Professional Qualification Course in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness

At the completion of the Professional Qualification Course in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness, learners will be able to:

• Explain what Sphere is in terms of “Learn, Act, and Connect”
• Concisely explain Sphere’s core philosophy
• Navigate the Sphere Handbook structure and components as an informed user
• Relate the Sphere Handbook to different response contexts
• Explain the use of the Handbook at different stages of the program cycle
• Locate and apply the nine Commitments of the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) to your own work and identify challenges to humanitarians in meeting the commitments of the CHS and propose ways to overcome them
• Explain the primary objective and three essential concepts behind WASH programming
• Identify the main transmission pathways of infectious pathogens and barriers to break the chains of transmission
• Use some of the technical numerical indicators with enhanced confidence and understanding
• Apply Sphere guidance to improve shelter assistance for immediate emergency programming and for the longer term and identify strengths and challenges of different shelter programming options in different contexts
• Explain the general focus and goals of a humanitarian health response program
• Outline the scope of the Sphere standards for health
• Calculate the crude mortality rate and explain its role as an overall indicator
• Apply the Health Assessment Checklist as a generalist to highlight possible gaps in assessment data for an example health response
• Describe the five phases of the programme cycle and apply Sphere guidance to support humanitarian response at each phase of the cycle
• Describe and advocate for the MEAL approach and link and use relevant sections of the Sphere Handbook in support of the MEAL approach
• Participate in a 2 day in-person session that will cover practical, hands-on activities further exploring principles from Sphere to include: Protection Principles, WASH, Food Security and Nutrition, Shelter, Using Sphere in Practice Scenarios, Assessment and Analysis, Sphere Coordination, and Advocacy.

Online Virtual Sessions:

Sessions 1-7 will be conducted virtually over a zoom type format. Starting May 6^th and continuing every Monday and Wednesday evening through May 27^th. 6pm-8pm Central time.

Session 1: Introduction 120 minutes

• Introduction to Sphere
• Review reading: Humanitarian Charter
• Take quiz, how well do you know Sphere, 3 questions
• Introductions and housekeeping about format, Participant introductions, Welcome power point

Session 2: What is Sphere? 120 minutes

• Power point What is Sphere? and activity (virtually), hands on familiarize with handbook
• What is Sphere? Continued in second power point with map activity

Session 3: Humanitarian Charter 120 minutes

• Humanitarian Charter with Quiz

Session 4: Core Humanitarian Standards 120 minutes

• Core Humanitarian Standards

Session 5: WASH and Shelter Principles 120 minutes

• WASH
• Shelter

Session 6: Health 120 minutes

• Health

Session 7: Sphere and the Program Cycle/ MEAL 120 minutes

• Sphere and the program cycle (interactive activity, will need breakout rooms)
• MEAL Monitoring and Evaluation

In-Class Sessions:

Following are In-Class Sessions on May 29^th and 30^th from 9 am – 1 pm Central Time.

• WASH Activity 45 minutes: video (needs flip chart and laminated cards with tape)
• Protection Principles: Power point and activity: 60 minutes (flip chart, markers, printed materials)
• Food Security and Nutrition: Power point and Activity: 60 minutes (clear cups, measuring cup, sugar, rice, lentils, cooking oil flour, salt, printed materials)
• Shelter activity: 45minutes (needs flip chart, markers, tarp 30m2 and 45m2
• Using Sphere in Practice: 60 minutes; power point and activity (flip chart, markers, printed materials)
• Assessment and Analysis Activity 60 minutes; Power point, (cards/scenarios printed and laminated, flip chart, markers)
• Sphere and Coordination: 60 minutes “Magic Stick exercise” and quiz (1 meter stick for every 4-5 participants, printed quizzes)
• Advocacy 60 minutes: Role playing exercise with scripts (printed materials)
• Wrap up and Evaluation 30 minutes

Total in person time 8 hours over 2 days.

*In-Classroom Session schedule is subject to change

Enrollment in the Professional Qualification Course in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness is open to all who are interested. This program will greatly benefit humanitarian relief workers, medical professionals, and social workers.

Textbook Requirements

The Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, 2018 Edition is a required textbook for this course. 

• Buy on Amazon
• Online Download

Computing Requirements

The following are the minimum computing requirements for participating in this course. Learners must have ready access to and be functionally proficient with:

• A personal computer with an up-to-date operating system and ample memory for downloads
• A web browser, preferably the most up-to-date version of Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari
• Applications capable of opening Microsoft Word documents and of viewing PDFs
• An Internet connection, preferably high speed
• Capability of attending Zoom sessions

Learners will achieve the competency objectives through the following education methods:

• Interactive online learning techniques
• Interactive live presentations
• Skill stations for increasing technical proficiency
• Case studies for developing clinical judgment

Evaluation Methods & Requirements For Successful Completion
This course is graded pass/fail. Successful pass requires:

• Virtual classroom participation
• Satisfactory or higher demonstration of all required skills
• Complete course evaluation at the course conclusion.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) for the Professional Qualification Course in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness is attained through satisfactory completion of the course requirements. Note: CME is not applicable to students or resident physicians.

Cost
There is no additional charge for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit.

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA) through the joint providership of Institute for International Medicine and Christian Health Service Corps. The Institute for International Medicine is accredited by the MSMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians
Institute for International Medicine is accredited by the Missouri State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Institute for International Medicine designates this Live activity for a maximum of 22.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Healthcare Professionals
A certificate of completion indicating the number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ will be issued for completing this course. Certificates may be submitted to applicable state boards for recognition.

Disclosure
No persons in control of the content of this course have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Participants who successfully complete the course of study and who pass the final examinations will receive the Professional Qualification in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness. Verification of the educational experience will be provided to any learner’s affiliated school or residency program. Those who do not pass the final examinations will receive a certificate of attendance.

Participants will receive access to seven virtual class sessions and two days of supervised hands-on skills development, and upon satisfactory participation and skill demonstration, the Professional Qualification in SPHERE Disaster Response and Preparedness. Please note that accommodations and meals are not included.

For more information, view the Cost page.

Presently, this course is only being offered in Kansas City, Missouri.

Accommodations
This course is offered in connection with the Humanitarian Health Conference. Please visit the conference website for event accommodation information.

Directions
The In-Classroom Section in Kansas City, MO, will be held at Graceway.
Street Address: 5460 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Raytown, MO 64133
If you are traveling from the Kansas City International Airport, your starting address is: 1 International Square, Kansas City, MO 64153

Sarah Pruitt, DO PhD MSc.
Kelly Frazier, MD.
Joel White, MHA.
Greg Seager, RN.
Sarah Phillips, Pa-C, MPH.

This Professional Qualification Course is being offered in partnership between Christian Health Service Corps and INMED.