2009 NPFPC Courses at GHA

In June 2009, over consecutive weeks, GHA conducted three five-day training courses at our Atlanta-area headquarters for a total of 42 National Population and Family Planning Commission of China (NPFPC) officials. The courses were: Reproductive Health Communication and Media Relations; Reproductive Health Policy & Program Financial Management; and Health Policy & Program Management with a Focus on Aging.

Since the NPFPC groups are interested in both theory and real-world application, the courses complemented presentations such as U.S. Public Policy on Population and Reproductive Health, Health Communication, and Elderly Rights and Abuse, with off-site visits to the Georgia Department of Health, CDC, and Wesley Woods Center for Research and Aging, among others.

For the NPFPC officials, the presentations - which often generated lively discussions - and the site visits helped them gain a different perspective and learn about new approaches and ideas. They took a fresh look at their own systems and ways of doing things, comparing and contrasting how things are done in the U.S. with how they work at home, and seeing what works well and what could be done better.

Not surprisingly, the exchange of ideas and the opportunity to compare and contrast systems worked both ways, with GHA staff and presenters gaining insight from seeing things through Chinese eyes.

The evaluation forms, filled out at the end of the course, confirmed that the courses had achieved their objectives, that participants had deepened their knowledge of health policy and health programs in the U.S., especially with regard to reproductive health, family planning, and aging and that they had acquired updated information, ideas, and skills.

According to Travis Mitchell, GHA's Program Coordinator, a lot of behind-the-scenes work and details went into making the courses a success, everything from reserving hotel rooms to sending visa letters to scheduling presenters and site visits to printing nametags and certificates. But, for Travis, perhaps nothing was as challenging as ordering meals for 14 Chinese visitors at the Lenox Mall Chick-fil-A restaurant. With only one semi-confident English-speaker to translate, no concept of waiting in line, and everyone crowding around with menu questions and special orders, it took close to half an hour to order dinner.

However, that dinner at Chick-fil-A, and the after-hours shopping trip to Wal-Mart, and the informal reception at the home of GHA friends Del and Bob Podsiadlo, were also invaluable learning experiences, enabling our Chinese visitors to personally experience American society and culture and see something of what life in the U.S. is really like.

And, in the end, the courses brought both knowledge and friendship.