Washington Public Health

Orientation Information

Orientation Process Steps:

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Local Environmental Health Director

The orientation is an ongoing process that begins when the new Environmental Health Director (EHD) is hired and continues until the new EHD feels comfortable with his / her duties and responsibilities. The Department oaf Health (DOH), Washington State Environmental Health Directors (WSEHD), the new environmental health director, the local health jurisdiction director, the mentor, his / her local health jurisdiction all share in the responsibilities for the orientation process.

The following figure describes the steps in the orientation process and the persons/ groups responsible for completion of each step. Key steps include being assigned a mentor and undertaking the recommended self-study orientation. Although it is suggested that all steps of the orientation be completed, they may occur in a different order or, depending on the new EHD’s background and experience, may not be necessary at all.

Text Copy of Steps

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Step 1: DOH and WSEHD are notified of new Environmental Health Director appointment. (Responsibility: Local health jurisdiction director) The local health jurisdiction director notifies DOH Office of Environmental Health and the WSEHD executive committee of the hiring of a new local public health Environmental Health Director.

Step 2: Environmental Health Director appointment is communicated throughout DOH and WSEHD. (Responsibility: DOH Office of Environmental Health, WSEHD Executive Committee) The DOH Local Health Liaison will contact the new Environmental Health Director and send them the orientation materials and manual.

• name and address of new Environmental Health Director is communicated to all DOH programs and all other LHJs in Washington State

• Local health jurisdiction directory is updated

• email address is added to address book for agency

• name and email address are added to WSEHD listserv and mailing list

Step 3: WSEHD Chair or Chair-Elect contacts new Environmental Health Director. WSEHD officer contacts the new local Environmental Health Director and reviews the general orientation process (including the manual, self-assessments, and toolkit), discusses selection of comparable LHJ to identify an Environmental Health Director to serve as a mentor, helps deal with any immediate problems, and invites the new Environmental Health Director to the next WSEHD meeting. Offers to meet with the new Environmental Health Director if needed (optional).

Step 4: New EHD completes self-assessment and reviews Orientation Menu.

Step 5: Meeting with State liaison; chair or chair-elect of WSEHD. (Responsibility: DOH Local Liaison)

• Will occur within 6 weeks of EHD arrival on the job, if at all possible

• Should take place at the new EHD’s LHJ unless other meetings in Olympia are also planned

• includes provision of a few basic materials about DOH, WSALPHO, EHD forum (e.g., phone lists and organizational charts) and introduction of DOH Local Public Health Liaison, DOH Learning Resource Coordinator, DOH Nursing Director Liaison, Health Officer Liaison, and EHD Forum Chair

• Includes review of Orientation Menu and selection of appropriate items (including important contacts in coming months)

• Copy of completed Orientation Menu is forwarded to DOH Learning Resource Coordinator

Step 6: Mentor assigned. Candidates are contacted, informed of responsibilities and asked about availability and willingness to be a mentor. New Mentor makes contact with new EHD at least twice during the first month and ad hoc thereafter.

Step 7: Development and review of individual orientation plan. (Responsibility: local health jurisdiction director, new EHD and mentor). The new EHD uses the self-assessments and orientation toolkit to develop their individualized orientation plan. The new EHD then reviews and finalizes the individual orientation plan with the local health jurisdiction director and the mentor. The final orientation plan is sent with the new EHD’s biography sheet to the DOH Learning Resource Center.

Step 8: Orientation/training occurs, largely self-guided by new EHD. (Responsibility: local health jurisdiction director, new EHD, mentor, and DOH Office of Public Health Systems Planning & Development [Learning Resource Coordinator and Local Health Liaison]) Appropriate documents, reference books, and other materials (from Orientation Toolkit) are packaged and sent to new EHD. Requested meetings are arranged. As needed, the new EHD contacts their local health jurisdiction director, their mentor, the DOH Local Health Liaison, or the DOH Learning Resource Coordinator for assistance.

Step 9: Orientation process continues until new EHD feels comfortable with roles and responsibilities. (Responsibility: local health jurisdiction director, new EHD, mentor, and Local Health Liaison)

Step 10: Orientation process is evaluated. (Responsibility: DOH Office of Public Health Systems Planning & Development [Learning Resource Coordinator], Local Health Liaison, local health jurisdiction director, mentor, and new EHD)

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• Orientation Process Steps

• Evaluation of the Orientation Process

• Competencies

• Self Assessment

• Learning Objective

• Learning Resource Toolkit

• Printable Manual