Issue 4 Support for Vulnerable Populations and Essential Responders Teresa Garrett, RN MS Utah Department of Health David Neale American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter

Background As a civilized society, we are only as strong as our weakest, most vulnerable citizen. Eleanor Roosevelt (?) Margaret Mead (?) Indira Gandhi (?) Pamela Atkinson (?)

Background (2) Population 1  Those confined at home By illness Isolated or quarantined to limit spread of disease  Estimates Between 3,624 and 56,955 people will not have access to a hospital bed

Background (3) Population 2  Those in our society currently in need of human supportive care Homeless Aged or homebound Limited access to healthcare Limited income and resources

Background (4) Population 3  Those who have to respond to the crisis and maintain high levels of function for long periods of time Health care workers  33,400 health care providers and support personnel statewide Other support personnel Critical responders

Background (5) Voluntary and government service providers who currently care for Utah’s most vulnerable populations operate at or above capacity  Food banks  Blood banks  Housing programs  Mental health providers  Community health clinics and centers

Background (6) Governments have a mixed history of supporting the most vulnerable in our society in times of disaster  2005 hurricane season…

Planning Assumptions VOAD’s and other social support organizations will be quickly overwhelmed The needs of those currently served will not go away Different methods of service delivery will be needed for community based programs To slow or prevent the spread of disease, current mass care practices will not be followed

Critical Issues/Concerns Support systems will be duplicated and gaps will be left unidentified Support systems will operate in isolation from one another The needs of newly identified groups will compete heavily for resources, making those currently in the human care system more vulnerable Organizations depending on donations to operate will lose their support base Some groups may be singled out for isolation/quarantine because of disparity, and not disease incidence

Objectives Determine the responsibility of society and government to care for vulnerable populations and essential responders when resources are overwhelmed Identify measures that can be taken to improve the capacity to provide support for mass care and human needs Develop a system to assure that decisions about isolation and quarantine are ethical and based on science Identify key issues that should be returned to a decision- making body because of multi-system issues or impacts that are separate from usual, public health operational decision-making processes

Candidate Recommendations(1) Adopt the principle that care and support for Utah’s current vulnerable populations should continue without interruption. Endorse and support the development of surge capacity service models for VOAD’s that are coordinated by a multi-agency task force

Candidate Recommendations (2) Endorse and support the establishment of an Assistance Coordination Center to harmonize resources with other Emergency Operation Centers Recommend the expansion of personal preparedness messages and tools to include vulnerable populations

Candidate Recommendations (3) Endorse the coordination of government agency activities through a unified planning group Establish a technical advisory group to monitor the impact of isolation and quarantine

Candidate Recommendations Adopt the principle that care and support for Utah’s current vulnerable populations should continue without interruption. Endorse and support the development of surge capacity service models for VOAD’s that are coordinated by a multi- agency task force Endorse and support the establishment of an Assistance Coordination Center to harmonize resources with other Emergency Operation Centers Recommend the expansion of personal preparedness messages and tools to vulnerable populations Endorse the coordination of government agency activities through a unified planning group Establish a technical advisory group to monitor the impact of isolation and quarantine