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Epi-Ready Team Training: Announcing a NEW and Improved Epi-Ready Workshop Experience!

We are excited to announce that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, Food Safety Office is funding the revision of the course content used in the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) workshop Epi-Ready: Foodborne Illness Response Strategies Team Training. This revision is being managed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) in collaboration with NEHA.

Although Epi-Ready has been extremely well received, it is vital to ensure that the content and format are as current and effective as possible. The new and improved version will continue to focus on the fundamentals of a collaborative foodborne illness outbreak investigation; however additional group exercises and more in-depth local and state specific information will be incorporated. New material will address multijurisdictional outbreaks, communication and the CIFOR Guidelines. Additionally, various discipline specific breakout sessions will be added which will allow for more advanced content and conversations. These and other changes are intended to create a more comprehensive and enhanced learning experience for all who attend, regardless of their skill level or area of discipline (Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Laboratory, Public Health Nursing, etc).

The estimated time frame for completion of the revision is early 2012; with three CDC funded pilot workshops to follow. The first workshop will be conducted in early March, with the third workshop occurring by the end of September 2012. If your local or state health department is interested in hosting one of the three workshops, please submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) addressing the following points. LOI’s are to be no longer than two pages and submissions should be emailed to the attention of Elizabeth Landeen at elandeen@neha.org. Deadline for submission is Friday, December 16, 2011. For further information or questions regarding the revised Epi-Ready, please feel to contact Elizabeth directly at elandeen@neha.org or (P) 860-357-2097.  

Letter of Interest Information

1.   What is the history of foodborne disease outbreak investigation training in your area?

2.   How would you maximize the benefits of this training opportunity long term?

3.   Would you be open to having participants from your neighboring states attend the workshop?  

4.   Does your agency have any funding to help host this workshop?  For instance, you would be responsible for providing the venue, A/V and workshop snacks, but the majority of costs would be covered via the CDC funding. 

5.   Local Amenities –

a.  Is there a venue with adequate space to accommodate up to 60 people (seating, parking, etc.)?

b.   Is there an airport close to the projected workshop venue?

c.   Are there adequate lodging and dining options close to the workshop venue?