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Using the Rhetorical Situation for Persuasive Health Communication

This micro-training highlights the rhetorical situation as a key strategy for effective, persuasive public health communication. By aligning purpose, audience, genre, and context with clear, accessible language, public health professionals can effectively engage communities and drive positive health outcomes.

*Please make sure you're logged in if you want to receive a course certificate for this micro-training. 

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this training learners will be able to:

  • Define rhetorical situation
  • Identify the components of rhetorical situation
  • Describe how rhetorical situation relates to public health communication
  • Apply rhetorical situation to public health scenarios to effectively communicate with your audience


Format: Self-paced training

Duration:  ~10 minutes

Arranged by: Dulce Rodriguez, Instructional Specialist

Subject Matter Experts: Laura Gronewold, PhD

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Published: June 2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available: None

Determinantes sociales de la salud

Aumente sus habilidades para ayudar a las personas con discapacidad a vivir una vida saludable e inclusiva. Complete escenarios interactivos que resaltan la importancia de la comunicación culturalmente receptiva que lo retaran a pensar críticamente sobre cómo apoyar la independencia, la calidad de la atención médica y la navegación comunitaria. Revise las barreras que existen para que las personas con discapacidades reciban atención médica y otros servicios. Explore cómo las políticas pueden afectar a las personas con discapacidades y considere formas de defender a las personas con discapacidades. Recursos integrales seran proporcionados.

If English is your preferred language, you may take the English language version of this course here. 

Objetivos de aprendizaje

Al finalizar esta capacitación, los estudiantes podrán:

  • Describir los principios de autodefensa, inclusión y respeto importantes para las personas con discapacidades.

  • Practicar una comunicación culturalmente receptiva e inclusiva para personas con discapacidad.

  • Discutir políticas relacionadas con la atención médica y los derechos de las personas con discapacidad.

  • Identificar recursos para personas con discapacidad y sus redes de apoyo.

Formato: Formación basada en web, Autoaprendizaje

Duración: ~90 minutos

Autor(es): Barbara Brent, MS, Community Systems Change Liaison; Celina Urquidez, MPH Clinic and Education Coordinator from the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

Organizado por: Allison Root, DrPH, MS, RDN

Traducido por: Dulce Rodríguez, BS, Western Region Public Health Training Center

Audiencia objetiva: Profesionales de la salud pública, incluyendo promotores de salud, médicos, enfermeras, trabajadores sociales, dietistas y educadores en salud.

Creado: 4/2025

Divulgaciones: Los planificadores, revisores y autores no tienen conflictos de intereses declarados

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.5  total Category I continuing education contact hours, 1.5 continuing competency credits. WRPHTC provider number 99036.

Accreditation
 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

PTSD & Trauma: The Impact on Individuals, Providers, and the Community

This presentation will look at types of trauma and the factors that impact the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It will look at how PTSD shapes an individual’s sense of self and their perspectives of the world around them. A review of vicarious traumatization will identify ways that providers can safeguard against being affected by their clients’ experiences of trauma. A brief discussion on common treatments for PTSD and coping skills for high levels of anxiety will be held. Lastly, community resources for crisis support will be identified. 

 Upon completion of this CE, participants will... 

1. Discuss different types of traumas experienced and the effects on the individual

2. Outline the negative impact of PTSD on the individual 

3. Review vicarious traumatization for providers treating trauma 

4. Discuss common treatments and coping skills to address high levels of anxiety and PTSD 5. Identify crisis community resources

Format: Recorded webinar

Duration:  90 minutes

Speaker:  Mestisa C. Gass, PsyD, Mental Health America of Hawai'i

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Recorded on:  June 12, 2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available for Recording: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.5  total Category I continuing education contact hours (1.5 Continuing Competency Credits). WRPHTC provider number 99036.

 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Strategic Communication: Writing Data and Policy Briefs to Influence Change

A brief is a common communication tool to share data and inform decision making. Both policy briefs and data briefs are shared by health departments and public health organizations for the purpose of informing the public and policymakers, influencing policy, and driving change. Learn tools and strategies to write briefs that effectively summarize your data and communicate the impact of your programs.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  •  Define the purpose of a brief

  • Compare key elements of a policy and data brief

  • Describe best practices for format and design

  • Recognize what makes a data or policy brief effective


Format: Self-paced training (work at your own pace, use "save and exit" as needed).

Duration:  30 -60 minutes

Created by: Caitlin Meyer, MPH

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals 

Published: May 2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

Continuing Education: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.0  total Category I continuing education contact hours (1.0 Continuing Competency Credits). WRPHTC provider number 99036.

 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.



Your Patient with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Accessibility, Decision-Making, and Consent

This training offers practical strategies for delivering equitable, inclusive healthcare to people with disabilities, with a focus on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Primarily designed for primary care providers—especially family physicians and nurse practitioners in Arizona—all health professionals can utilize and apply the concepts when working with people with IDD.

Outcome Objectives:

As a result of completing this activity, the participant will be able to:

  • Incorporate into practice knowledge of current health inequities experienced by people with IDD.
  • Apply universal design strategies to improve the experience of patients with disabilities.
  • Gain consent from people with IDD and engage in supported decision-making with patients.
  • Support active engagement in health care decision-making among individuals with IDD.


Format: Self-paced online training (work at your own pace, use "save and exit" as needed).

Duration:  ~1.5 to 2 hours

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Published: updated 9/2025; original training created in 2022

Narration: This training includes narration generated using AI voice technology (Play AI)

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 2  total Category I continuing education contact hours (1.5 Continuing Competency Credits). WRPHTC provider number 99036.
  • 2 ANCC Credit for Nurses
  • 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity)
  • 2 Credits for Dietitians (CPEUs): As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the WRPHTC is approved to offer continuing professional education units by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The WRPHTC designates this activity for 2 contact hours for dietitians. Dietitians should enter activities as type 102 on their Activity Log.
  • 2 Interprofessional Continuing Education Credits (IPCEs): This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Accreditation Statements


The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.


Pregnancy and Parenting Support for People with Disabilities

Improve your practice by exploring ways to provide accessible care to people with disabilities who are pregnant, parenting, or seeking agency in family planning. Gain perspective for the historical context of healthcare and reproductive issues among people with disabilities. Explore case examples, practice applying principles of supported decision making, and identify ways to reduce barriers that pregnant or parenting people with disabilities often experience when seeking medical care.

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this training learners will be able to:

  • Describe the historical context of healthcare and reproductive issues among individuals with disabilities. 

  • Utilize Supported Decision Making as appropriate with patients with disabilities.

  • Identify the barriers and challenges that individuals with disabilities encounter while seeking healthcare related to pregnancy and parenting.

  • Recognize existing resources for healthcare providers and for the disability community.

Format: Self-paced training (work at your own pace, use "save and exit" as needed).

Duration:  ~60 minutes

Arranged by: Allison Root, DrPH, MCHES, RDN

Subject Matter Experts: Celina Urquidez, MPH Clinic and Education Coordinator, University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Sara Clancey PhD, MOTR/L, IMH-E, Institute for Human Development, Northern Arizona University, Jacy K. Farkas, PhD, Director, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. With review and support from Tamsen Bassford, MD, Jenna Wiersema, RN, and Vicki D. Copeland, MD, FAAFP.

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Published: 12/2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.0  total Category I continuing education contact hours, 1.0 continuing competency credits. WRPHTC provider number 99036.
  • Continuing Professional Education Units for Dietitians (CPEUs): As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the WRPHTC is approved to offer continuing professional education units by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The WRPHTC designates this activity for 1.0 contact hours for dietitians. Dietitians should enter activities as type 102 on their Activity Log.
  • 1.0 ANCC credit for Nurses
  • 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity)

Accreditation Statements


The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Transitioning from Hospital to Home: Supporting Parents in their New Roles

Having a newborn infant often represents a major transition in a person's life. With short hospital stays after the birth of an infant, parents may not be fully prepared to address situations as they arise. Accessible resources and supportive community services can help parents as they transition from hospital to home. This presentation will address common newborn conditions (based on clinical practice), breastfeeding barriers (problem identified and evident by decreasing breastfeeding rates in the US during an infant's first year of life), and postpartum depression (problem identified by the 11.4% native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander rate of postpartum depression from the Health Resources and Services Administration government website).

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will...
  1. Identify newborn conditions in the hospital that may or may not continue to be an issue at home.
  2. Discuss obstacles and potential solutions to ensure successful and sustained breastfeeding.
  3. Describe symptoms of postpartum depression and options for treatment.

Format: Recorded webinar.

Duration:  90 minutes

Speaker: Connie Andrejko, DO, MSHQS, CPE, FAAP.

Recorded on: 5/1/2025

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available for recording: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.5  total Category I continuing education contact hours. WRPHTC provider number 99036.

 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Involucrando a las personas con discapacidad y sus familias: estrategias de comunicación y apoyo

Aumente sus habilidades para ayudar a las personas con discapacidad a vivir una vida saludable e inclusiva. Complete escenarios interactivos que resaltan la importancia de la comunicación culturalmente receptiva que lo retaran a pensar críticamente sobre cómo apoyar la independencia, la calidad de la atención médica y la navegación comunitaria. Revise las barreras que existen para que las personas con discapacidades reciban atención médica y otros servicios. Explore cómo las políticas pueden afectar a las personas con discapacidades y considere formas de defender a las personas con discapacidades. Recursos integrales seran proporcionados.

If English is your preferred language, you may take the English language version of this course here. 

Objetivos de aprendizaje

Al finalizar esta capacitación, los estudiantes podrán:

  • Describir los principios de autodefensa, inclusión y respeto importantes para las personas con discapacidades.

  • Practicar una comunicación culturalmente receptiva e inclusiva para personas con discapacidad.

  • Discutir políticas relacionadas con la atención médica y los derechos de las personas con discapacidad.

  • Identificar recursos para personas con discapacidad y sus redes de apoyo.

Formato: Formación basada en web, Autoaprendizaje

Duración: ~90 minutos

Autor(es): Barbara Brent, MS, Community Systems Change Liaison; Celina Urquidez, MPH Clinic and Education Coordinator from the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

Organizado por: Allison Root, DrPH, MS, RDN

Traducido por: Dulce Rodríguez, BS, Western Region Public Health Training Center

Audiencia objetiva: Profesionales de la salud pública, incluyendo promotores de salud, médicos, enfermeras, trabajadores sociales, dietistas y educadores en salud.

Creado: 4/2025

Divulgaciones: Los planificadores, revisores y autores no tienen conflictos de intereses declarados

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1.5  total Category I continuing education contact hours, 1.5 continuing competency credits. WRPHTC provider number 99036.
  • Continuing Professional Education Units for Dietitians (CPEUs): As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the WRPHTC is approved to offer continuing professional education units by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The WRPHTC designates this activity for 1.5 contact hours for dietitians. Dietitians should enter activities as type 102 on their Activity Log.

Accreditation Statements


The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team through November 2025.
 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Mediation: Making Conflict Constructive

Learn key strategies used by mediators to effectively engage conflict - and transform challenging situations into opportunities for learning and growth - in this Mediation: Making Conflict Constructive course. Conflict is a natural occurrence when people with different backgrounds, identities, views, and ideas come together to work on a shared project or goal. In these lessons you will learn essential skills to make conflict constructive rather than destructive, and elevate your confidence and competence in finding common ground and creative solutions.

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this training learners will be able to:

    • Recognize terms associated with mediation skills
    • Identify strategies for constructive conflict engagement
    • Apply mediation skills to conflict scenarios
    • Generate options to resolve conflict scenarios

Format: Self-paced training (work at your own pace, use "save and exit" as needed).

Duration:  ~ 45 minutes

Arranged by: Dulce Rodriguez, BS

Subject Matter Expert: Caitlan Hendrickson, M.Ed., Owner/Founder, Mutuality Realized LLC

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and health educators.

Published: April 2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

CE Available: 

  • Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES): This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 0.75  total advanced Category I continuing education contact hours (0.75 Continuing Competency Credits). WRPHTC provider number 99036.

 

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Maternal and Child Health Perspectives

This course explores the barriers to OUD care during pregnancy and methods to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant women with OUD. 

Learning Objectives: 
  • Examine the recent trends and health impacts of polysubstance use during pregnancy.
  • Explore evidence-based approaches for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in pregnancy.
  • Develop strategies to address barriers to OUD care during pregnancy to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Format: Self-paced training 

Duration:  ~45 minutes

Created by: Bobbie Alcanzo

Subject Matter Experts: Bridget S. Murphy, DBH, M.Ed., Bobby Alcanzo, MD

Target Audience: Public Health Professionals including community health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, and health educators.

Published: 3/25/2025

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest.

Continuing Education: This course is pending approval for continuing education credits.


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