Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The National Health Security Preparedness Index: Proposed Updates For 2015-16, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated development of the National Health Security Preparedness Index in 2012 to create a platform for measuring the nation’s progress in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other large-scale emergencies that pose risks to health and well-being in the United States. As a measurement tool, the Index is designed to summarize levels of preparedness achieved within individual states and for the nation as a whole. This session summarizes proposed updates to the Index for 2015-16 that are designed to improve the validity and reliability of Index measures and …

Measuring Changes In Local Surveillance And Investigation Capacity, Christine A. Bevc, Mary V. Davis, Anna P. Schenck

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa and confirmation of the first cases in the United States highlight the need for robust and responsive public health surveillance system. With a 25% decline in funding since 2007, the impact on local surveillance capacities has not previously been described.

Purpose: The Surveillance & Investigation domain of the Local Health Department Preparedness Capacities Survey (PCAS) was reweighted to reflect the national profile of LHDs. Changes in subdomain performance of capacities and the effect of population size on subdomain capacity performance were examined over time.

Methods: Participating LHDs (n=208) …

Perceptions Of School And Health Department Emergency Preparedness Collaboration, Kaitlin A. O'Keefe, Katharine D. Arrington, Michael Prelip, Kimberley I. Shoaf

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: School systems often have the vital responsibility of protecting students during emergency situations. Collaborations with the local health department (LHD) can be invaluable in helping schools effectively fulfill this responsibility.

Purpose: An evaluation of existing organizational collaborations is needed to describe attitudes toward current efforts and to form recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of future joint programs.

Methods: Questionnaires regarding perceptions of existing collaborations were distributed to a sample of LHDs and schools districts in spring and summer 2011. Participant responses from each organization were paired on jurisdictional area, forming 25 paired observations. Analyses were conducted in …

Better Engaging Communities: Moving Beyond Cardinal Rules, Anna G. Hoover

Anna G. Hoover

“Cardinal rules” and best practice approaches have guided governmental risk communication efforts at chronic risk sites for more than two decades, playing an important role in how those most affected by contamination make sense of risk. In addition to providing information, however, communication approaches themselves can affect community perceptions indirectly, through stakeholder interpretations of the processes by which risk information is shared. It is increasingly necessary to evaluate not only whether risk communication approaches have been effective for increasing knowledge but if, in fact, the ways in which information is shared has had unintended consequences that change how stakeholders perceive …

Refining And Improving The Methodology For The National Health Security Preparedness Index, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

This first meeting of two newly reconstituted Working Groups for the National Health Security Preparedness Index Program examined opportunities for improving and refining the Index's measurement, scaling, weighting, and aggregation methodologies. Methodological improvements will enhance the Index's utility for education, planning, policy development, and quality improvement efforts focused on improving national preparedness and resiliency for large-scale health threats.