“Exploring Theories of Public and Private Sector Collaboration among Health Care Professionals, People With Disabilities and Emergency Managers” P. Robert Dawalt The University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs P. Robert Dawalt The University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs

A Brief Biography of the Author P. Robert Dawalt I was Born and raised in East Central Indiana. But I also spent substantial time in Ohio as a Probation Officer and Public Defender in Canton Ohio. Education: BA Social Studies, JD LAW, MS Criminal Justice. In addition I have numerous FEMA courses. I Worked in Local Government for 30 years. I Began teaching college part time in 1978 and later shifted to full time college instructor in I also Work as a volunteer with local emergency managers.

Foundations of Research INDICATE LEAD RESEARCH QUESTION AND/OR GUIDING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES how do theories of public sector collaboration, cooperation and coordination facilitate the analysis of the roles of health care and disability professionals in emergency management? BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY THESE OBJECTIVES AND/OR RESEARCH QUESTIONS WERE SELECTED Carefully examine theories of public sector collaboration, cooperation and coordination as they apply to emergency management. INDICATE LEAD RESEARCH QUESTION AND/OR GUIDING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES how do theories of public sector collaboration, cooperation and coordination facilitate the analysis of the roles of health care and disability professionals in emergency management? BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY THESE OBJECTIVES AND/OR RESEARCH QUESTIONS WERE SELECTED Carefully examine theories of public sector collaboration, cooperation and coordination as they apply to emergency management.

Part II Secondly, As we use case study methodology, to explore the specific roles of health care professionals working with people with disabilities under these collaborative and cooperative modes.

What led me to this topic?

The Context and Background of the Study 1) In 2008 I assisted as a volunteer at the EMA office during a snow storm. 2) I learned right away that one of the biggest concerns that we had was what to do about people with disabilities who lived out in rural areas. For example we found 14 people who needed kidney dialysis during this 3 day winter storm incident. I began to consider this problem in larger contexts like the World trade Center on 9-11 and Hurricane Karina. I learned that many people with disabilities died in the WTC and over 1800 people died in New Orleans during Katrina. Most were elderly or disabled.

The Dissertation Setting Connection of collaborative systems and strategies for people with disabilities to public policy and administration in the research question. Connection of key theories and concepts to the research objectives. Connection of collaborative systems and strategies for people with disabilities to public policy and administration in the research question. Connection of key theories and concepts to the research objectives.

Research Methodology Given the research objectives and question, the research methodology includes a triangulated design interrelating: 1) I engaged in interviews with EMA directors. I researched documents including peer reviewed journals, website and even newspaper accounts of emergency management collaboration with people with disabilities and health care professionals. I also interviewed advocates for people with disabilities and nurses, paramedics and CNA’s. 2) The relationship of these methodological choices to the research question. I tried to obtain the best information I could from EMA directors and test it by using other available information to verify it. Given the research objectives and question, the research methodology includes a triangulated design interrelating: 1) I engaged in interviews with EMA directors. I researched documents including peer reviewed journals, website and even newspaper accounts of emergency management collaboration with people with disabilities and health care professionals. I also interviewed advocates for people with disabilities and nurses, paramedics and CNA’s. 2) The relationship of these methodological choices to the research question. I tried to obtain the best information I could from EMA directors and test it by using other available information to verify it.

Brief Discussion of the Literature First I used the literature to define important terms like: “disability,” “collaboration,” “cooperation,” “emergency and management,” and several others. Then I worked like a funnel from broad general sources to more specific including information on prior National studies on my topic and public administration solutions to this problem. My Key focus of the literature search was on the examples of prior studies of disasters, then specifically the role of disability and health care in this issue. Later I added some content about mental health issues. Then I started to look for solutions to the problems. What I learned from the literature that guided my methods and eventual analysis included the fact that three major national studies had been done on this problem in the past, One by Fox (2006) another by Markenson (2007) and one by Vaughn (2009). All indicated a very poor level of effort by emergency administrators for the problem of planning collaboratively with people with disabilities and health care professionals.

Major Research Findings The Major Findings Generated by the Analysis in this study include: There were broad demographics of responses. I learned about the experience of Emergency Managers in this study. Some mentioned a relationship with VOADS like Red Cross. Some many more than before, include PWD in exercises. Many EMA directors have met with PWD. Some frequently. Many EMA directors have met with Health Care Professionals. Some EMA directors meet with PWD often in planning for Disasters. The Major Findings Generated by the Analysis in this study include: There were broad demographics of responses. I learned about the experience of Emergency Managers in this study. Some mentioned a relationship with VOADS like Red Cross. Some many more than before, include PWD in exercises. Many EMA directors have met with PWD. Some frequently. Many EMA directors have met with Health Care Professionals. Some EMA directors meet with PWD often in planning for Disasters.

Demographics

Experience and Education Experience and Training Years of Experience as an Emergency Manager, Other Related Experience and Training N Min. Max. Mean SD Median Mode Examples from Responses: Years of experience as an emergency manager Years of other related experience Formal or informal or vocational training Note. SD = standard deviation, M = Mean, Min. = minimum, Max. = Maximum, N = the number of responses.

Experience and Education

Mention the Red Cross Table 3 Frequencies and Percentages for Mentioning Red Cross Response n % No % Yes % N/A 1 2.6% Total %

Mention the Red Cross

Include PWD in exercises Frequencies and Percentages for Exercise with People with Disabilities Response n % No % Yes % Total

Include PWD in Exercises

EMA has met with PWD Frequencies and Percentages for EMA Director Met with People with Disabilities Response n % No Yes time often Total

EMA has met with PWD

EMA Meetings with Health Care Pros. Table 6 Frequencies and Percentages for Met with Health Care Professionals Response n % No Yes time often Total

EMA meetings with Health Care Pros.

EMA includes PWD in planning Table 7 Frequencies and Percentages for Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Planning Response n % No Yes Total

EMA includes PWD in Planning

Performance Measurement performance measurement score Descriptive Statistics for the Performance Measurement Score Variable N Min. Max. M SD Median Mode

Open Ended Responses We have all inclusive drills. We had a building collapse in H1N1 helped us learn. We are building trust now. A Drill we had opened our eyes. We have good communication with PWD. Our plan is being revised. PTSD a problem. We include all affected people. We have multi county response teams for PWD. We have limited staff and resources. Mobility is a problem for PWD. No more useless 5 lb. plans! Red Cross handles our plan. Transportation is a problem.

Significance of the Study Findings The Findings of the study include: Significance for the original research question: There is a big improvement in this area. Significance for the literature of theories and strategies of emergency management. This is a major change from prior studies. Significance for the research methods employed in the study. Since this is a qualitative study, a follow up survey or other quantitative study needs to be done. Significance for policies and strategies of Midwestern Emergency Managers. Many EMA’s will need to adopt practices that I discovered in my study especially use of volunteers. Significance for me as a newly minted scholar- practitioner. I would like to do the follow up study and confirm my outcomes. The Findings of the study include: Significance for the original research question: There is a big improvement in this area. Significance for the literature of theories and strategies of emergency management. This is a major change from prior studies. Significance for the research methods employed in the study. Since this is a qualitative study, a follow up survey or other quantitative study needs to be done. Significance for policies and strategies of Midwestern Emergency Managers. Many EMA’s will need to adopt practices that I discovered in my study especially use of volunteers. Significance for me as a newly minted scholar- practitioner. I would like to do the follow up study and confirm my outcomes.