This page was reviewed and updated on February 7, 2012.

Training and Exercise Planning

The training and exercise staff strive to ensure that Florida's public health and medical system and supporting partners are properly trained, practice their response roles, perform response duties, and are prepared to respond to any and all hazards. The Department of Health (DOH) Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (MYT&E) is administered by the Bureau of Preparedness and Response in coordination with the Florida Public Health and Medical Preparedness Strategic Plan Training and Exercise Support Team (TEST). This plan provides a formal structure to advance health and medical community preparedness in Florida.

The 2010 Training and Exercise Needs Assessment  is informing the next Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (MYTEP) for the Public Health and Healthcare Preparedness system which provides a blueprint for future training and exercise activities.

Training and exercise are key components to ensuring the health and medical workforce can protect Florida residents and visitors from man-made or natural disasters.

Public Health and Health Care Preparedness Training and Exercise Calendar

The Bureau of Preparedness and Response calendar includes postings of training and exercise activities statewide.

Please note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the entity below. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

If you would like an event posted to the calendar, email it to PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us or call 850-245-4040.

 

Training and Exercise Support Team (TEST)

The Training and Exercise Support Team (TEST) is one of seventeen Strategic Planning Teams created to help implement the public health and medical related objectives outlined in the 2011-2013 Public Health and Healthcare Preparedness Strategic Plan. These objectives align with the Department of Homeland Security National Target Capabilities and the Florida Domestic Security Strategy.

Please note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the entity below. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Teams work across disciplines, agencies, programs and geographic lines to meet national and state goals in public health and medical preparedness. Those involved in preparedness-funded programs and subject matter experts from health and medical disciplines make up the bulk of team membership. TEST's charter  outlines the team's mission, members and stakeholders. For more information about TEST, contact PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us

Curriculum and Exercise Review

A curriculum and exercise review process has been established to evaluate and track the appropriateness and effectiveness of the preparedness training and exercises supported by CDC or ASPR grant funds and offered throughout Florida for those in public health and medical preparedness and response.

The review process has two Tiers:

• The Tier 1 review is conducted by the Training and Exercise Support Team (TEST). An effort is made to ensure statewide, programmatic coverage and diversity. Reviews are done on a monthly basis.
• The Tier 2 review is conducted by the Regional Domestic Security Task Force (RDSTF) Health & Medical Co-chairs. Reviews are done on a regular basis, following a Tier I review.

The Education & Training Curriculum Review Instructions (pdf 39.55kb/4 pages) and the Exercise Review Instructions provide additional information about this process.

v Submission of a training curriculum or exercise for review is done online via a web-form.

            Education & Training Curriculum Review Form (online)

              ٠ The Education & Training Curriculum Review Checklist assists participants in completing and submitting the required form and documentation.

           Exercise Review Form (online)

              ٠ The Exercise Review Checklist (pdf 19.57kb/2 pages) assists participants in completing and submitting the required form and documentation.

Please note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the entity below. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

If you experience any difficulty using the online web-form please contact the Training and Education Unit at PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us.

Please note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the entity below. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

For more information contact the Training and Exercise Unit at PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us.

Training Catalog

The Bureau of Preparedness and Response has developed Training Catalog: Guidelines and Listings for County Health Departments  to assist Florida's County Health Departments in training their staffs to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.   The Catalog addresses bioterrorism and emergency preparedness core competencies, as defined by Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Incident Management System (NIMS) training requirements for all public health personnel, and required training under FDOH Training Policy (DOHP 300-1-10).

Trainer Toolkit

The Trainer Toolkit helps trainers, instructional designers, planners and facilitators meet the needs of their target audience.  The Toolkit provides information on how to plan, design, deliver, and evaluate training events.  The Toolkit also contains helpful information on need assessments, training objectives, adult learning, instructional methods and training aids, presentation skills and evaluations.

Exercise Program

Exercise Evaluation and Planning Network

 

The FDOH is establishing a network of exercise planners and evaluators that all agencies can leverage to bolster our collective resources, exchange information and exercise more efficiently. This effort is on a voluntary basis and provides a resource for an agency to exchange expertise from other jurisdictions or other entities. The list of participants will be vetted and posted to the FDOH Bureau of Preparedness and Response website and updated as needed.

 

 

Exercise Evaluation and Planning Network Letter

Want to join the network?

Need help from the network or want to see the list?

 

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

HSEEP Compliance

HSEEP is a national program developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Exercises funded through Federal agencies require HSEEP compliance.

What does "HSEEP Compliance" mean?

The Department of Homeland Security defines HSEEP compliance as:

1. Conducting an annual Training and Exercise Plan Workshop and developing and maintaining a Multi-year Training and Exercise Plan.
2. Planning and conducting exercises in accordance with the guidelines set forth in HSEEP Volumes I-III. 
3.  Developing and submitting a properly formatted After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP).
4. Tracking and implementing corrective actions identified in the AAR/IP.

Where do I start?

The Bureau of Preparedness and Response has developed an HSEEP Mechanics Manual - a handbook for becoming HSEEP compliant that simplifies the information found in HSEEP Volumes I-III. The manual provides a Multi-Year Training and Exercise plan example. It also provides practical information in designing and conducting exercises and following up with after action reports and improvement plans. The HSEEP Mechanics Manual (pdf, 2.85mb/ 34 pages) is an excellent means to learn the exercise fundamentals and serves as a handy reference as well.

Where can I get HSEEP training?

The Bureau has developed the HSEEP Mechanics Self-Paced Training, an online version of the HSEEP Mechanics Training. It is designed to provide participants with the information needed to plan, design, conduct, and evaluate HSEEP compliant and stimulating exercises.

The learning objectives for the course are:

• Explain the role of exercises in the preparedness system.
• Identify the tools in HSEEP Toolkit and describe the purpose of each.
• Describe the steps needed for planning, drafting, and conducting an exercise.
• Describe the purpose of and steps needed for exercise evaluation, improvement planning and maintenance.

The target audience for this course includes planners, trainers, and exercise coordinators at county health departments, hospitals, health and medical centers, and long-term care facilities, EMS, and all other ESF 8 public health and medical partners. It is appropriate for anyone who will have direct involvement with exercise design, execution, improvement plan tracking, and the integration of exercises into training program and plan development.

This course is available through this website. Department of Health employees may also access it through Trak-It. It is divided into four modules and has a posttest and evaluation to be completed after all the modules. It can be taken by individuals or be used in a classroom setting with a small group.

It is recommended that you complete IS 120A An Introduction to Exercises and IS 130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning, online courses available through the FEMA website.

Before beginning this course please download a copy of the HSEEP Mechanics Manual.

HSEEP Mechanics Self-Paced Training

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Posttest

Course Evaluation

The text versions of the HSEEP Mechanics Self-Paced Training below are formatted for use with screen readers.

Combined Modules -
       Modules 1-4: pdf (233.84kb/47 pages)   word (365.50/kb/47 pages)

Individual Modules -
       Module 1:pdf (54.56kb/10 pages)   word (164kb/10 pages)
       Module 2: pdf (54.56kb/10 pages)   word (151.50kb/10 pages)
       Module 3: pdf (74.27kb/14 pages)   word (178kb/14 pages)
       Module 4: pdf (65kb/11 pages)      word (158kb/11 pages)

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

(For a Text version of the Posttest, please contact us by email at PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us )

Course Evaluation: pdf (23.61kb/3 pages)   word (58.50kb/3 pages)

In addition, this workshop can be taught using "Live Meeting" as a cost-saving measure for DOH and our share partners. We have received good success and participant feedback using this format. If you have a group of participants that would benefit from this type of HSEEP training, please contact PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us to schedule HSEEP Mechanics Live Meeting training.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) sponsors a 2-3 day HSEEP course, which is available at the regional level and usually instructed by Regional Planning Councils.

Where can I find HSEEP exercise examples and other resources?

The Bureau maintains an online LIBRARY of documents and materials that may be useful in designing and conducting HSEEP-compliant exercises.

Please note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to the entity below. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

For more information about HSEEP training, contact PHMP_TrainEx@doh.state.fl.us.

Other Resources

Division of Emergency Management (DEM)

DEM is the lead agency for Florida's preparedness training and exercise efforts.  Their website is full of useful information for exercise planners and trainers: http://www.floridadisaster.org/Preparedness/TrainingandExercise/index.htm

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

DOH also works closely with FDLE in its preparedness and response efforts.  FDLE was a major participant in Health's award winning "Beleaguered Bus" exercises.

Photos

None at this time.

Other Training and Exercise Planning Resources

CDC Public Health Training Network

FEMA Emergency Management Institute

Florida Division of Emergency Management Disaster Training

CDC Centers for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) program