2023-2024
AFDO Past Annual Trainings
Cost
$
250
AUDIENCE
Investigators, Regulatory
About this
Virtual
training
This course develops the skills needed to define the problem, collect data, determine the “why” of the violation or outbreak, and identify solutions by applying the concepts of root cause analysis to reduce risk factor violation occurrence and enhance foodborne illness outbreak investigations.
Root Cause Analysis is a critical part of the food safety problem solving process. This analytical process breaks down the system into its components enabling an understanding of the effect of each component on others and/or the system. Root cause analysis techniques assist in identifying possible causes and determine actual causes.
This virtual course consists of four 4.5-hour sessions and will have activities and exercises.
Course objectives
- Enhance problem solving effectiveness by providing a model for more deeply analyzing problem situations. (e.g., Food Borne Illness Outbreaks)
- Clarify the difference between analytical and creative thinking, and when each is most useful
- Promote the ability to provide problem-solving support in situations where one is not an expert in the process or technology involved
- Expand the range of tools available for analysis of problems
Who Should attend
Advanced food safety regulators and investigators.
Location
Virtual
Cost
$
250
Training Dates
This is a 15 hour course.
December Course – FULL
- December 4, 2023
- December 5, 2023
- December 6, 2023
- December 7, 2023
February Course – register here
- February 20, 2024
- February 21, 2024
- February 22, 2024
- February 23, 2024
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Regulatory, Trainers
About this
In-person
training
Note: This course requires an application. Accepted applicants will be notified at least 9 weeks before the course, at which point an invoice will be issued. Selection will be based upon a variety of criteria including position, geographic and programmatic diversity, and location. This course is only available to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial regulators.
This course provides individuals with an overview of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to deliver effective training. The course is activity-based, participant-driven, and consists largely of facilitated discussions and activities in both small and large group settings. As a major focus, the course requires participants to practice the following skills, which are essential for successful delivery of training:
- Demonstration: Physically showing how something is used or done.
- Facilitation: Leading or orchestrating group activities or interaction to reach consensus, gain knowledge, or achieve a goal.
- Presentation: Disseminating information verbally and/or visually.
Download printable agenda here
Learners will be asked to asked to complete the following Pre-Course and In-Class work:
- Completion of pre-course assessment (multiple choice and true or false questions based on course content).
- Selection of a PPT presentation from a list of several AFDO-provided presentations.
- Using the provided PPT presentation (including the embedded notes), prepare a 10-minute presentation to be delivered during the first day of the IST course.
- Learners will also need to rework their provided PPT presentation after the second day of class to present an improved 10-minute presentation during the third half-day of class.
Who Should attend
Training officers, field trainers, and other staff who conduct staff and industry training. This course is only available to individual’s currently employed by state, local, tribal, and territorial regulatory agencies.
Location
In-person
TBD
Cost
Varies
Non-member - $750 plus travel expenses
Member - $400 plus travel expenses
Training Dates
- March 20, 2024
- March 21, 2024
- March 22, 2024
Environmental Sampling: A Tool for Solving Outbreaks at the Retail Food Level
Seat limit:
TBD
Technical
Training
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Leaders
About this
In-person
training
This course is intended to provide hands-on experience with planning and conducting environmental sampling activities primarily in a retail setting.
Learn how to build a sampling team and plan for an environmental sampling exercise, target sampling areas based on specific pathogens, and how sampling can contribute to an overall environmental assessment of a facility. This one-day course includes half a day of classroom and hands-on learning, followed by a half day of putting those skills into action in a real kitchen/food production environment.
Who Should attend
Field level staff who conduct environmental sampling/environmental assessments and supervisors/coordinators who plan sampling assignments and outbreak responses, particularly at retail facilities.
Location
In-person
Various
Cost
Free
Training Dates
This course will be held in multiple locations throughout the country. If you are interested, please contact AFDO at afdo@afdo.org for dates and locations.
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Open to anyone
About this
Virtual
training
This virtual course will teach you to create a new work radar screen that will sharpen your focus and elevate your results each day.
Course objectives
- Outlook Tune – up. Technical changes that will improve performance.
- Master Your Inbox – Instantly turn information into action instead of leaving it in a pile of e-mail.
- Calendar Mastery – Manage your time or someone else will. Better meetings, and planning
- Task Management – Prioritize, delegate, and follow up on tasks for you and your teams.
- Learning to plan – Control your future and help your teams to look beyond the horizon for success.
- Goal Setting – Learn how to sustain long-term efforts and stay emotionally connected to your goals.
Who Should attend
Anyone who uses Outlook via the desktop application
Location
Virtual
Cost
Free
Training Dates
- October 13, 2023 – join waitlist
- November 3, 2023 – join waitlist
- January 5, 2024 – join waitlist
October 20, 2023
- March 24, 2024
Communications Skills for Government Regulators – Certificate Program
Seat limit:
21
Power/Soft Skills
Training
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Inspectors, Leaders
About this
Virtual
training
These virtual classes are designed to impart knowledge that will change the participants’ behavior. Using polls, chat, and breakout rooms, the participants will employ their critical thinking skills. This course consists of five 90-minute sessions and will have activities and exercises, and participants must attend all five sessions.
Course objectives
- Practice communication techniques that they can apply immediately after the class
- Analyze case studies
- Solve problems
- Collaborate with other government regulators
Who Should attend
Inspectors, investigators, and supervisors in boots-on-the-ground positions
Location
Virtual
Cost
Free
Training Dates
- October 20, 2023 12:00 – 1:30 EST – Talking to Decision Makers: What to Say and How to Say It
- November 17, 2023 12:00 – 1:30 EST – Thinking on Your Feet: How to Shine Under Pressure
- January 19, 2024 12:00 – 1:30 EST – Strategies in Meetings: Achieving Your Objectives
- February 16, 2024 12:00 – 1:30 EST – Essential Writing Skills for Government Regulators
- March 22, 2024 12:00 – 1:30 EST – Dangerous Documents: Avoiding Land Mines in Your Records and Emails
December 11, 2023
- May 17, 2024
Basic Inspections and Investigations Course for New Manufactured and Retail Regulators
Seat limit:
18
Technical
Training
Cost
$
350
AUDIENCE
Inspectors
About this
Virtual
training
This course provides basic and fundamental learning opportunities for new food regulators who have responsibilities for conducting routine and non-routine inspections, conducting investigations, and collecting product samples for analysis by a laboratory.
This hands-on training will benefit those who have learned from ORA LearnED web-based training courses and will include live activities and exercises in a virtual setting. Topics will include a review of the basics of conducting an inspection including equipment and tools, conducting the opening, and closing interviews, observation skills, and preparing a defensible report. A brief overview of investigations and sampling techniques is covered.
If your organization would prefer a train-the-trainer level course for this learning opportunity, please contact afdo@afdo.org. If your jurisdiction would like this delivered in person to your organization, that can also be arranged.
Who Should attend
Manufactured and Retail food inspectors with less than 6 months of experience.
Location
Virtual
Cost
$
350
Training Dates
December 2023 Course (5 hours each day) – join the waiting list
- December 11, 2023
- December 12, 2023
- December 13, 2023
- December 14, 2023
- December 15, 2023
May 2024 Course (5 hours each day) – join the waiting list
- May 13, 2024
- May 14, 2024
- May 15, 2024
- May 16, 2024
- May 17, 2024
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Leaders, Regulatory
About this
In-person/Virtual
training
This workshop is a unique opportunity designed to provide insight into key knowledge areas that Food Program Managers need to effectively implement their programs.
Topics include media relations, emergency response, integrated food safety systems, budgeting, human resources, legal and regulatory authorities, compliance, enforcement, and more.
Note: By application only. Please email pkennelly@afdo.org for more information or to express your interest.
Who Should attend
New, existing, and future program leaders currently employed by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.
Location
In-person, Virtual
Grand Rapids, MI
Cost
Free
Training Dates
- There will be three 4-hour virtual course meetings (1 each in January, March, and May 2024) followed by an 8-hour in-person course adjacent to the AFDO Annual Education Conference in June 2024.
- Specific dates will be announced in the coming months. Some travel funding support may be available for the in-person course date.
January 3, 2024
Food Safety Culture for Regulators with Frank Yiannas
Seat limit:
50
Technical
Training
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Leaders, Regulatory
About this
In-person
training
Note: This course requires an application. Accepted applicants will be notified at least 9 weeks before the course, at which point an invoice will be issued. Selection will be based upon a variety of criteria including position, geographic and programmatic diversity, and location. This course is only available to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial regulators.
This course will teach regulators how to evaluate and strengthen the food safety cultures of an organization or establishment they regulate and how to make their regulatory practices and programs more effective. Learn more by watching this video.
They will gain a better understanding of food safety culture, what it is and what it is not. They’ll also learn about must-know organizational and behavioral science principles and how to use them to influence human behavior and enhance employee compliance for the better. The attendees will receive practical, real-world applications that will help them become more effective in their current role and better equip them for their next promotion or challenge.
Who Should attend
This course has been developed for food safety regulatory program leaders, supervisors, and emerging leaders. Participants desiring to better understand food safety culture to help drive change in their current role or equip them for their next promotion or challenge.
Location
In-person
Kansas City, MO
Cost
Varies
Non-members - $1200 plus travel expenses
Members - $300 plus travel expenses
Training Dates
- January 3, 2024
- January 4, 2024
Cost
Free
AUDIENCE
Inspectors
About this
Virtual
training
Inspector Boot Camp covers both power skills and technical skills, using interactive strategies with participants. Technical skills are split into days of training specifically for retail-level inspectors (restaurants, grocery stores, etc.) and a separate day for manufactured-level inspectors (food processing facilities). The goal of this training is to provide state and local regulators access to valuable training early in their food safety careers in order to build knowledge and experience.
Who Should attend
Retail and Manufactured food inspectors with LESS than two years on-the-job experience
Location
Virtual
Cost
Free
Training Dates
Three independent sessions with independent registrations
- January 10, 2024 — Retail and manufactured food inspectors
- January 17, 2024 — Manufactured food inspectors only
- January 24, 2024 — Retail food inspectors only
January 30, 2024
- February 6, 2024
Process Improvement for Regulators – A Training Practitioner Certificate Experience
Seat limit:
16
Technical
Training
Cost
Varies
AUDIENCE
Regulatory
About this
In-person/Virtual
training
This course will take a deliberate approach to improving business processes by efficiently identifying, analyzing, and refining each existing process to improve them and then how to respond to changes in business rules or data, compliance, or regulations.
Participants will facilitate discussions with the Process Improvement tools within their organizations after completing the in-person Process Improvement class. Our approach is straight forward, not over engineered, or over complicated. Participants will facilitate discussions with the Process Improvement tools within their organizations after completing the in-person Process Improvement class. Our approach is straight forward, not over engineered, or over complicated.
This course will have one four-hour virtual component prior to the in-person course and four monthly calls, not to exceed 2 hours each.
Who Should attend
The course is designed for food and feed programs by giving them the tools necessary to facilitate and lead their programs in new and/or complex projects. This course is only available to individual’s currently employed by federal, state, tribal, and territorial regulatory agencies.
Location
In-person, Virtual
Albany, NY
Cost
Varies
Non-member price: $750 plus travel expenses
Member price: $400 plus travel expenses
Training Dates
This is an in-person course (with a virtual component).
Part One (Virtual)
- January 30, 2024 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET
Part Two (In-Person)
- February 6, 2024
- February 7, 2024
- February 8, 2024
- February 9, 2024
There will also be 4 monthly calls following the course.
The in-person sessions will take place at Hilton Garden Inn Albany Medical Center, 62 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY.