This is an introductory level training course for academic and other non-governmental professionals from a range of disciplines who may engage with public health agencies on epidemiologic surveillance, modeling, and forecasting. It is intentionally designed to add valuable context for those working with governmental public health agencies in any capacity, even outside of these specific types of partnership activities.

The course provides an overview of the distinct roles, functions, and legal authority between federal, state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments that make up the public health system. Learners will be introduced to how public health agencies use data to monitor the health of communities and where modeling and forecasting can add value. Data and system strengths and constraints, as well as data governance policies, are examined to give learners context about incorporating public health data in models. Through interactive exercises and case studies, strategies for engaging and collaborating with public health partners are shared to make learners aware of common pitfalls to avoid, best practices to employ, and recommendations for building effective partnerships.

Course Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

• Describe the roles of federal, state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments that make up the U.S. governmental health system. 
• Identify key decision-making roles within public health agencies. 
• Summarize routine surveillance and response activities. 
• Explain the mutual benefit of academic partners collaborating with public health practice, particularly as it relates to modeling and forecasting.
• Summarize practical public health uses for modeling and forecasting. 
• Outline best practices for effective communications with public health partners. 

Lesson 1: What is Governmental Public Health?

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

1. Distinguish between healthcare, research, and public health. 
2. Explain the structure and basis for legal authority within the U.S. public health system and how it varies at federal, state, Tribal, local, and territorial levels. 
3. Summarize the funding sources that support governmental public health agencies. 

Lesson 2: Services, Structures and Key Players

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

1. Describe common services that public health agencies provide and how these align with essential and safety net services. 
2. Recognize organizational structures and departments within public health agencies. 
3. Identify key stakeholders and how they may interface with forecasting and modeling work. 

Lesson 3: Surveillance and Response Activities

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

1. Define public health surveillance and provide at least 2 examples of surveillance systems. 
2. Differentiate between reportable versus notifiable conditions. 
3. Articulate the importance of using case reporting and case-based surveillance data for determining public health action and making data-based decisions. 
4. Explain how public health activities may shift during emergency response.  

Lesson 4: Collaboration, Data Sharing, and Communication

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

1. Describe strategies for approaching and collaborating with public health partners. 
2. Explain how data governance applies to public health officials and those they partner with, including the need to protect health data. 
3. Summarize the variability in data systems, data elements, and data sharing policies across the governmental public health system. 
4. Explain the value forecasting and modeling work can bring to public health, especially during emergency responses. 
5. Identify potential barriers and facilitators to effective collaboration and communication with partners and the public. 

This training was made possible by the Insight Net cooperative agreement CDC-RFA-FT-23-0069 [6-NU38-FT000012-01-04] from the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This training incorporates content developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and reviewed by human subject-matter experts. AI tools are used to support, not replace, expert judgment. The information provided is for educational purposes only; it is not a substitute for professional legal, medical, or public health advice.

Competencies: 

• 1.2 – Data Analytics and Assessment Skills – Describes factors that affect the health of a community
• 2.2 – Public Health Sciences Skills – Collaborates with others to support public health activities
• 3.3 – Communication Skills – Facilitates accessible communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
• 3.4 – Communication Skills – Disseminates messages to internal and external audiences
• 4.1 – Community Partnership Skills – Describes epidemiologic conditions, systems, programs, and policies affecting community health and resilience
• 4.2 – Community Partnership Skills – Maintains bidirectional relationships that improve community health and resilience
• 4.3 – Community Partnership Skills – Participates in emergency management for public health emergencies
• 7.4 – Policy Development and Program Planning Skills – Applies principles of ethical and legal practice to epidemiologic activities, data analysis, assessment, and dissemination