Training Opportunities

Do you write print or digital content for VDH? If so, this training is for you!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners should:

• Know what plain language is

• Understand why it's important

• Be able to use it in their everyday work

Do you need to speak to the media? If so, you need spokesperson training!

Spokesperson training is required for anyone who interacts with the media on behalf of VDH. 

Learning Objectives

• How to write a message

• Prepare for a media interview

• On camera exercise conducting a media interview

Have you taken Media Spokesperson Training but want to take a refresher course? This one-hour course is designed to be taken on an annual basis by those employees who have successfully completed the initial VDH in-person or virtual Media Spokesperson Training. This refresher course will expand upon several of the key topics discussed during the initial Media Spokesperson Training. 

Highlights Include:

• Important aspects of working with the media

• How to concisely organize talking points for an interview

• Essential elements required in completing a media alert within the Media Alert Generator (MAG)

• The importance of bridging and transition phrases during an interview

• Valuable resources

All staff who are involved in responding to FOIA requests, or who may be involved in responding to FOIA requests in the near future, are encouraged to attend this training session.

This training covers:

•  VDH’s responsibilities under FOIA

• Overview concerning VDH policy and procedures for responding to and managing FOIA requests in a complete, appropriate, and timely manner.

• Use of vdh.nextrequest.com, the online portal available for receiving and responding to FOIA requests. 

Public perceptions and opinions often determine the resolution of high concern, high stress, or emotionally charged issues. They have a profound impact on an organization's success. Risk Communication Training helps provide the tools needed to help communicate messages.

Learning Objectives

• Describe how to adapt personal and organizational practices to earn trust and gain credibility;

• Describe how to overcome the mental noise that occurs when people are in a high concern state of mind;

• Describe how to manage the risk perception factors that distort people's views of actual threats;

• Describe how to offset the dominating power of negative words and images;

• Demonstrate the verbal and non-verbal communications skills needed to be effective in high concern situations; and

• Identify traps, pitfalls and opportunities involved in risk communication.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners should:

• Apply the 7-step communications campaign process, from effectively setting a goal to post-launch measures. 

• Interactively construct a sample campaign framework using learner-provided input/data.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners should:

• Learn how to create engaging content and define the optimal schedule and frequency of social media posts.

• Understand the design and purpose of an editorial calendar. 

• Determine leading practices and available resources for planning and developing website content.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will:

• Clarify and review VDH community guidelines for interacting on social media platforms. 

• Discover general tips to effectively write for social media, while also building sample posts as they examine how to write for specific social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.