HOT OFF THE PRESS! SPR TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT FINDINGS: DISSEMINATION AND DISCUSSION AROUND THE REPORTED TRAINING NEEDS OF SPR MEMBERS.

The last comprehensive assessment of the training needs of SPR members was conducted approximately 20 years ago. Since that time, the membership of SPR has grown significantly and become much more diverse, in both the types of professional positions held by prevention scientists and in race/ethnicity and other demographics. Given this set of factors, for the last 2-3 years, a task force has formed within the SPR Training Needs Assessment Committee to comprehensively assess the training needs of all members, from early career students through senior-level professionals. A mixed methods approach, starting with interviews of key informants and moving onto a quantitative survey of the full membership, was used. Initial results are now available and the taskforce is moving on to interpreting the results and writing the reports, which include implications for next steps.

This roundtable is one planned part of the data interpretation process. This session brings leaders in the field of prevention research, and specifically those that have expertise in or a special interest in training, together with task force members. First, the methodology and highlighted results will be summarized (15 min). Second, each prevention researcher on the panel will be given an opportunity to respond to the results (30 min). Last, the roundtable will close with full group discussion among roundtable panelists and attendees (45 min). Possible discussion questions include: What is one finding that stands out to you or surprised you? Given your role in prevention research, and in training up-and-coming scientists, how might you apply these results to your work, your university, or your own training? What is the most critical area for training? Do you believe anything is missing, or that there are any gaps? If so, what are they?

Notes from the discussion will be recorded and integrated into the final draft of the report to the SPR Board of Directors. These results will inform training opportunities for current and future SPR members for the next 10 years.

Task Force Co-Organizers

Ashley Knapp, PhD, Dartmouth

Brittany Cooper, PhD, Washington State University