Washington Public Health

Orientation Information

Orientation Process Steps

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Local Public Health Administrator

The orientation is an ongoing process that begins before the new local administrator is hired (i.e., with the local health jurisdiction’s recruitment efforts) and continues until the new administrator feels comfortable with his / her duties and responsibilities. DOH, WSALPHO, the new administrator, the hiring agent, the advisor administrator, and his / her local health jurisdiction all share in the responsibilities for the orientation process.

The below 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 administrator’s background and experience may not be necessary at all.

Step 1: DOH and WSALPHO are notified of new Administrator appointment. (Responsibility: Hiring agent) The hiring agent notifies DOH Office of Public Health Systems Planning & Development and the WSALPHO administrator of the hiring of a new local public health administrator.

Step 2: Administrator appointment is communicated throughout DOH and WSALPHO. (Responsibility: DOH Office of Public Health Systems Planning & Development, WSALPHO) The DOH Local Health Liaison will contact the new administrator and send them the orientation materials and manual.

• name and address of new administrator 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 WSALPHO listserv and mailing list and to PHELF listserv

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

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Step 4: A mentor administrator is identified and contacts the new administrator by phone at least twice within first month. (Responsibility: PHELF Chair or Vice-Chair) Candidates are contacted, informed of responsibilities, and asked about availability/willingness to be a mentor. The new mentor makes contact with the new administrator at least twice during the first month and ad hoc thereafter.

Step 5: Development and review of individual orientation plan. (Responsibility: Hiring agent, new local administrator, and mentor) The new administrator uses the self-assessments and orientation toolkit to develop their individualized orientation plan. The new administrator then reviews and finalizes the individual orientation plan with the hiring agent and the mentor. The final orientation plan is sent with the new administrator’s biography sheet (page xii) to the DOH Learning Resource Center.

Step 6: Orientation/training occurs, largely self-guided by new administrator. (Responsibility: hiring agent, new administrator, 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 administrator. Requested meetings are arranged. As needed, the new administrator contacts their hiring agent, their mentor, the DOH Local Health Liaison, or the DOH Learning Resource Coordinator for assistance.

Step 7: Orientation process continues until new administrator feels comfortable with roles and responsibilities. (Responsibility: hiring agent, new administrator, mentor, and Local Health Liaison)

Step 8: Orientation process is evaluated. (Responsibility: DOH Office of Public Health Systems Planning & Development [Learning Resource Coordinator], Local Health Liaison, hiring agent, mentor, and new administrator)

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• Orientation Process Steps

• Evaluation of the Orientation Process

• Competencies

• Self Assessment

• Learning Objective

• Learning Resource Toolkit

• Printable Manual