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Notes 4, 2004 > TB ETN Updates
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TB Notes 4, 2004
No. 4, 2004
TB Education and Training Network Updates
TB ETN Receives the Horizon Health Education
Program Award
On October 22, 2004, the Tuberculosis Education and Training Network
(TB ETN) was awarded the Horizon Health Education Program Award
by CDC’s Public Health Education and Promotion Network (PHEP-Net).
PHEP-Net, an employee organization for health educators at CDC and
the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), presented
the award as part of the 2004 CDC Health Education Day.
Each year PHEP-Net sponsors the Excellence in Health Education
Awards to honor outstanding health education programs developed
by CDC or in collaboration with CDC partners. The Horizon Award
is given to a program developed by CDC or in collaboration with
CDC partners, which has been in existence for 2-4 years, and exhibits
significant potential to substantially and positively affect the
practice of health education.
Maria Fraire accepting the Horizon Award for TB ETN
TB ETN was nominated for the award because of its significant growth
and impact since its inception in 2001. There are now over 400 members
in the network representing 48 states within the United States and
a growing international representation. The network provides members
opportunities to improve their skills, abilities, and knowledge
about available resources and promotes collaborative efforts between
TB programs and other organizations conducting TB education and
training. Maria Fraire of DTBE accepted the award on behalf of TB
ETN; her acceptance remarks are included in the next article.
To learn more about TB ETN, please visit the TB ETN website at
www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/tbetn/.
—Reported by Betsy Carter, MPH, CHES
Div of TB Elimination
TB ETN Horizon Award Acceptance Remarks
I am pleased to accept the Horizon Award on behalf of the Tuberculosis
Education and Training Network, or TB ETN. TB ETN was established
by the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination in 2001 as a result
of recommendations outlined in the Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis
Training and Education. One of the plan’s key recommendations
was the establishment of an education and training network that
would help build a cadre of TB educators and trainers with improved
skills and abilities, knowledge of available resources, and ability
to serve as a resource for high-priority needs, such as outbreaks
and implementation of new guidelines.
Because primary job responsibilities vary widely among the professionals
conducting TB education and training (for example, nurses, outreach
workers, physicians, health educators), TB ETN strives
to build capacity by ensuring that members become familiar with
and utilize the systematic health education process when developing
education and training products and courses.
The goals of TB ETN include furthering TB education and training
by
- Building, strengthening, and maintaining collaboration
- Providing a mechanism for sharing resources to avoid duplication
- Developing, improving, and maintaining access to resources
- Providing updated information about TB courses and training
initiatives
- Assisting members in skill building
Membership
TB ETN membership is open to all persons who have an interest in
TB education and training issues, and there are no membership fees.
There are over 400 members representing U.S. and international agencies,
such as TB programs, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing
homes, federal agencies, universities, the American Lung Association,
the National TB Model Centers, and other organizations interested
in TB education and training issues.
TB ETN is guided by a steering committee chosen by its members
and in 2002, the network created three subcommittees to assist with
carrying out and guiding TB ETN activities: Communications and Membership,
Cultural Competency, and Conference Planning. Staff of the steering
committee as well as of the subcommittees meet monthly via conference
call and are guided by CDC staff.
The most important activity of TB ETN is the annual conferences
that focus on the systematic health education process. Conferences
emphasize skill-based sessions and networking activities.
We’ve also been very pleased to have some PHEP-Net members attend
the conferences.
In the 4 years since the network’s inception, TB ETN has grown
significantly and has become progressively more active. Collaborative
efforts between TB programs and other organizations conducting TB
education and training have increased the visibility, momentum,
and impact of TB education and training efforts. TB ETN has raised
awareness about the importance of education and training as an essential
part of a TB program and as a result, has influenced the creation
of new funding for education and training. This is demonstrated
by the 2005 TB control program cooperative agreements in which DTBE
included provisions of funds for human resource development (i.e.,
education and training). As part of this core component, each TB
program must have at least one designated TB ETN member.
I would like to acknowledge the many people who help make the Network
successful, including both past and current steering committee members,
subcommittee co-chairs and members, and staff at CDC, including
Wanda Walton, Betsy Carter, Gaby Benenson, and Teresa Goss.
And there is no better way to sum up the impact of TB ETN than
to read a quote from Suzy Peters, a steering committee member, who
was asked to write a letter of support for the award application.
“If they only knew how much TB ETN means to those of us who
are in TB education and training, there would be no contest. I have
seen tremendous growth and excitement among TB educators over the
last four years. The annual meetings are a great avenue for networking
and I have made many new professional contacts all over the US and
Canada. Now that TB ETN has more than 400 members, hosted four annual
meetings, and holds three monthly sub-committee and steering committee
calls, there is no limit to what this organization can accomplish.
I have been in public health and university education since
1967. I hold three degrees in health education and have been
a member of many professional organizations. I can honestly say
that I have never seen the level of positive impact of any of those
groups that TB ETN has had in four years. I am very proud to be
associated with TB ETN, and I know any new TB educators coming into
the field will benefit greatly from this organization.”
And, again, on behalf of TB ETN, thank you PHEP-Net for recognizing
the outstanding contribution of the Tuberculosis Education and Training
Network to the field of health education.
—Presented by Maria Fraire, MPH, CHES
Div of TB Elimination
TB ETN Member Highlight
Julie McCallum, RN, MPH, is a Regional TB Nurse Consultant for
the American Lung Association of Michigan. She received her BSN
from Indiana Wesleyan University and her MPH from the University
of Michigan.
Julie, an active member of TB ETN, heard about the organization
shortly after she was hired by the American Lung Association of
Michigan 2½ years ago. She saw information about an upcoming TB
ETN conference and thought it would be very helpful. “I attended
my first conference 2 years ago; it was a great opportunity for
me to network with other nurses who were also involved in TB education.
The networking opportunities with other TB educators appealed to
me the most, as well as having access to resources from around the
country and world,” Julie said. In addition to being a member of
TB ETN, Julie also serves on the TB ETN cultural competency subcommittee.
“I have an interest in cultural competency matters, and this subcommittee
has given me an opportunity to work on projects related to the topic.”
Julie would like to see continued increases in membership and in
networking opportunities in TB ETN’s future.
Julie’s job responsibilities include providing education and training
for health care professionals on TB matters, and technical support
and assistance for local TB control programs. Julie worked with
Teri Lee Dyke (who also served as a Regional TB Nurse in Michigan)
to develop a TB case management course targeted for local health
department TB control staff, primarily nurse case managers. They
gathered material from a number of sources and tailored it to their
state’s audience. This course has been presented eight times across
Michigan, with attendance by 95 participants who are actively involved
in a local TB control program.
Julie and Teri also developed a TB Skin Testing Workshop, with
the help of the Ingham County Health Department. In 2002 and 2003,
Julie and Teri provided this workshop at 70 sites across the state
and trained 771 persons to administer and read the TB skin test.
The sites have included local health departments, acute and long
term care settings, state and county correctional facilities, mental
health facilities, medical offices, and infection control networking
groups.
Julie’s state TB control staff also developed a TB contact investigation
course, also targeted to local public health department staff. Since
2002, this course has been presented in 15 different locations statewide,
with 181 persons attending.
All three of these core TB trainings were approved by the Michigan
Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing
education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
Commission on Accreditation.
On the personal side, Julie keeps busy at home with her young
family. Her interests include gardening and camping, and she adds,
“I am a big University of Michigan football fan (Go Blue!) and enjoy
following their season.” Julie is married to Chad and had their
first child last September. “Each day is a new adventure with our
son Chase,” Julie says.
—Submitted by Regina Bess
Div of TB Elimination
TB ETN Cultural Competency Subcommittee Update
“Scientists do not resist investigation of the human genome because
it represents too much variety; the same scientific logic works
equally well for sorting and classifying information about culture,
ethnicity, and race.”1
The Institute of Medicine report cited above states that the goal
in cultural competency education is to increase public health professionals’
cultural awareness, knowledge of self and others, communication
skills, attitudes, and behaviors. To this end, the Cultural Competency
Subcommittee of TB ETN is composed of TB trainers, educators, and
controllers who are passionate about cultural competency and its
application to TB control activities. The goal of the Cultural Competency
Subcommittee is to inculcate the value of providing culturally and
linguistically appropriate services among TB ETN members.
If you are interested in joining this subcommittee, please send
an e-mail to tbetn@cdc.gov.
The Cultural Competency Subcommittee is currently focused on compiling
a cultural competency resource list. The list includes organizations
that provide cultural competency–related services, cultural competency
assessment tools, and references to cultural competency–related
published research. The resource list will be printed and included
in the TB ETN conference binder. The group also plans to meet at
the TB ETN conference in Atlanta, Georgia, to plan and discuss tasks
for the following year.
Cultural Competency Tip
By examining the successes and lessons learned among community-based
organizations, health care providers can glean several strategies
for effective outreach. Listen for the community’s agenda and assign
your priorities based on their expressed needs. Reach into the community
through existing, respected groups, select culturally relevant media
or materials to convey your message, and target whole families with
understanding and respect. Make certain that outreach materials
are not simple translations from English but rather are developed
by persons familiar with the language, literacy level, and culture
of the specific target subgroup.2
—Submitted by Chris Ogolla, MA, MPH
TB ETN Cultural Competency Subcommittee
References
- The Institute of Medicine. Who Will Keep the Public Healthy.
Educating Public Health Professionals for the 21st Century. Washington
DC: National Academy Press; 2003.
- The National Alliance for Hispanic Health. A Primer for
Cultural Proficiency: Towards Quality Health Services for Hispanics.
Washington, DC: Estrella Press; 2001.
TB ETN Fourth Annual Conference
The fourth annual TB Education and Training Network (TB ETN) conference
was held in Atlanta last year. This two and a half day event took
place August 11-13, 2004, and attracted approximately 130 participants
from diverse professional affiliations who work in TB education
and training. The conference theme, “TB Education and Training Survivor:
Improving Skills, Building Alliances, Meeting Challenges,” was adapted
from the popular TV series “Survivor.”
The presentations covered a wide array of topics, with the central
focus on the systematic health education process. Participants attended
both plenary lectures as well as breakout sessions designed to enhance
skill-building. Presentations by TB program staff from Florida,
Colorado, and Massachusetts provided participants with examples
of how different health programs are answering the call to educate
TB providers and patients. Representatives from the National TB
Model Centers delivered updates about their programs, and CDC staff
gave an overview of the 2005 Cooperative Agreement Funds for States
and Designated Big Cites and the 2004-2008 National Strategic Plan
for TB Education and Training.
One aspect of the conference focused on “Learning the Island Lingo—Cultural
Competency in TB Education and Training” and addressed several pertinent
areas, including conducting cultural competency assessments, working
with interpreters and translators, understanding cross-cultural
communication, and developing cultural competency training. These
sessions were especially helpful for providers who are increasingly
serving a more diverse population. Also underscored was “Communicating
with the Mainland—How Technology is Changing TB Education and Training.”
This session highlighted a spectrum of new modes of communication
such as online training and educational software, satellite and
video broadcast, electronic mailing lists, and online databases.
To cap off each day of the conference, a series of “tribal challenges”
were played among conference participants. Participants were divided
into teams or “tribes” and participated in interactive and competitive
training games. These were created to reinforce the concepts learned
throughout the day, and were designed in the spirit of “Survivor.”
One tribe was declared the overall tribal challenge winner at the
end of the conference. The winning tribe, who called themselves
“Front and Center,” consisted of Bill Bower, Teri Lee Dyke, Genevieve
Greeley, Hernando Salgado, MaryAnette Grayer, Joanne Sheppard, and
Judith Thigpen. Each received a book on education and training
activities.
Tribe “Front and Center” working on finding
answers for the “Open-Book Bingo” Tribal Challenge.
Participants came away from the conference invigorated and equipped
with new knowledge to practice and share in their work. They had
the chance to form partnerships with others attending the conference
by networking at such events as a social, hosted this year by a
translation company, Translation Plus. Also, a wealth of resources
in a variety of media were provided by exhibitors who showcased
their education and training products.
Participants view and share resources at the
Educational Materials Exhibit.
This year will be the 5-year anniversary of TB ETN and its annual
conference. We would like to invite you to join us in celebrating
this important milestone. Please complete and return the attached
registration form to join or renew your membership (instructions
are on the form). New and renewing members will receive a TB ETN
membership lapel pin. Additional information about TB ETN can be
found on the TB ETN website at
www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/TBETN/default.htm.
—Submitted by Elizabeth Kalayil, MPH
Div of TB Elimination
TB ETN Fifth Annual Conference:
Stepping Up Education and Training to Eliminate TB
Call for Abstracts
The Fifth Annual TB Education and Training Network (TB ETN)
Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA, August 17-19, 2005.
This year’s conference will feature a poster session
to give members of TB ETN an opportunity to share and discuss
their work.
Please consider developing an abstract for poster presentation
on a significant or innovative aspect of TB education and
training in your work. Techniques that are associated with
the systematic health education process (needs assessment,
development, implementation, and evaluation) would be especially
appropriate for poster presentation during this session.
If you have completed or will soon complete an education
and training project that you would like to include in the
session, please visit www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/TBETN/conference.htm
for submission details. The deadline for submission
is April 1, 2005.
For further information, please contact Betsy Carter at bcarter1@cdc.gov
or by telephone at (404) 639-8386.
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