Challenge:

A division of a public health agency needed to provide program grantees, professionals, and partners with timely, centralized, and authoritative digital content, as well as technical assistance and training related to their mission.

Solution:

We have designed and are implementing a centralized, online Technical Assistance and Training Center (TATC), or portal, for the program’s funded grantees, non-funded states, and other partners.

To accomplish this task, we proposed a radical new strategy of leveraging and tailoring existing learning systems, collaborative work environments and other technical capacities rather than building new, expensive, and often duplicative infrastructure. We are reviewing and building a collection from more than 26,000 existing courses, which will be included in a customized curriculum designed to immediately meet the rapidly evolving training needs of professionals located in all 50 states.

In addition to providing access to resources, the TATC will also involve significant customer training and assistance, delivered via multiple modes including one-on-one sessions, webinars, and group presentations.

To deliver these resources and training, we developed strategic information and learning systems partnerships through which we define requirements, and design, test and administer the LMS (Learning Management System). Our services also include researching and recommending new technology when it is called for.

Outcome:

The TATC will support the urgent technical assistance and training demands from the field by delivering 21^st century knowledge, learning system strategies and management techniques to a wider audience at a greater speed. In terms of finances, this effort is projected to save the agency over $12 million by bundling and sharing public health systems and other resources.