Improving performance at the local level: implementing a public health learning workforce intervention

In an effort to continually improve performance of the essential public health services with community partners, the diverse public health workforce in a major metropolitan area engaged in an organizational learning process. Core public health organizational competencies, identified in a multi-year collaborative applied research initiative, provided the curricula content for the public health learning experience. All members (about 600) of the Columbus and Franklin County (Ohio) Health Departments participated in four one-half day small group, highly interactive modules conducted during a 2-year period. The purpose of this article is to describe the design and implementation of this workforce intervention, the lessons learned, and implications for developing organizational capacity and improved performance.