Engaging with Sensitivity: Techniques for Interviewing Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Disability, and Substance Use Disorders is an introductory-level course designed for case interviewers, disease intervention specialists, and others at state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies who collect data for infectious diseases and other public health purposes. This training focuses on the importance of accurately capturing data on disproportionately affected populations during public health case investigations, with a focus on persons experiencing homelessness, persons with disabilities, and persons with substance use disorders. Over a series of six lessons and a final case study, we will discuss what is meant by disproportionately affected populations, the role of implicit bias and cultural humility in case investigations, general techniques for building and maintaining rapport, and how to discuss potentially sensitive topics.

This training will include a combination of videos, slides (to read through), and interactive activities, and will take approximately two hours and forty-five minutes to complete. We recommend that you take the lessons in order, but you will be able to work at your own pace. Upon completion of the entire course, you will receive a course evaluation [survey] via email and you may download a certificate of completion from your learner dashboard.

• Explain why collecting information on persons affected by homelessness, substance use, and disabilities during case interviews is critical for public health and the health of disproportionately affected populations.
• Describe the complex interactions between societal and structural factors and individual experiences and how these dynamics influence the realities of homelessness, substance use and disability.
• Demonstrate effective strategies for collecting complete and accurate information from persons experiencing homelessness, persons with substance use disorders, and persons with disabilities during case investigations.

Lesson 1: Disproportionately Affected Populations

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Explain what is meant by a disproportionately affected population
2. Describe examples of persons with disabilities, persons experiencing homelessness, and persons with substance use disorder
3. Discuss intersectionality and how the complex interactions between societal, structural, and personal factors may affect disproportionately affected populations

Lesson 2: Importance of Data Collection in Disproportionately Affected Populations

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Describe why accurately collecting data from disproportionately affected populations is important to public health and the health of these populations
2. Identify common challenges to interviewing people from disproportionately affected populations
3. Describe effective strategies for collecting complete and accurate information from people from disproportionately affected populations

Lesson 3: Fostering Inclusive Practices in Public Health Interviews: An Introduction to Implicit Bias and Cultural Humility

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how implicit bias can influence perceptions and decision-making
2. Describe the impact implicit bias can have on relationships between interviewees and public health agencies
3. Define cultural humility and explain why it is important in interview settings

Lesson 4: Techniques for Rapport Building at the Beginning of an Interview

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. List strategies to prepare for an interview
2. Describe techniques for building rapport at the beginning of an interview 

Lesson 5: Techniques for Maintaining Rapport During Interviews

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. List strategies to maintain rapport throughout interviews
2. Describe techniques for interviewing when rapport isn’t built

Lesson 6: Asking Sensitive Questions and Interviewer Resiliency 

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Explain why certain topics may be sensitive to discuss during interviews with individuals from disproportionately affected populations
2. Explain techniques to facilitate interviewer and interviewee ease when discussing potentially sensitive topics
3. Recognize the importance of interviewer resiliency and well-being

Lesson 7: Culminating Case Study 

By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the application of rapport-building during an interview
2. Apply knowledge of definitions for homelessness, substance use disorder, and disability to gather accurate information during an interview
3. Identify appropriate responses to interviewee discomfort using respectful and non-stigmatizing language

This training series was funded by CDC Cooperative Agreement No: 1 NU38OT000297-03-00. Training content was developed by the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence and the course was designed by the  Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center. The contents of this training are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. We greatly appreciate help with content development and review from the following subject matter experts:Bernadette Albanese, Sarah Axelrath, Tyler Coyle, Beatrice Francis, Michelle Haas, Crystal Karr, Katie Langland, Meighen Lovelace, Shayna Micucci, Sarah Money, Wei Perng, Julie Reiskin, Aaron Shipman, Joann Thierry, Alana Vivo, Caroline Waddell and Shannon Griffin-Blake as well as representatives from the following health agencies: Casper Natrona County Health Department, City of Chicago, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Ingham County Health Department, Houston Health Department, Madera County Department of Public Health, Central District Health Department, Sarpy/Cass Health Department, South Heartland District Health Department, North Central District Health Department, Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Douglas County Health Department, Four Corners Health Department, Two Rivers Public Health Department, City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Orange County Health Care Agency, Tennessee Department of Health, Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Vinton County Health Department, Washington State Department of Health, Snohomish County Health Department, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Whatcom County Health and Community Services, Kitsap Public Health District, West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District and New York City Health Department.

• 1.1 – Data Analytics and Assessment Skills – Identifies the diversity of individuals and populations 
• 1.2 – Data Analytics and Assessment Skills – Describes factors that affect the health of a community
• 1.3 – Data Analytics and Assessment Skills – Designs surveillance systems using the principles of ethics, DEIA, and justice
• 3.1 – Communication Skills – Determines communication strategies
• 3.3 – Communication Skills – Facilitates accessible communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
• 3.5 – Communication Skills – Conducts investigations and interviews accommodating the needs of the population