Emergency Preparedness

Developing Disaster Resiliency Curricula and Resources

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 04:13:35 +0000

Developing Disaster Resiliency Curricula and Resources

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 11:13

The ask: Following natural and manmade disasters, essential workers such as first responders and cleanup workers face unmet mental health and resilience needs. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP), under an interagency agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Emergency Mental Health and Traumatic Stress Services Branch, sought support for these workers following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The solution: MDB worked closely with WTP and SAMHSA staff to develop the Gulf Responder Resilience Training Project. This project began with a needs assessment and literature review and included work with community-based organizations. Then, MDB led a series of three phases that consisted of stakeholder meetings with oil spill responders, curriculum development with behavioral health subject matter experts, and the development of training materials, respectively. MDB facilitated the meetings and developed the curriculum and training materials.

Notable outcomes: The Gulf Responder Resilience Training Project was a valuable opportunity for MDB to work together with local, disaster-impacted, and vulnerable communities, and to understand the cultural sensitivities surrounding the post-disaster mental health consequences and their management within an impacted community.

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Pathogen Safety Data Guide and Training Module Offers Clear Solutions

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:30:16 +0000

Pathogen Safety Data Guide and Training Module Offers Clear Solutions

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Occupational Safety & Health

Training

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:30

The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP) requested help developing training tools and resources for infectious disease response.

The solution: In response, MDB developed a pathogen safety data (PSD) guide and training module aimed to raise awareness of existing PSD resources and how they are being used to develop infectious disease occupational exposure control plans in a variety of industries. MDB’s Ebola training gap analysis informed the development of the PSD guide and training module. Two key findings from the gap analysis showed that federal guidance was inconsistent and incomplete, and resources on infectious diseases are sometimes conflicting or lack the detail required to be immediately helpful.

The PSD guide aims to address these issues by reviewing existing PSD resources, outlining their strengths and limitations, and explaining how to access them. The PSD training module was developed to train workers who may be exposed to infectious diseases on how to use existing PSD resources.

MDB worked with NIEHS staff and awardees to pilot test the PSD module through a series of infectious diseases training sessions for workers in various sectors and we used feedback received during these sessions to refine the course materials. The complete PSD training module includes a PowerPoint presentation, a participant worksheet, the PSD guide, a glossary, four case studies, and an instructor guide.

Notable outcomes: Workers who are at higher risk to be exposed to infectious diseases in their workplace are now better prepared to respond to possible infectious disease pathogens, thanks to this innovative training.

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Developing Pilot Project Into a Full Scope Disaster Research Response Program

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:18:31 +0000

Developing Pilot Project Into a Full Scope Disaster Research Response Program

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Program Management

Strategic Planning

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:18

The ask: In 2012, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership published a call for action in the New England Journal of Medicine to improve the capabilities of the nation to conduct human health research in the aftermath of disasters. Up to that point, disaster research was uncoordinated, largely anecdotal, and lacked the scientific rigor that is the basis for all human health studies.

The solution: In response to this article, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) instituted a pilot project in disaster research called the Disaster Research Response project, with a focus on environmental health studies. MDB supported this project by providing strategic planning, expertise in disaster management and public health, and science writing. MDB supported monthly meetings of the National Institutes of Health disaster interest group, assisted with the development of disaster research workshops that occurred in four large cities across the country, provided expertise in the development of a Disaster Research Response program website, and co-authored several peer-reviewed articles about disaster research.

Notable outcomes: Through the efforts supported by MDB, the DR2 project is now a full-fledged program at NIEHS.

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Developing COVID-19 Materials to Improve Health Agency Response

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:15:16 +0000

Developing COVID-19 Materials to Improve Health Agency Response

COVID-19

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Events

Strategic Planning

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:15

The ask: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic stressed state and local health departments across the nation. Working tirelessly, health departments needed support to improve their responses.

The solution: During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, MDB was tasked with supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) COVID-19 response. One of our senior staff served as a pandemic advisor the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and worked with the PADOH COVID-19 staff to improve the state’s response.

Notable outcomes: MDB provided strategic advice, infectious disease outbreak response expertise, and created and conducted a tabletop exercise for the administration’s senior staff.

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