Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #122216

Carl H. Rush, MRP, Chommunity Health Worker Institute, New Jersey AHEC Program, 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 3200, Stratford, WA 08084, 856-566-6024, rushch@umdnj.edu and Jacqueline B. Scott, BA, JD, Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, part of the Harrison Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center, 50 F Street, NW, Suite 8300, Washington, DC 20001.

Among the painful lessons of the Katrina disaster was the missed opportunity to better prepare communities for disasters and to cushion their effects through the efforts of Community Health Workers. Disorganization, disorientation and miscommunication can be reduced with a network of trusted agents in the community, aware of resources, events and the needs of the most vulnerable residents. Recent experience has borne out earlier research, which found that many community residents will not trust or follow government instructions in time of disaster. CHWs, who enjoy much higher levels of trust in the community, can play a much greater role, but will need a modest amount of additional preparation on organization, planning and the psychological impact of disasters. Public policy should embrace this opportunity and provide for such preparation, along with provision of emergency funding to the organizations which already employ these valued public health workers.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a variety of roles for Community Health Workers in community preparedness and disaster response.
• Identify local organizations which can engage in collaborative planning for preparedness and response activities involving CHWs
• Identify public policy leverage points to pursue official support

Keywords: Community Response, Community Health Promoters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Recorded presentation