249115 Engaging and planning for racially and ethnically diverse communities in a pandemic: Recommendations of the National Consensus Panel on Emergency Preparedness and Cultural Diversity

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 11:24 AM

Nadia J. Siddiqui, MPH , Senior Health Policy Analyst, Texas Health Institute, Austin, TX
Dennis P. Andrulis, PhD, MPH , Senior Research Scientist, Texas Health Institute, Austin, TX
Jonathan Purtle, MPH, MSc , Department of Health Management & Policy, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA
The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic reaffirmed the disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality faced by racially and ethnically diverse populations in emergency events. The rate of H1N1 related deaths was four times higher among American Indians/Alaska Natives than all other groups. African Americans and Latinos were also more likely to die or be hospitalized as compared to whites. While this unequal impact is linked to poverty, recent evidence suggests that race, culture and language also have a profound influence. The National Consensus Panel on Emergency Preparedness and Cultural Diversity, a broadly representative expert panel supported by the HHS Office of Minority Health, has served since its inception in 2006 as a leading national voice on engaging and integrating diverse communities in emergency preparedness. Through its national consensus statement, eight guiding principles and an all-hazards toolkit, the Panel has issued a comprehensive set of recommendations on integrating diversity into key preparedness functions, including: collaboration; risk assessment; risk communication; drills and exercises; and evaluation. In its October 2010 convening, the Panel, including its community-based representatives, discussed the application of the toolkit to pandemic influenza preparedness, particularly around engaging diverse communities to improve understanding and adherence to recommended actions. In addition, opportunities to advance this objective through the Affordable Care Act of 2010 were explored. Developed for use by responders, advocates and local, state and national policymakers, this presentation will offer consensus-based recommendations, supplemented by leading research and practices in the field, on engaging, planning for and responding to diverse communities in a pandemic.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe disparities, challenges and barriers often faced by racially and ethnically diverse populations in pandemic influenza planning, preparedness and response. 2. Demonstrate the ability to apply the diversity preparedness toolkit and other recommendations of the Panel to pandemic influenza planning, preparedness and response for concerned groups at the community, state and national levels. 3. Identify opportunities offered by the Affordable Care Act of 2010 for engaging diverse communities in pandemic influenza planning, preparedness and response.

Keywords: Minorities, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as Program Manager for the National Consensus Panel on Emergency Preparedness and Cultural Diversity since its inception in Fall 2006. I have written peer-review articles and present frequently at scientific meetings on the topic of emergency preparedness for racially and ethnically diverse communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.