FAQs
Participating in Webinars
The Center for Sharing Public Health Services has produced two brief videos to help members of the Shared Services Learning Community participate in meetings via Adobe Connect. Select this link to access the Adobe Connect tutorials.
General Questions
What is the role of the Center for Sharing Public Health Services?
The Center for Sharing Public Health Services (Center) will manage and convene the Shared Services Learning Community (SSLC) and provide oversight and support to each of the SSLC sites. The Center is led by the Kansas Health Institute, and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Designed to serve as a national resource on cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS), the Center will build the evidence and understanding of CJS by synthesizing the efforts of the SSLC sites and disseminating tools, methods and models to share how public health agencies and policymakers consider and adopt CJS approaches.
Why is there so much emphasis on collaboration between public health officials and policymakers?
In many jurisdictions, public health officials and policymakers have different reasons for pursuing CJS arrangements. In many instances the actual authority to enter into CJS relationships resides with policymakers (often elected bodies) rather than with public health agencies. An examination of the issues surrounding CJS arrangements and the resulting models revealed that the most successful models are those that include collaboration between public health officials and policymakers. See this project report for additional context.
What type of training and technical assistance will be provided?
Drawing from a pool of national and regional experts on topics such as financial analysis, legal analysis, operations and management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, health improvement planning, quality improvement, communications and evaluation, the Center will provide each SSLC site with a customized package of technical assistance. Additional training and technical assistance opportunities will be provided during annual meetings, quarterly webinars and convenings of subgroups of the SSLC sites facing similar issues and challenges.
Will there be any training and technical assistance available to those sites not selected to participate in the Shared Services Learning Community?
Yes. The Center will provide direct assistance to public health agencies and policymakers, as well as their partners, who are considering and/or implementing shared approaches to public health services.
Will there be an evaluation, and how should applicants plan to participate in the evaluation?
The Center will conduct an ongoing evaluation of the awardees’ experiences in order to help develop tools, resources and guidance for the public health field. As a condition of accepting RWJF funds, grantees are required to participate in the evaluation activities. These activities will include participation in eight quarterly check-in calls and two Center-led site visits to their communities. Phone interviews and surveys may also be requested by the Center.
Which team members should anticipate attending SSLC events?
At least three project team members are required to participate in each SSLC event. The individual designated as the team lead must participate in all events, in order to provide continuity. The other two members may vary, based on individuals’ expertise and interests. We strongly recommend the appropriate policymakers on your team participate in the events whenever possible.
What type of outcomes do you expect from grantees after two years?
One of the goals of the initiative is to capture, synthesize and share the lessons learned at the SSLC sites with a broader audience of public health and elected officials across the country. It is our expectation that the SSLC sites will, throughout the two years, share their experiences, learning, tools and technical assistance needs to help inform leaders nationwide. Expected outcomes for each site will depend on grantees’ individual objectives and the progress they anticipate making toward these goals in the two-year project period. It is not expected that sites enter into a CJS arrangement by the end of the grant period.
Will grantees be expected to apply for public health accreditation?
SSLC sites are not expected or required to apply for public health accreditation during or following their participation in the project. However, we do expect that all SSLC sites explicitly state a shared goal of improving effectiveness, efficiency, capacity and performance of the involved governmental public health agencies – improvements that are consistent with the national public health accreditation standards.
Is there someone we can talk with about our proposal and if the approach would be of interest to the Center and RWJF? How do I contact the Center?
The Center staff members are available to answer questions about the application process and the goals of the SSLC. You can reach the Center by emailing PHSharing@khi.org.
Is this the only round of funding?
At this time, no additional calls for the SSLC sites are planned. To be notified about other public health funding opportunities in the future, subscribe to funding alerts at MyRWJF.
Definitions
What do you mean by the term “policymakers”?
For the purposes of the SSLC, “policymakers” refers to senior government administrators, elected officials or governing body members. In considering their team composition, applicants should include “policymakers” who have the authority to enter into CJS relationships.
Do “policymakers” include state legislators?
While “policymaker” is certainly inclusive of state legislators, and such policymakers may be an important stakeholder in the process, for the purposes of this award, applicants should include “policymakers” who have the authority to enter into CJS relationships.
What do you mean by the term “public health services”?
“Public health services” refers to the 10 essential public health services as defined by the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department.
What is meant by “jurisdictions”?
Jurisdictions are the respective geopolitical entities served by the participating governmental public health departments. Most often these are:
- Local governments (county, city, township, other municipal)
- State governments
- Tribal governments (federally recognized)
- County, city, township or municipal health departments
- Regional or district health departments
- State health departments
