As the end of the year approached, one of our public health clients found themselves with funds remaining in their maternal and child health consulting budget. They saw this as a valuable opportunity to invest in capacity building for their team and reached out to Flourish & Thrive Labs (F&T Labs) to develop customized training on storytelling with data.

The health department recognized the immense power of data storytelling to drive change and impact critical public health outcomes. However, they wanted to ensure the training was tailored to their specific needs, challenges, and community context. F&T Labs’ team of former public health officials understood this requirement intimately, having “been in the seats” of our clients before.

The Discovery Process

We began the engagement with an in-depth discovery process, meeting with the health department’s leadership team. We worked to deeply understand their strategic goals, pressing pain points, and the unique circumstances facing the population they serve. From there, we adapted our core “Storytelling with Data” curriculum to incorporate examples and scenarios that would be relevant to their team.

Customized Curriculum

The resulting training blended best practices in narrative structure and impactful communication. Participants learned how to translate complex public health information into compelling stories that engage stakeholders, influence decision-makers, and inspire action within their community.

Rather than focusing on data visualization techniques, this training honed in on the power of narrative to drive change. We explored examples from other local public health departments, critiquing their external communications and workshopping how a stronger storytelling approach could elevate their impact.

Participants also had the opportunity to apply the storytelling framework to a specific project or challenge they were facing in their own work. Through interactive exercises and group discussions, we co-created tailored solutions grounded in the THRIVE Methodology.

Empowered to Flourish

By grounding the training in the health department’s own work and community context, we were able to make the content immediately relevant and actionable. Participants left the session energized, equipped with new tools and strategies to elevate their data storytelling within their organization and across their jurisdiction.

This tailored, community-centric approach is a hallmark of F&T Labs’ work. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, but rather custom engagements that empower our public health partners to drive sustainable, equitable change.

Training Offerings

As you look to your team’s training needs in 2024 and 2025, we are able to offer the following programs optimized for the public health sector:

• Introduction to Data Visualization: Empower your team to transform complex data into impactful visual stories using tools like ArcGIS, Tableau, and Excel.
• Change Management: Equip your staff with the skills to navigate organizational changes smoothly and build resilience.
• Project Management Essentials: Boost productivity and project success with proven PM techniques optimized for the public sector.
• Coaching for Staff and Managers: Foster a culture of growth, support, and accountability to elevate individual and team performance.
• AI Tools for Health Departments: Explore how to leverage artificial intelligence safely and ethically to enhance your work.

To learn more about F&T Labs’ training offerings or discuss a customized solution for your public health department, please schedule a call with us. We’re here to help you and your staff flourish in your vital work.

To learn more about F&T Labs’ training offerings or discuss a customized solution for your public health department, please reach out to our team. We’re here to help you and your staff flourish in your vital work.