Engaging community health centers and migrant health centers in community preparedness planning

Through funding from the National Rural Health Association, The School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M Health Science Center formed a national Emergency Preparedness Working Group of local and state level Community Health Center (CHC) and Migrant Health Center (MHC) representatives to discuss their current levels of preparedness planning and identify issues and best practices for rural CHC and MHC emergency preparedness planning and response. In addition, members reviewed an existing Rural Ready Community Planning Workbook designed to assist rural Texas communities with limited health care resources in preparedness planning and to provide guidance for developing a regional emergency management plan for integration into the local and state emergency management planning levels.

While each geographic location was different, the issues among each group were not uncommon. Rural communities face unique challenges which impact their ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies and necessitate different strategies for preparation and response. These communities are often required to be more creative in utilizing existing resources when addressing preparedness issues. Working Group members identified best practices and common issues that impacted their abilities to plan and respond in their rural setting.

Through the insight provided by the Working Group representatives, SRPH developed a Guide that was disseminated nationally, with the desired outcome of engaging and enhancing participation of rural CHCs and MHCs in developing their community's emergency management plan, and therefore, enhancing their internal organizational plan.