Collaborating

Local health departments and community organizations work with paramedics to provide flu vaccine to homebound individuals

Background

Each year, on average, some 5% to 20% of United States residents become ill from seasonal flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications. Most people will have mild illness; however, some individuals are at an elevated risk for developing flu-related complications, including adults 65 years of age and older and people who have certain medical conditions (eg, weakened immune system, heart disease, chronic lung disease). A challenge providing vaccine to many vulnerable people is being able to reach them.

Nursing and pharmacy students are trained to provide immunizations to high-risk adults at free clinics

Background

Individuals who are homeless, homebound, lack health insurance, speak limited English, or have limited access to financial resources or medical care are typically the most in need of and have the greatest challenges accessing the influenza vaccine.

Partners create a healthcare system to meet the needs of uninsured during H1N1 surge

Background

Special Needs Task Force and Registry (NC)

New Hanover County, North Carolina, built and maintained a voluntary special needs emergency registry through their Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The registry was initiated in 1997 and housed under the Department of Emergency Management until 2003, when grant funds became available to support maintenance of a registry by RSVP.

Emergency Preparedness Guide Addresses the Unique Needs of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers

The Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Emergency Preparedness Planning Guide helps planners integrate the needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers into existing emergency preparedness planning efforts. Ready-to-use checklists outline essential steps to take when working with migrant and seasonal farm workers during all phases of an emergency.

Grassroots coalition assembles network of community services to meet needs of county's vulnerable populations (KS)

A grassroots community coalition in Kansas, called Together Prepared, takes a new twist on countywide efforts to increase communication and enhance individual, neighborhood, and organization preparedness with an emphasis on the needs of vulnerable populations.

Disaster planning in San Francisco’s Chinatown trains, empowers community members as responders during first 72 hours (CA)

To prepare for earthquakes and other emergencies, the Chinatown Disaster Preparedness Committee developed a bilingual disaster response plan in 2007 that enlists community member participation.

Toolkit helps emergency managers meet the needs of Latino communities (National)

The National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) Institute for Hispanic Health developed the Emergency Managers Tool Kit: Meeting the Needs of Latino Communities to address the specific needs of Latino communities during an emergency. The goal of the project is to provide new knowledge about Latinos’ beliefs and behaviors regarding disaster situations and to offer emergency managers a central location for culturally competent and effective resources, strategies, and materials.

Public Health Partnership Establishes Countywide Information Hotline at Local Public Library (KS)

The Douglas County Public Information Center developed an operational policies and procedure manual for their information hotline so that officials outside of Douglas County can duplicate similar efforts in their respective jurisdiction.

Regional Multidisciplinary Group Develops H1N1 Response Policies to Bridge the Gap between Public Health and Healthcare (OR)

Harmonizing public health and healthcare practices across jurisdictions can be difficult in the best of times and an even more daunting challenge during an emergency. Yet partners in Oregon were quickly able to develop regional comprehensive policies that received speedy support from hospitals and health systems, allowing for consistent approaches in H1N1 response.

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