Emergency Preparedness Training of Tribal Community Health

This study describes the development and evaluation of online Public Health Emergency Prepared- ness (PHEP) training adapted to the learning styles and needs of tribal Community Health Representatives (CHRs). Working through a university-tribal community college partnership, the Arizona Center for Public Health Pre- paredness at the University of Arizona and DineCollege of the Navajo Nation delivered a blended online and face-to- face public health preparedness certificate program based on core public health emergency preparedness competen- cies. This program was carefully adapted to meet the environmental and learning needs of the tribal CHRs. The certificate program was subsequently evaluated via a scenario-based decision-making methodology. Significant improvements in five of six competency areas were docu- mented by comparison of pre- and post-certificate training testing. Based on statistical support for this pedagogical approach the cultural adaptations utilized in delivery of the certificate program appear to be effective for PHEP American Indian education.