1. Starting and Sustaining a Special Needs Advisory Panel: The Illinois Experience September 29, 2009 Presenter John A. Muller, Ph.D. 1

2. What Is a SNAP? Explanation needed? A SNAP can... Bring together diverse stakeholders Help set priorities Identify and coordinate resources Identify the needs of people in the community Enhance and strengthen preparedness and response 2

3. 3 “Don’t plan about us without us.”

4. Illinois’ SNAPs Today Organizational context Number, location, etc. How they function: leaders & member & meetings What they do ~ and want to do, i.e. results, plans and goals 4

5. How SNAPs Got Started Implementation training Local jurisdiction partnerships Mini-grants Local priorities 5

6. Success Factors State Level Agency support & funding Neutral coordinating body Inclusive advisory group Subject matter experts County Level LHD credibility EMA cooperation Champions Participants: agencies and individuals Regrettable experiences 6

7. 7 Illinois Counties with AdvisoryPanels

8. A Few Suggestions Small ad hoc steering committee Emergency management buy-in Local issue/problem identification Engage local health & human service leaders Functional needs definition Tackle ONLY an achievable project at first Aim for institutionalization 8

9. Projects to Consider Information sharing: EMA plans, SN concerns Family/individual preparedness First responder training Standard client information form “List of lists” for EOC support Particular issue: oxygen, battery charging, dialysis HHS support for ARC shelter 9

10. Questions? Comments? The path is the goal. Thank You! John A. Muller, Ph.D. Management CommunicationsIllinois Public Health Association 1520 Denison Drive223 South Third Street Springfield, IL 62704Springfield, IL 62701 217-725-7880217-522-5687 jmuller124@gmail.comjmuller@ipha.com 10