CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program Stakeholder Survey

Form Approved

OMB No: 0910-0360

Exp Date xx/xx/20xx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program

Stakeholder Survey

The purpose of this survey is to elicit information from you as a stakeholder of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Career Epidemiology Field Officer (CEFO) Program. The survey will collect information about your knowledge of the CEFO Program, and obtain your opinions on the contributions that CEFOs make to the state and local public health infrastructure and the quality of support received by state and local health departments from the assigned CEFOs and the CDC CEFO Headquarters staff. This survey is being sent to all state epidemiologists and Public Health Emergency Response Directors, as well as other public health officials that supervise CEFOs (e.g., county public health epidemiologists, deputy State Epidemiologists, and other emergency response officials).

We would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete the survey. Responses to this survey are anonymous. CDC cannot and will not identify any individual respondents to this survey, nor will CDC be able to link responses to a particular individual, state or U.S. Territory. The results of the survey will assist program managers in improving the CEFO program. A summary of the survey results will be made available to you by early summer 2011.

The survey is composed of seven sections with a combination of multiple choice and open-ended text questions. The survey will take about 18 minutes to complete. Please make sure that you will have adequate time to complete the survey before you begin because you will not be able to save your responses and return at a later time. You can access the survey by clicking on this link: http://OPHPRsurveys.cdc.gov/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=CEFOSTAKEHOLDERS.

Please complete the survey by Monday, April 18, 2011. If you have questions about this survey, please contact Nadine Oosmanally (telephone: (770) 488-8809; email: [email protected]).

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Career Epidemiology Field Officer (CEFO) program is dedicated to strengthening epidemiologic capacity within state, local and territorial health departments. A CEFO is a CDC epidemiologist assigned, by request, to a public health department to facilitate and strengthen their epidemiologic capacity and public health preparedness. CEFO positions are funded through direct assistance of the health department’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement. The requesting agency must commit to funding the CEFO initially for two years with the option to renew the request annually. As of October 2010, there are 30 CEFO assignees located in 23 state or local public health departments.

Thank you for your contribution to this collaborative effort to help us improve the CEFO Program!

Section 1. Please provide the following information about your primary role at the state or local health department.

1. Which of the following best describes your primary role in your state, local, or territorial public health department? (Please select all that apply.)

• Director or Manager of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

• State Epidemiologist

• Health Commissioner

• State Health Official

• Local (city, county, or regional) epidemiologist

• Other _______
  
  
  

1. How long have you served in your primary role in your state, local, or territorial health department?

• <1 year

• 1-5 years

• 5-10 years

• 11-15 years

• 16-20 years

• 21-25 years

• >25 years
  
  
  

1. In what region of the United States do you serve in your primary role for public health?

• West (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Los Angeles County, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)

• Midwest (Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

• Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont)

• South (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia)

• United States Territory or Puerto Rico (American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Section 2. Please provide the following information about your awareness of the CEFO Program.

A CEFO is a CDC epidemiologist assigned, by request, to a public health department to facilitate and strengthen their epidemiologic capacity and public health preparedness.

2.1 Were you aware of the CEFO Program prior to receiving this survey?

• Yes, Go to question 2.2.

• No, Go to Section 3.

2.2 How did you learn about the CEFO Program? (Please select all that apply.)

• An interaction with a CEFO

• Conference or professional meeting

• Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR)

• Other CDC Program _____

• Partner (e.g., CSTE, ASTHO, NACCHO, etc.)

• CDC Internet website

• Other _____

2.3 Please use the scale provided below to rate the following statements about the CEFO Program.

5 = Strongly Agree, 4 = Agree, 3 = Neither Agree nor Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 1 = Strongly Disagree

2.3.1 I understand the mission and function of the CEFO Program

2.3.2 I know how to get more information on the CEFO Program

2.3.3 I know how to request a CEFO for my public health department

2.3.4 I understand the roles and responsibilities of CEFO headquarters

2.3.5 The CEFO Program headquarters staff are accessible when I have tried to contact them

2.3.6 The CEFO Program headquarters staff are responsive when I have made requests

If you responded to any of the above as disagree or strongly disagree, please provide additional comments. (free text)

Section 3. Please provide the following information about CEFO (s) assignments in your health department.

3.1 Has a CEFO been assigned to your health department? (See the attachment if you are uncertain of your response to this question.)

• A CEFO is currently assigned. [Go to 3.4]

• A CEFO is not currently assigned, but a CEFO has been assigned in the past. [Go to 3.2]

• A CEFO has never been assigned. [Go to 3.4]

2. Why was the CEFO’s assignment in your health department discontinued? (Please select all that apply.)
   
   
   

• Insufficient funds in PHEP cooperative agreement

• Change in health department organization or personnel

• Process of recruitment was too time consuming

• CEFO decided to leave the position

• CEFO was not adequately addressing health department’s needs

• Duties of the assignment had been completed

• Other__________

2. How long has your health department been without a CEFO?

• 0-1 year

• 1-2 years

• 3-4 years

• 5-6 years

• ≥7 years

2. Which of the following describes why your health department chose or might choose in the future to employ a CEFO? (Please select all that apply.)

• Assist with requirements in Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement

• Improve surveillance

• Improve epidemiologic capacity

• Assist with preparedness and response activities

• Other______

3.5 Would your health department be interested in requesting a CEFO or an additional CEFO?

• Yes

• No

• Do not know

If yes, why? [Go to 3.6]

If no, why not? [Go to 3.7]

3.6 If you do not currently employ a CEFO, and would like to, what are the challenges preventing you from requesting a CEFO? (Please select all that apply.)

• Insufficient funds in PHEP Cooperative agreement

• Change in health department organization or personnel

• Do not understand logistics of how to obtain a CEFO

• Process of recruitment is too time consuming

• Other:__________

[If CEFO has never been assigned, go to Section 6.]

[If CEFO is currently assigned or a CEFO has been assigned in the past, go to 3.7]

3.7 Currently or in the past, how many years has your health department employed a CEFO? [If you are uncertain of the answer, please see the attachment.]

• <1 yr

• 1-2 yrs

• 3-4 yrs

• 5-6 yrs

• ≥7 yrs

Section 4. Please provide the following information about the past and present contributions of CEFO(s) in your health department.

1. Which of the following best describes your responsibility in relation to the CEFO in your health department?

(If a CEFO is not currently assigned, but there has been a CEFO assigned in the past, what was your responsibility in relation to the CEFO in your health department? (Please select all that apply.)

• Primary supervisor

• Secondary supervisor

• I supervise one of the CEFO’s supervisors

• No responsibility

• Other _____

2. Please use the scale provided below to rate each of the activities that best describes the contributions of the CEFO(s) to fill gaps in epidemiologic capacity in meeting your health department goals. If an activity is not included in the CEFO’s work assignment or duties, please select “Not Applicable”.

Not Applicable	The activities, knowledge, or resources described are not within the scope of work.
Minimally	Less than 50% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.
Meets Expectations	Less than 75% (but greater than 50%) of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.
Exceeds Expectations	Greater than 75% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.

ACTIVITY	Not Applicable	Minimally	Meets Expectations	Exceeds Expectations
4.2.1 Improve epidemiologic capacity
4.2.1.1 Conduct surveillance activities
4.2.1.2 Conduct outbreak investigations
4.2.1.3 Consult on surveillance activities
4.2.1.4 Supervise outbreak investigations
4.2.1.5 Build linkages between epidemiologic and laboratory capacity
4.2.1.6 Assist with surveys related to public health investigations
4.2.1.7 Other (related to improving epidemiologic capacity)
4.2.2 Improve public health preparedness and response
4.2.2.1 Serve a role in the state emergency operations center
4.2.2.2 Draft state or local health department preparedness plan
4.2.2.3 Conduct response exercises
4.2.2.4 Conduct response trainings
4.2.2.5 Evaluate state or local health department preparedness plans
4.2.2.6 Evaluate state or local health department emergency response
4.2.2.7 Other (related to public health preparedness and response)
4.2.3 Provide education, training, and workforce development
4.2.3.1 Provide workshops and other trainings to local staff
4.2.3.2 Provide national training
4.2.3.3 Mentor student intern(s), epidemiologist(s), EIS Officer(s), or other staff
4.2.3.4 Serve as adjunct faculty to higher institutes of learning
4.2.3.5 Other (related to education, training, and workforce development)

Not Applicable	The activities, knowledge, or resources described are not within the scope of work.
Minimally	Less than 50% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.
Meets Expectations	Less than 75% (but greater than 50%) of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.
Exceeds Expectations	Greater than 75% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are met.

ACTIVITY	Not Applicable	Minimally	Meets Expectations	Exceeds Expectations
4.2.4 Improve communications
4.2.4.1 Consultative role in state or local public health recommendations for communication messages related to emergencies
4.2.4.2 Contribute to briefing statements
4.2.4.3 Contribute to public outreach
4.2.4.4 Contribute to health education campaigns as subject matter expert
4.2.4.5 Contribute to health department newsletters
4.2.4.6 Other (related to communications)
4.2.5 Improve policy recommendations
4.2.5.1 Consultative role in state or local public health department policy development
4.2.5.2Consultative role in revisions of public health policies
4.2.5.3Conduct policy analysis
4.2.5.4 Assist with implementing policies or policy changes
4.2.5.5 Other (related to policy)
4.2.6 Increase health department’s access to professional networks and resources
4.2.6.1 Collaborate with federal partners
4.2.6.2 Collaborate with state partners
4.2.6.3 Collaborate with local health departments
4.2.6.4 Collaborate with academic institutions
4.2.6.5 Collaborate with other CEFOs
4.2.6.6 Participate in workgroups or other councils
4.2.6.7 Consult with subject matter experts (SMEs)
4.2.6.8 Other (related to increasing access to professional networks and resources)
4.2.7 Contribute to scientific knowledge base
4.2.7.1 Facilitate special projects
4.2.7.2 Develop scientific protocols
4.2.7.3 Contribute to peer-reviewed journals
4.2.7.4 Provide conference presentations
4.2.7.5 Consult on grants as subject matter expert (SME)
4.2.7.6 Other consultations as subject matter expert (SME)
4.2.7.7 Other (related to contributing to scientific knowledge base)

4.3 Please select the three most important contributions of the CEFO(s) in your health department.

(If a CEFO is not currently assigned, but there has been one assigned in the past, please select the three most important contributions of past CEFO (s).)

• Improve epidemiological capacity

• Improve public health preparedness and response

• Provide education, training, and workforce development

• Improve communications

• Improve policy recommendations

• Increase health department’s access to professional networks and resources

• Contribute to scientific knowledge base

Section 5. Please provide the following information about the type (s) of support provided by CDC CEFO Headquarters Staff.

1. Please use the scale provided below to rate the following statements.
   
   
   

5 = Strongly Agree, 4 = Agree, 3 = Neither Agree nor Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 1 = Strongly Disagree

5.1.1 My expectations for CEFO Headquarters interactions are or have previously been met .

5.1.2 I received adequate information from CDC during the process of establishing a CEFO position.

5.1.3 I receive(d) the amount of support that I would have liked to receive from the CEFO Program headquarters staff

2. If you responded to any of the above as disagree or strongly disagree, please provide additional comments. (free text)

5.3 Please use the scale provided below to rate each of the activities that best describes the support provided by the CDC CEFO Headquarters staff to your health department.

(If you had a CEFO in the past, what type of support did you receive from the CEFO Program headquarters staff?)

Not Applicable	The activities, knowledge, or resources described are not within the scope.
Minimally	Less than 50% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are provided.
Meets Expectations	Less than 75% (but greater than 50%) of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are provided.
Exceeds Expectations	Greater than 75% of the activity, knowledge or resources described within the question are provided.

SUPPORT ACTIVITY PROVIDED BY CDC CEFO HEADQUARTERS	Not Applicable	Minimally	Meets Expectations	Exceeds Expectations
5.3.1 Information
5.3.1.1 Update about plans and policies related to CEFO positions
5.3.3.2 Establish networks and linkages
5.3.1.3 Other (related to information)
5.3.2 Administrative support
5.3.2.1 Develop relevant work plans
5.3.2.2 Recruit and select CEFOs
5.3.2.3 Orient new CEFOs
5.3.2.4 Support for CEFOs’ travel plans
5.3.2.5 Support for reimbursements
5.3.2.6 Other (related to administrative support)
5.3.3 Managerial support
5.3.3.1 Technical support and leadership
5.3.3.2 Support for clearance process
5.3.3.3 Evaluate program performance
5.3.3.4 Other (related managerial support)
5.3.4 Scientific support
5.3.4.1 Scientific writing and editing
5.3.4.2 Advice on investigations or facilitating connections with CDC subject experts
5.3.4.3 Other (related to scientific support)

Section 6. The following questions pertain to the funding mechanism for supporting the CEFO positions.

CEFO positions are funded through the Direct Assistance mechanism of the requesting health department’s PHEP cooperative agreement allocation. The requesting agency must commit to funding the CEFO initially for two years with the option to renew the request annually.

1. Do you believe that the existing CEFO funding mechanism is working well for your health department?
   
   
   

• Yes

• No

• Do not know

If no, why not?

6.2- 6.6 Please use the scale provided below to rate the statements in 6.2 to 6.6.

5 = Strongly Agree, 4 = Agree, 3 = Neither Agree nor Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 1 = Strongly Disagree

2. The current funding mechanism for supporting the CEFO positions is equitable.
   
   
   

3. The current funding mechanism for supporting the CEFO positions is sustainable.
   
   
   

4. The current funding mechanism for supporting the CEFO positions is optimal.
   
   

6.5 A combination of funding from multiple CDC programs should be used to support the CEFO positions. (e.g., funding combined from PHEP, and Immunization, or Emerging Infections)

6. A different funding mechanism should be executed to support the CEFO positions.

If you responded “strongly agree” or “agree”, please describe the different funding mechanism that you would suggest be considered.

Section 7. The following questions are focused on the strengths and opportunities for improvement of the CEFO Program.

7.1 In your opinion, what are the strengths of the CEFO Program for your health department?

7.2 In your opinion, what are the opportunities for improvement in the CEFO program?

3. What do you see as the major risks for your ability to support a CEFO in your health department?

3. What additional support do you need from the CEFO Program?

Thank you for participating in this survey!

END OF SURVEY

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