Training

Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)

The Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC) will serve in a national capacity to meet preparedness and response training and education needs of the U. S. public health workforce. The PERLC will provide core competency-based training to state, local, and tribal public health authorities within self-defined service areas and meet partners' unique workforce development needs in the area of public health preparedness and response; providing specialized training, education, exercise consultation and products not addressed through core competency-based curricula. For more information email: perlcprogram@cdc.gov.

Success Stories

Fostering collaboration across HHS Region 1
Harvard School of Public Health

On March 25, 2011, the Harvard PERLC (H-PERLC) convened a Stakeholder Partner Forum in Boston which included representatives from the preparedness and workforce development offices of the six New England states departments of public health. Many of the public health leaders present at the meeting had never met before and this meeting provided the opportunity to build connectivity across the six state agencies, and discuss training needs in emergency preparedness as well as capabilities requirements. The forum, led by Dr. Lenny Marcus (SPF Chair) and Dr. Marcia Testa (H-PERLC P.I.), used preliminary data results from a training needs assessment conducted by the H-PERLC evaluation team to facilitate the discussion on training needs in each competency area. Nineteen (19) H-PERLC faculty and staff members had the opportunity to meet with state officials to understand their perspectives on the type of curriculum needed to improve emergency preparedness capabilities across Region 1. During the discussion, training gaps were taken into consideration, as were the integration of H-PERLC activities with existing activities performed by other Preparedness and Emergency Preparedness Centers and Institutions with preparedness state, county and city affiliations and contracts. Representatives from the PHEP and PHER grants implemented in each state were present.

IMPACT: The Stakeholder Partner Forum marks the first time public health officials with a leadership role in emergency preparedness in the six New England states (Region 1) had the opportunity to meet in person and discuss the training needs of the New England public health workforce in a structured face-to-face forum.

Map of Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)

The Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC) cooperative agreement program represents the next iteration of the Centers for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) program, which closed in August 2010.

For full-size version, click on map below.