Development of the Silver State Training Hub and Workforce Development Repository

This project was a shared initiative between the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Public Health Infrastructure and Improvement and the Larson Institute for Health Impact and Equity.

The Problem

As Nevada DPBH works towards PHAB Accreditation, and in accordance with implementing their workforce development plan, DPBH is working to ensure professional development opportunities are available and feasible to participate in for all employees. The Larson Institute worked collaboratively with the Public Health Infrastructure and Improvement (PHII) team to address continuing education and ongoing workforce development needs in alignment with accreditation and quality improvement initiatives.

The Solution

Leveraging data from the Nevada Public Health Workforce Needs Assessment, the Larson Institute (LI) identified critical gaps in professional development. By soliciting direct feedback from DPBH personnel, the team pinpointed high-priority domains and core competencies requiring enhanced continuing education. Following an extensive audit of accessible training resources, including LI’s proprietary LMS, TRAIN, and the National Network of Public Health Training Centers, the team curated a strategic portfolio of recommendations tailored to the agency’s unique requirements. Upon approval by the PHII team, LI engineered a centralized digital gateway to facilitate seamless access. To ensure successful adoption, the Institute conducted comprehensive user orientations and established a robust framework for reporting annual engagement metrics to DPBH leadership.

The Results

A total of 130+ continuing education opportunities were identified and offered free* or low-cost to DPBH employees. The Training Hub became available on LI’s LMS in Spring 2025 and is updated on a quarterly basis according to evolving needs of Nevada’s state public health workforce.