NNPHI’s hub model is an efficient structure for providing localized training and technical assistance across the US.
The hub model was initially developed through five Hurricane Response Hubs that provided training and technical assistance to Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Texas over a five-year period. The program was a fast-paced, coordinated effort among federal, state and local public health organizations that facilitated training and technical assistance and information sharing to enhance ongoing environmental and occupational health recovery in jurisdictions affected by the 2017 Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. NNPHI evaluated the five technical assistance centers led by public health institutes and public health training centers. Evaluation findings demonstrated the program met its two overarching goals: first, to identify responder environmental health and occupational health needs; and second, to address those needs by fulfilling more than 100 technical assistance requests from 104 organizations, developing over 250 resources, and conducting nearly 500 trainings on disaster-related environmental health and occupational health topics that reached 50,000 professionals.