Clark State Workforce & Business Solutions will be offering a six-part, self-paced course on contact tracing as local businesses return to work with modified operations. The specialized training will be offered in an online format to anyone who is interested in learning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols for proper contact tracing of the COVID-19 virus.

“This short-term training will quickly give individuals the confidence and knowledge to fill the immediate, important need for contact tracers,” said Lesli Beavers, director of Clark State’s Workforce & Business Solutions. “Following the CDC training guidelines, individuals will learn motivational interview techniques, risk communication, cultural and diversity sensitivity, understanding health privacy and confidentiality, terminology and continuous improvement.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office estimates that Ohio will need approximately 1,750 contact tracers by the end of June.

Beavers said Clark State’s Workforce & Business Solutions supports this workforce need so individuals can enter into positions feeling confident and ready to begin the critical role of contact tracers.

“We also hope this program will be valuable to our business and industry partners, providing a cost efficient training for an employee to have the internal knowledge to create protocol and handle internal tracing if and when an employee tests positive for COVID-19,” she said.

The CDC defines contact tracing as a core disease control measure employed by local and state health departments. It has been used for decades and is a key strategy for preventing further spread of diseases such as COVID-19.

The CDC website encourages communities to scale up and train a large contact tracer workforce and work collaboratively across public and private agencies to stop the transmission of COVID-19. The CDC also states that to be done effectively, contact tracing requires people with the training, supervision and access to social and medical support for patients and contacts.

Trainees will be versed in:

Cost for virtual contact tracing training is $50. For registration information, contact Lesli Beavers at beaversl@clarkstate.edu.