Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Workgroup (2011)
Jump To: Charge | Background | Methods | Members | Products
Charge
Building on the program evaluation and policy development achievements of the SCHSAC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Workgroup, the SCHSAC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Workgroup will become a standing committee under the auspices of SCHSAC to:
- Provide ongoing review of public health emergency preparedness programs and issues;
- Assure that the policy recommendations from the previous Emergency Preparedness Workgroup can be implemented to provide ongoing guidance to the state-tribal-local preparedness partnership;
- Oversee the continued development of capacity assessment and related measurement outcomes to provide definition of capacity and achievement in Minnesota's public health emergency preparedness programs; and
- Oversee strategic planning for the next five years (2011 through 2016) of public health emergency preparedness in Minnesota.
< Return to the top of the page
Background
The SCHSAC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Workgroup met from August 2010 until May 2011. The group reviewed state, local and national public health emergency preparedness and response policies and programs.
One of the recommendations from the Emergency Preparedness Workgroup was that a state/local/tribal SCHSAC committee be named to provide continuing review of public health emergency preparedness programs and issues and assure that the 2010-2011 recommendations can be accomplished to provide ongoing advice and guidance to the state-local preparedness partnership. It is recommended that the ongoing oversight committee become a standing SCHSAC committee. Current members of the 2010-2011 workgroup, along with others interested in this area, will be invited to apply for membership in the standing committee. Members should be representative of Minnesota's public health regions, and city, county and multi-county structures. Additional members should be recruited to represent tribal government. Members will serve a two-year term, with one-half of the initial membership serving a one year term to assure continuity of the work. Ad-hoc membership from other community sectors that partner with LHD in emergency preparedness should be invited as needed.
< Return to the top of the page
Methods
The continuing oversight workgroup will be convened in early summer of 2011 and will meet quarterly or as needed. It is anticipated that the group will meet monthly for the next several months to address the immediate issues identified in the report.
The group will develop strategies to operationalize products from the SCHSAC Emergency Preparedness Workgroup.
The group will provide oversight to the development of an assessment tool and outcome measures that may combine:
- The Minnesota Tier Assessment
- The Local Technical Assistance Review (LTAR) from the Strategic National Stockpile program
- The national Public Health Preparedness Capabilities.
- Other assessment tools that are currently under development.
The workgroup will provide evaluation of:
- Existing programs
- Responses to events, incidents, and outbreaks (via After Action Reports and other reviews)
- New directives from the CDC, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and other preparedness partners.
The group will review and provide input on strategic plans related to emergency preparedness.
The group will report back to SCHSAC as part of the regular report of standing committees.
< Return to the top of the page
Members
- Susan Morris, Co-Chair, Isanti-Mille Lacs CHB
- Pam Blixt, Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
- Sharon Braaten, Horizon CHB
- Jennifer Deschaine, Scott County CHB
- Robert Einweck, St. Paul-Ramsey Department of Public Health
- Bonnie Engen, North Country (Beltrami-Clearwater-Hubbard-Lake of the Woods) CHB
- Jim Gangl, Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis CHB
- Pete Giesen, Olmsted County CHB
- Lowell Johnson, Washington County CHB
- Mike Matanich, Stearns County CHB
- Kathy Krenik, Minkler Isanti-Mille Lacs CHB
- Bill Montague, Polk County CHB
- Cheri Lewer, LeSueur-Waseca CHB
- Gloria Tobias, Countryside (Big Stone-Chippewa-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Yellow Medicine) CHB
MDH Participants
- Jane Braun, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Director
- Cindy Borgen, Office of Emergency Preparedness
- Becky Buhler, Office of Performance Improvement
- Gail Gentling, Office of Performance Improvement
- Debra Burns, Office of Performance Improvement, Director
- Aggie Leitheiser, Health Protection Bureau, Assistant Commissioner
Resources
The Office of Performance Improvement and the Office of Emergency Preparedness will both provide staff support to this workgroup.
< Return to the top of the page
Potential Products
- Implementation Plans for the dissemination and operationalization of the Policy Statements.
- Position Papers that provide programmatic review for state and local emergency preparedness.
- An Assessment Tool that will integrate the Minnesota Tier Assessment categories, the LTAR checklist, and the Public Health Preparedness Capabilities and/or other assessment tools and provide related measurement of outcomes.
- Endorsement of activities that support a strategic plan integrating federal directives, and state, tribal and local priorities.
