The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50564

Allyson Brown, MPH, MSSW and Tinka Markham Piper, MPH, MSSW. Disaster Assistance Service Center, American Red Cross, 141 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013

In the wake of September 11th, the Disaster Assistance Service Center in lower Manhattan has served as an emergency relief center for individuals whose homes or jobs were severely impacted by the World Trade Center attack. Numerous non-governmental and governmental collaborators, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, Legal Aid Society, Safe Horizons funded by the September 11th Fund, New York City Human Resources Administration, Medicaid, Crisis Counseling, the Department of Labor, and other city and state social service agencies, strive to coordinate integrated relief services for the lower Manhattan community.

Serving as a potential model of emergency relief work, the ongoing operation and management of the Disaster Assistance Service Center raises important questions regarding how best to develop and maintain public-private partnerships. Foremost among these concerns is how to involve the affected community in the planning and implementation of relief services, while addressing the complexity of philanthropy and the management of relief organizations. Public-private coordinated responses to September 11th have ramifications not only for future responses to domestic and international emergency situations, but also illuminate the importance of partnerships for a wide array of community-based health promotion and disease prevention efforts.

Learning Objectives: This presentation will provide an opportunity for participants to

• Identify the strengths and barriers to coordinating emergency relief services between non-profit, non-governmental and local, state and federal government agencies.
• Recognize the need to better formulate best practices, including leadership development, staff and volunteer training, measurable standards and program design and evaluation.
• Discuss how community members can play a role in planning and implementing the equitable distribution of relief services.

Keywords: Partnerships, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.