional and the OEHA as an association. You can survey your clients if they value your program! If you value yourself you will value the profession and the OEHA. Find data we have Use the OEHA website to post data sets More widespread participation EH Directors Training Academy to OSU! Page 7

8 Final Thoughts: At the close of the open space sessions, participants were asked to reflect on what they have heard and share an individual response to the question: Where do we go from here? A summary of the individual thoughts follows: Stronger voice in Environmental Public Health (for profession) o Proactive Marketing data Setting one goal (Note: there seemed to be a lot of agreement around this point) Branding & social marketing o Sharing ideas Membership growth Not relying on others (better for the profession) Action Setting direction Engagement o What ONE thing can you do TOMORROW to make that difference? Phone call? Press release? Developing the profession Plan for a vision o Using a committee or board to move forward To do list o Then choosing one goal Page 8

9 OEHA Planners: Matt Johnson For questions about the purpose or outcomes of this event, contact Matt Johnson at (216) x1238 or OSU Center for Public Health Practice Facilitator: Adam Negley For questions about the process used to facilitate this event, contact Adam Negley at (614) or Page 9