Foundational Skills in Disease Intervention

In collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases, the CAPTC is offering training and support to state and local health department staff conducting disease intervention (DI) activities. These courses help develop and maintain core training competencies of the statewide DI workforce for any infection, whether existing or emerging. These courses include, Essential Interviewing Skills for Disease Intervention (EISDI), Foundational Epidemiology for Disease Intervention and other VTA courses created for the Covid-19 Pandemic response. The courses contain asynchronous content available on demand and synchronous, live virtual trainings.

Essential Interviewing Skills for Disease Intervention (EISDI)

EISDI is a comprehensive training series delivered in complementary sessions of asynchronous and synchronous modules. It equips you with essential skills needed to effectively conduct interviews in disease intervention. Designed for public health staff working in disease intervention (DI), who want to enhance or refresh interview skills, whether new or experienced.

Register for EISDI

Foundational Epidemiology for Disease Intervention

This course provides public health workers in California with a foundational understanding of how epidemiology integrates into public health. Participants will learn systematic approaches to disease control and explore the role of surveillance in public health by using epidemiologic indicators and analysis to inform public health practices. This course is designed for California staff involved in disease control and intervention.

Foundational Epidemiology for Disease Intervention

Virtual Training Academy (VTA) – Covid-19 Pandemic Response courses

These asynchronous courses were developed during the Covid-19 Pandemic to address the gaps in DI skills to help quickly respond to the state epidemic. Much of the content, while covid specific, teaches skills which are relevant and transferrable to other diseases.

See VTA Courses

Calculating Interview Periods

A foundational step in any STI interview is determining the interview period. This timeframe is crucial for identifying sexual partners who may require testing and treatment. The DI Professional will calculate this period before the interview begins. The interview period represents the maximum possible duration during which the person could have contracted or transmitted the infection.

Module Objective:

To equip DI Professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately calculate interview periods for persons diagnosed with STIs/HIV.

In this e-learning module learners will:

Define interview period and its importance in working with people who are diagnosed with an STI/HIV.
Discuss factors affecting interview period length (e.g., STI type, symptoms, risk behaviors).
Calculate Interview Periods for Specific STIs using different patient profiles and STI/HIV diagnoses(Primary, Secondary, and Early Latent syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, PID, and HIV).

Mpox Disease Intervention Series

The goal of this training is to prepare staff of local health departments to perform effective disease intervention (DI) interviews for mpox. This training aims to build on disease intervention skills by applying knowledge of the complexities and nuances specifically related to mpox DI interviews.

Go To Trainings

Learning Objectives
By the end of these trainings, you should be able to:

Communicate accurate information about mpox symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and services.
Gain awareness of the lived experiences of gay, bi, other men who have sex with men (MSM), including transgender men, and other trans people as it relates to mpox.
Understand a sex-positive, person-centered approach to taking a sexual history for mpox.
Use motivational interviewing and health coaching tools to support clients in seeking vaccination, screening, or treatment for mpox.
Examine personal and structural biases to reduce stigma during mpox interviews.

Self-Disclosure

Many clients in prevention and care settings would like to tell others of their status regarding HIV/STI or other health conditions. By self-disclosing, clients may hope to gain support or offer potentially exposed partners an opportunity to access important services.

Our blended learning course, Supporting Self-Disclosure of a Health Condition, is designed to assist prevention and care providers in supporting their patients to self-disclose to their sexual and/or substance injecting partners.

Nurse with a female patient. The patient is smiling with her hand over he heart.

Blended Learning Modules

Part 1: Online Self-Disclosure Course

The online course introduces disclosure concepts using a four-step model that can be used by providers when engaging in discussions around self-notification with their clients.

Take Part 1

Part 2. Skills Practice

The skills-based training offers the opportunity to put those steps into practice. Attendees learn about benefits and barriers to disclosure and how best to coach and practice with a client to help ensure a successful disclosure.

The online training is a prerequisite to the skills-based learning.
Upcoming trainings to be announced. If you are interested in this, please contact us at captc@ucsf.edu.

Home Training Social Determinants of Health and HIV

Social Determinants of Health and HIV

An understanding of social determinants is essential to the implementation of effective HIV treatment or prevention interventions. This engaging and informative one-hour online course, based on our popular two-day instructor-led training, provides an introduction to social determinants and HIV.

Learn more and register

Home Training Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing

These modules provides an overview of the rationale and evidence for using motivational interviewing to facilitate change with your clients. We hope that this overview will help and inspire you to communicate with your clients, patients, and communities in a more effective way.

Hiker offering their hand to their partner.

Discover the foundations (Part 1) and principles (Part 2) of motivational interviewing and learn how to apply these to your work with clients, inspiring and empowering them to thrive.

Part one: History and Spirit

Part two: Principles in Action

Home Training Introduction to Telephone Interviewing for DIS

Introduction to Telephone Interviewing for DIS

CDC Train's Introduction to Telephone Interviewing for DIS course will introduce partner services providers (i.e., DIS) to the basic principles and best practices for conducting telephone interviews

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Home Training Introduction to Trauma Informed Care for DIS

Introduction to Trauma Informed Care for DIS

CDC Train's Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care for DIS course is designed to introduce Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) to the principles and strategies of trauma-informed care, so they are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to support clients who have experienced trauma.

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Home Training Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

CDC Train's Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to provide inclusive and affirming services to your patients.

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Home Training STD/HIV Partner Services Interview Demonstration

STD/HIV Partner Services Interview Demonstration

This video provides an example of a mock partner services interview with a syphilis client. HIV prevention is also addressed extensively during the interview.

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