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.
NNPHI is using a regional innovation hub model to provide training and technical assistance to state recipients of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). A PHIG regional innovation hub consists of one or more non-governmental public health organizations that work with state, local, territorial, and tribal health departments to analyze and operationalize essential public health functions in their regions. A public health institute serves as the central coordinating body for each hub and may be supported by additional public health organizations, including public health training centers (housed within schools of public health). These additional partners serve as spokes to the hubs. Hub and spoke organizations bring deep subject matter expertise, local knowledge and trusted relationships, and extensive experience across a wide range of public health topics.
The hub model allows NNPHI to coordinate and deliver tailored training and technical assistance to PHIG recipients across the entire United States. Using the hubs to provide PHIG technical assistance is also intended to foster sustainable collaboration and supportive relationships across the public health system that last beyond the grant period.