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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Doris Y. Estremera, MPH, CHES¹, Jennifer Chancay², Beverly Thames, PIO¹, Edith Cabuslay, MPH¹, Brian Zamora, MPH¹, and Scott Morrow, MD, MPH³. (1) San Mateo County Health Department, 225 37th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94066, 650-573-2208, destremera@co.sanmateo.ca.us, (2) Public Health Consultant, 917 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044, (3) Health Officer, San Mateo County Health Department, 225 West 37th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403

Background: Special populations can not be reached effectively through mainstream media. Barriers may include language, culture, accessibility and mistrust. In San Mateo County, special populations for the purposes of risk communication have been defined as seniors, the mentally disabled, the physically disabled, the homeless, the undocumented, non- or limited- English speakers, and rural residents. Community-based organizations (CBOs) provide a direct link and have the expertise to communicate with the special populations they serve.

Objective: To improve the San Mateo County Health Department's ability to effectively reach special populations during health emergencies by involving CBOs in risk communication activities.

Methods: Forums were held throughout the county to discuss the communication needs, capacity of CBOs, and the possibility of future collaborations.

Results: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) identifying risk communication-related responsibilities of the health department and CBO's was developed. Over 15 CBOs have informally agreed to the terms of the MOU. In addition, protocols for communicating with special populations during an emergency have been incorporated into the health department's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Plan.

Lessons Learned: 1) In the event of an emergency, the Health Department will not have the capacity to reach every segment of the community. 2) CBOs have the credibility and capacity to deliver messages to special populations. 3) MOUs are a simple mechanism to coordinate response and allow CBOs to be eligible for possible reimbursement from emergency response agencies. 4) There are many other strategies to meet the needs of special populations that need to be explored.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of including CBOs in the emergency health information network and the need to increase the health department’s ability to communicate with special populations in an emergency.
• Describe the process used to engage and enlist CBOs in the effort to provide accurate and timely emergency communications to special populations.
• Identify at least two risk communication methods for addressing the needs of special populations.

Keywords: Risk Communication, Vulnerable Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

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