Conclusion We acknowledge that there will be continu- ous challenges with leadership, training, and mentorship due to the changing needs of the work environment. The mentorship program case study from this program could serve as a model for other organizations and governmental departments, especially local and small governments. The program is low cost because it does not require travel, has a workflow that could easily be replicated, and can be integrated with other departments and organizations to increase cross-collaboration and interdisciplinary work. This virtual mentorship program model provides the opportunity to meet and work with individuals outside of participant work- places and fields of work. To understand the eectiveness of this program model, we recommend conducting a larger cohort with participants from multiple fields of work. In this way, information could be collected to determine how other governmental enti- ties, nonprofits, and the private sector could benefit from online and hybrid mentorship, training, and leadership programs. We also recommend including program sustainability and resource-sharing plans in developing a virtual or hybrid program, if applicable. The transfer of knowledge, skills, and abil- ities from one generation to the next through an organized mentorship program can accel- erate the performance of the new and emerg- ing leader workforce in EH. For an established organization, this virtual mentoring program requires a small amount of new investment
dent as our workforce becomes busier. Vir- tual options allow for increased scheduling flexibility and provide valuable professional development opportunities that might other- wise be unavailable. Additionally, we want to highlight the value of in-person interactions in hybrid training formats. For example, some men- tors and mentees in the virtual mentorship program had prior in-person training and meetings as part of another program, which we believe contributed to the success of this virtual program. We also recommend a hybrid approach combining in-person opportunities with virtual experiences. This approach would fulfill the expressed desire from mentees for more hands-on field experience. The NEHA Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition would be an ideal venue for the in-person component of this hybrid approach, providing a nexus point for NEHA, CDC, mentors, and mentees to come together in a conducive learning envi- ronment that encourages networking, sup- port, and recognition. The AEC is a prime setting that reinforces collaboration and pre- pares participants for future successes, next steps, and opportunities. Other organiza- tions and health departments interested in a mentorship program could consider a simi- lar hybrid approach. We recommend imple- menting these improvements to enhance the mentorship program and create a more eective and engaging learning experience for all participants.
into online learning platforms (i.e., an LMS), subject matter experts, and sta. Our experience with this virtual mentoring program demonstrates that a modest invest- ment in such an eort is eective in workforce capacity building in complex, dynamic, post- hurricane recovery conditions in isolated island communities. Given the findings and success of this eort, we recommend that a national men- toring framework to support rural, frontier, and territorial governmental EH be established to leverage the intellectual capital of senior-level and recently retired individuals. The resulting mentoring program will enhance the skills of the new EH workforce. This strategy can serve as a model for establishing a future pipeline for a strong EH workforce. Acknowledgements: This article was made possible with support from CDC under Cooperative Agreement #NU1RO5000001. We thank participants from the USVI and Puerto Rico for their commitment and local knowledge. We also thank our technical advisors at the National Center for Environ- mental Health for their invaluable support throughout the project, as well as our trusted and committed mentors. This support greatly contributed to the successful implementation and evaluation of the project by NEHA. Corresponding Author: Lindsay Fahnestock, National Environmental Health Association, 720 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 105A, Denver, CO 80246-1910. Email: lfahnestock@neha.org.
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January/February 2024 • Journal of Environmental Health
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