Background: This document contains a sample training plan including training topics that may be helpful for state and local public health jurisdictions to consider when designing their own training plan for COVID-19 case investigation and contract tracing supervisors or leads. Each heading represents the learning objective for that section. Suggested training modalities/formats are provided, as well as information about sample existing trainings and resources. This document may be updated as new resources become available.

For the purposes of this document, a case investigation and contact tracing supervisor or lead directly oversees the work of the case investigator and/or contact tracer and others who may work as part of a team. The supervision or leadership of these teams is combined into one position for the purposes of this sample training plan. This position coordinates between case investigators and contact tracers as an essential component of the quality oversight of the contact tracing program as part of the public health response.

Overall Training Goal: After completing all training below, learners should be able to be effective COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing supervisors or team leads.

Target Audience: Public health professionals

Identify strategies to reduce spread of COVID-19

  • Background on COVID-19
    • General
    • Epidemiology and surveillance principles
    • Update on current emergency response
  • COVID-19 disease-specific information
    • Signs/symptoms
    • Incubation period and infectious period
    • Testing
    • Diagnosis and current management
    • Prevention and control (including self-isolation for patients and self-quarantine for contacts)
  • Ways to prevent spread of COVID-19
    • General precautions
    • Role of public health, case investigation, and contact tracing in reducing spread
    • Other ways to reduce spread

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Identify the primary components of COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing

  • Foundational principles of public health
  • Relevant terminology
    • Case definition
    • Public health jurisdiction’s case investigation and contact tracing terminology
    • Terms that may be used in other jurisdictions (e.g., other states, federal)
  • Introduction to case investigation and contact tracing
    • General
    • Define case investigation
    • Describe basic steps of case investigation
      • Case identification and prioritization
      • Use of public health data sources such as surveillance to collect information about the case
      • Investigate case
      • Notification of positive test results
      • Interview including contact elicitation
      • Isolation vs quarantine
      • Follow-up and next steps
    • Define contact tracing
    • Describe basic steps of contract tracing
      • Test and test results information
      • Overview of case investigation and elicitation
      • Trace
      • Quarantine or isolate
      • Follow-up
  • Describe skills and qualities necessary for case investigators and contact tracers
    • Active listening skills, including the use of open-ended questions
    • Motivational interviewing skills
    • Risk communication, problem solving, emotional intelligence skills
    • Cultural sensitivity
    • Adaptations for cases with communication impairments and non-English speakers

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