1 California’s Multi-Jurisdiction Bioterrorism Community Education Exercise Janet Yuen, MPH Immunization Branch California Department of Health Services CDC Public Health Preparedness Conference

2 CA’s Multi-Jurisdiction BT Community Education Exercise What it is What it is Why we did it Why we did it How you can adapt it How you can adapt it

3 What does “community education” mean? Reaching the community by disseminating information through established networks instead of or in addition to using media Reaching the community by disseminating information through established networks instead of or in addition to using media

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5 Topics Project Overview Project Overview Purpose Purpose Goals Goals Features Features Local Efforts Local Efforts Keys to Success Keys to Success Replicating the Exercise Replicating the Exercise

6 Project Overview Orchestrated statewide Orchestrated statewide All jurisdictions invited to participate All jurisdictions invited to participate Local exercises held on January 11, 2005 Local exercises held on January 11, training conference calls + assignments 4 training conference calls + assignments Conference call 1 week before the event Conference call 1 week before the event Follow-up call after the event Follow-up call after the event

7 Purpose To exercise a jurisdiction’s ability to communicate quickly and efficiently in response to a BT event To exercise a jurisdiction’s ability to communicate quickly and efficiently in response to a BT event To build LHD capacity and infrastructure to get health alert messages out in their communities in an emergency To build LHD capacity and infrastructure to get health alert messages out in their communities in an emergency To build public recognition and credibility of public health officials To build public recognition and credibility of public health officials

8 Goals Build LHD communications surge capacity Build LHD communications surge capacity Build LHD capacity to create and maintain partnerships Build LHD capacity to create and maintain partnerships Build LHD capacity to use volunteers Build LHD capacity to use volunteers Reduce the spread of transmittable diseases Reduce the spread of transmittable diseases Create public awareness about hand washing Create public awareness about hand washing

9 Features 1.Supporting emergency preparedness 2.Focusing on transportation entry portals and community outreach 3.Promoting respiratory hygiene 4.Building outreach capacity 5.Evaluating the exercise

10 1. Supporting BT preparedness Getting messages out quickly to the community in an emergency Getting messages out quickly to the community in an emergency Forming partnerships before an event occurs Forming partnerships before an event occurs Building public recognition and credibility of public health officials Building public recognition and credibility of public health officials

11 2. Focusing on transportation entry portals and community outreach Two venue focuses: Two venue focuses: Transportation entry portals Transportation entry portals (Alternative) Local businesses & community organizations (Alternative) Local businesses & community organizations places where people naturally congregate places where people naturally congregate

12 3. Promoting respiratory hygiene Important basic disease prevention strategy Important basic disease prevention strategy Routine public health message Routine public health message A low anxiety health message that will not create community alarm during or after the exercise A low anxiety health message that will not create community alarm during or after the exercise

13 4. Building outreach capacity 4 training conference calls (topics): 4 training conference calls (topics): Sept. 15 orientation, partnerships Sept. 15 orientation, partnerships Oct. 6how to do MOUs, supply planning (logistics) Oct. 6how to do MOUs, supply planning (logistics) Nov. 3media outreach, communication tool kit overview Nov. 3media outreach, communication tool kit overview Dec. 2 tracking and documentation Dec. 2 tracking and documentation

14 5. Evaluating the exercise University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health is conducting evaluations University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health is conducting evaluations Process evaluation Process evaluation Survey after the exercise Survey after the exercise

15 IMM-819 version Spanish Spanish Chinese Chinese Japanese Japanese Korean Korean Tagalog Tagalog Vietnamese Vietnamese IMM-825 version Spanish Spanish Hmong Hmong Cambodian Cambodian Laotian Laotian Punjabi Punjabi Russian Russian

16 Local Efforts Total counties participating = 37/58 Total counties participating = 37/58 Conference calls + exercise Conference calls + exercise Conference calls only Conference calls only only only Counties ordering signs = 25/37 Counties ordering signs = 25/37

17 Sacramento County

18 San Joaquin County

19 Keys to Success Provide great customer service to ensure continued interest and participation Provide great customer service to ensure continued interest and participation Set clear expectations and goals Set clear expectations and goals Have excellent content experts Have excellent content experts Be accessible Be accessible Maintain regular communications Maintain regular communications

20 Key Partners Deborah C. Glik, ScD, UCLA School of Public Health Deborah C. Glik, ScD, UCLA School of Public Health Michael L. Prelip, D.P.A, M.P.H, CHES, UCLA School of Public Health Michael L. Prelip, D.P.A, M.P.H, CHES, UCLA School of Public Health Chris Chase, MS, California Distance Learning Health Network Chris Chase, MS, California Distance Learning Health Network Scott Southward, California Distance Learning Health Network Scott Southward, California Distance Learning Health Network Holly Sisneros, MPH, California Dept. of Health Services, Emergency Preparedness Office Holly Sisneros, MPH, California Dept. of Health Services, Emergency Preparedness Office Everly Macario Everly Macario Terri Stratton Terri Stratton Allison Drury Allison Drury Karina Celaya Karina Celaya California Dept. of Health Services, Emergency Preparedness Office California Dept. of Health Services, Emergency Preparedness Office Local health jurisdictions Local health jurisdictions

21 Replicating the Exercise All presentations, materials, templates, and artwork are on-line at All presentations, materials, templates, and artwork are on-line at Comments from participating jurisdictions are available Comments from participating jurisdictions are available Evaluation results will be available soon Evaluation results will be available soon

22 Contact & Website Info Janet Yuen, MPH Janet Yuen, MPH (510) (510) Title: California DHS Community Education Exercise Title: California DHS Community Education Exercise