Online Program

286358
Collaborative disaster preparedness for persons with disabilities: A case study


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Valerie Beynon, MA, APR, Bureau of Preparedness and Response, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
Sandra Schoenfisch, RN, PhD, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Preparedness and Response, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL 32399, FL
Sandra Schoenfisch, RN, PhD, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Preparedness and Response, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL 32399, FL
Sandra Schoenfisch, RN, PhD, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Preparedness and Response, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL 32399, FL
Background: Persons with disabilities (PWD) face a unique challenge when preparing for disasters. Whether it's additional time to prepare, gather assistive equipment, or address the difficulties with transportation, pre-planning plays a key role in their safety. A series of local preparedness workshops targeting PWDs and subsidized by the Florida Department of Health were developed. Unfortunately, these efforts did not provide consistent and effective results. Methods: The Florida Department of Health (DOH), via federal funding, developed a pilot project utilizing a capitation system whereby community based organizations (CBO) were compensated to assist PWDs one-on-one to complete a disaster planning template. Outcomes: Despite starting the project mid-year, the project was deemed a success with a total of 1633 plans completed by PWDs working with 12 CBOs. Over 67% of CBOs reached or exceeded their target goal and 91% are participating in the 2012-13 project year. As a result, DOH increased the number of PWDs assisted annually by 56% while experiencing a 41% reduction in program implementation costs and a 62% reduction in per person costs over 2010-2011. Conclusions: Working collaboratively with CBOs which provide services to an existing client/customer base provides an effective means of working one-on-one with PWDs, offers local source credibility for a program and its provider, and increased the rate of participation by individuals over previous efforts.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Explain the need for collaborative partnerships at the local level. Identify key community based organizations (CBO) working with persons with disabilities to develop partnerships. Assess and evaluate organization engagement with the project.

Keyword(s): Disability, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: In my role as Director of Nursing for the FDOH I was responsible for statewide oversight, coordination & management of our Special Needs Shelter System. Our preparedness efforts focus on planning, partnerships and flexibility based on the event and situation.
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.