Improving Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations at the Local Level

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Improving Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations
at the Local Level

• Reaching Vulnerable Populations in Public Health
  Emergencies
• MCPH Statewide Conference
• April 9, 2007
• Julia Bell, Executive Director
• Maine Developmental Disabilities Council

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Two Interrelated Aspects

• Improving Individual Preparedness
• Improving Capacity of Emergency Preparedness and
  Response Systems to effectively and appropriately
  work with and assist those who may require extra
  assistance in an emergency.

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Vulnerable Populations in Maine?
Data from the 2005 American Community Survey,
U.S. Census Bureau
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People in our communities who are living in
poverty(excluding those in any institutional
setting)
2005 American Community Survey, U.S. Census
Bureau
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BASIC FACTS ABOUT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

• Some individuals will have nothing in common with
  others in this broad group.
• Some individuals will be a package deal
• e.g. elderly woman with chronic health care
  issues, who lives on Social Security income, and
  has her son or daughter, who has cognitive
  disabilities, living with her.

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People with Disabilities

• Nearly one in five individuals in Maine has a
  disability, according to 2005 U. S. Census
  estimates.
• One in four households in Maine includes at least
  one person with a disability (according to a 2003
  Robert Wood Johnson study)

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• People with disabilities
• Dont want to be considered in one group -
• We are not the disabled.
• Include some individuals who will have no
  extraordinary functional needs requiring
  assistance.
• Include some individuals who will require varying
  types of assistance addressing functional needs,
  depending upon the type of emergency and the
  necessary response.

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Target outreach efforts to people in local
communities who may need different types and/or
extra assistance in case of emergencies
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Locate and Connect

• Know the demographics of the population in your
  area.
• Check out who attends and participates in other
  types of community meetings and activities if
  you dont see the people you want to reach at
  those meetings, they are not going to show up on
  their own for emergency preparedness planning
  committee meetings.

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Networking Opportunities

• Identify state, regional and local service
  providers for persons with disabilities,
  children, elderly adults, homeless individuals,
  other economically-disadvantaged.
• Identify advocacy other voluntary organizations
  that work with represent these groups at the
  state local level include representatives in
  community preparedness planning

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Identify Contact Points

• Learn from the network how information is shared
• Specific publications
• Media outlets
• Organizations
• Churches
• Support groups
• Food banks other resources for
  economically-disadvantaged

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Engage Contacts trusted by the constituencies you
want to reachin Planning and Outreach, and
Promoting Personal Preparedness

• Ask to attend THEIR meetings
• Encourage and provide training tools for
  community representatives, advocates service
  providers to assist in educating supporting
  individuals to prepare themselves to the extent
  they are able to do so.

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When You Have A Meeting, Provide Equal Access for
Everyone

• Make sure all written information is available in
  plain English
• Use pictures
• Provide materials in alternative formats

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• All informational materials
• should be easy for people
• to understand use

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• FOR EXAMPLE
• Emergency Supply Checklist

• Flashlight batteries
• First Aid Kit

• Personal Identification card

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When you schedule a meeting -

• Make sure your location is accessible entrance,
  restrooms
• Room layout
• Provide tables and chairs (classroom style)
  whenever possible
• Tables should have 30-inch clearance
• Aisles should be at least 36 inches
• If using open-captioning equipment or
  interpreters, position them so person can see
  speakers also.

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Ask People to Indicate Accommodations Needed
and Provide Them!

• People who are Blind or low vision may request
  written materials in advance via email
  otherwise, offer to send after meeting.
• Offer materials in large print.
• Other assistance that may be needed includes
  notetakers, special diet (if meal provided),
  orientation to the building.

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Use an Amplification System and Face Your
Audience!

• If you want elderly members of your community
  others who are hard-of-hearing to attend
  meetings, use an amplification system.

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• Face the audience when you speak dont talk
  while you are writing on a flip chart, or with
  your back to the audience, and dont block your
  mouth with hands, papers, etc.
• Offer captioning service benefits persons who
  are deaf or hard-of-hearing, those with some
  cognitive disabilities, and those with limited
  English skills. This service not only provides
  access at the meeting, but a transcript
  afterwards!

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Basic Rules of Communication

• Show respect use respectful language.
• Presume competence.
• Speak directly to the individual.
• Use a normal tone of voice.
• Place yourself at eye-level with the person you
  are talking with.
• Listen attentively and let the person know if
  you dont understand what he/she is saying.

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Community Regional Planning

• Offer voluntary option for individuals to provide
  information regarding functional needs for
  which they will need assistance in emergencies.
• Schedule updates/renewal of information registry.
• Know the resources in your communities and
  neighboring areas, and match those with
  identified needs.

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Access to Information Services

• Notification and access to ongoing information
• Evacuation
• Emergency transportation
• Sheltering
• Access to medical care/medications
• Access to mobility devices or service animals

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Weave a Safety Net for Individuals who will need
extra or different types of assistance
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Prepare to Meet Functional Needs

• Accessible transportation for individuals (and
  their durable medical equipment, such as
  wheelchairs)
• Alternative communication systems (interpreters,
  screen readers, TTYs, etc.)
• Accessible shelters and shelter services - for
  persons with disabilities with their families
  (in their local communities, whenever possible).
• Accommodation for service animals with their
  owners.

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Develop Network of Back-up Community Supports
Services

• Food other emergency supplies for those unable
  to afford and/or maintain personal supplies.
• Restoration of financial benefits.
• Access to life-sustaining and other necessary
  medications.
• Licensed mental health providers with expertise
  in working with individuals with disabilities,
  different communication needs, etc.

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• Personal assistance services for those who
  require this support for activities of daily
  living.
• Access to dialysis centers, other necessary
  ongoing medical services.
• Disability contacts at local and/or regional
  level to assist in triage to link needed goods
  services to address functional needs.

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• Vulnerable populations
• can include any of us,
• depending on the
• situation.

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Prepare for the Unexpected

• Not all individuals with specific and different
  needs will be identified ahead of time.
• Even if every community resident is catalogued
  and services are mapped . . .
• People with different needs travel on business
  and for vacation, people visit relatives and
  friends in other communities and states.
• Equipment will fail.
• Family and community members will not provide
  promised support to individuals.
• Emergency plans may not address all needs.

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Welcome all comers!

• Build trust.
• Develop and nurture networks.
• Make it easy and do-able for people to prepare
  themselves.
• Involve everyone in planning, role-plays,
  troubleshooting and developing creative
  solutions.
• Use everyones ABILITIES to prepare for
  emergencies.

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• Coming together is a beginning keeping together
  is progress working together is success.
• Henry Ford