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Preparedness Brief Digest
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NACCHO Updates and Feature Articles
Explore the 2023 Preparedness Summit Schedule and Register
Rural Local Health Departments: Share Your After-Action Reports
NACCHO is collaborating with The East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Center for Rural Health Research to assess public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) among rural local health departments. Through the grant, ETSU and NACCHO will be developing rural-specific PHEP capabilities through assessment activities and listening sessions across various states. A key component of the needs assessment includes a review of past After-Action Reports (AARs) from rural local health departments. We are requesting AARs from rural LHDs across the United States. AARs provided will be used for the intended purposes of the specified project, will not be distributed in any identifiable manner, and associated information will be destroyed at the completion of the study. To submit AARs or for inquiries concerning this project, please contact Michael Meit at meitmb@etsu.edu.
Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Mentorship Program: Application Period Extended
Wastewater surveillance can provide jurisdictions with information and trends on community-level COVID-19 infections and offers unique benefits as an early warning system. To support local health departments (LHDs) in implementing and expanding their wastewater surveillance efforts, NACCHO, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is accepting applications for the 2023 cohort of the Wastewater Surveillance Mentorship Program. LHDs with demonstrated experience in utilizing wastewater surveillance will be matched with LHDs seeking guidance, tools, and resources while in the early stages of developing a wastewater surveillance program. Last year’s mentees based in Chautauqua County and Genesee & Orleans County (NY) positioned themselves to build their programs by establishing strong relationships with wastewater facilities, local government, and universities and sampling data. In 2023, three (3) mentee sites will receive up to $10,000 each and one (1) mentor site will receive up to $15,000. Learn more and apply by Friday, March 10, at 11:59 PM ET.
NACCHO Shares 2022 Mpox Survey Results
NACCHO conducted a brief survey to gather information from LHDs on experiences, impact, and response efforts related to the Mpox outbreak. Survey responses were collected between October and late November of 2022, and responses, although varied, demonstrated that LHDs are still greatly impacted by the Mpox outbreak. Read more about the survey results.
Podcast from Washington: Omnibus Spending Bill and Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program Reauthorized
 On this month’s Podcast from Washington, NACCHO Government Affairs team members Kerry Allen and Lauren Mastroberardino discuss key provisions in the omnibus spending bill that Congress passed at the end of 2022. Most exciting to NACCHO, the bill reauthorized the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program. Once operationalized, this program will offer loan repayment to public health professionals who agree to serve three years at a local, state, or Tribal health department. Kerry and Lauren also recap the beginning of the 118th Congress, highlighting recent committee hearings relevant to NACCHO members and votes in the House to roll back pandemic-related policies. They announce NACCHO’s 2023 Federal Legislative and Policy Agenda and remind listeners about the upcoming virtual Local Public Health on the Hill event on March 6-10. Later in the podcast, NACCHO’s Victoria Freire interviews Ron Sprong, the Community Health Manager at Greene County Health Department in Carrolton, Illinois about emergency preparedness in a rural community. Listen to the episode.
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Preparedness News, Tools and Resources
 Preparing for End of National COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
Resources to Prepare for a Chemical Emergency
FEMA’s 2022 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness showed that 70% of people were unprepared for a chemical emergency. The recent derailment of a train containing hazardous chemicals helps to illustrate why local communities should take steps today to be prepared for such events. Explore resources to help local health departments prepare for chemical emergencies.
ASPR Updates Organizational Structure
On February 16, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced a new structure to account for its expanded mission, address new capabilities, prioritize program accountability, and ensure clarity in its naming conventions. See examples of the changes that will be reflected in the new structure.
CDC Center for Preparedness and Response Transitions to Office of Readiness and Response
Effective February 21, CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response will become the Office of Readiness and Response (ORR). CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, announced the name change in January as part of the CDC Moving Forward initiative. In announcing the change, the CDC director said the ORR will report into the Immediate Office of the CDC Director and will serve as a centralized office that promotes accountability and excellence for all the agency’s readiness and response efforts. CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics will report to the ORR director, Henry Walke, MD, MPH.
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Upcoming Events
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 Take Advantage of Early-Bird Rates for NACCHO 360Early-bird registration rates are available through March 3 for the 2023 NACCHO360 conference. To be held July 10-13, in Denver and virtually, this year’s conference theme, “Elevating Public Health Practice for Today and Tomorrow,” will explore how the local public health workforce and its stakeholders can move forward in the midst of an ongoing crisis while implementing traditional and innovative approaches to restructure a system built to protect the health of communities nationwide. NACCHO members save even more! Click here to learn more and register.
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Opportunities
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MRC Accepting Nominations for 2023 MRC Program Recognition Awards
 The Medical Reserve Corps Program is accepting nominations for the 2023 MRC Recognition Awards. Nominations are due no later than Wednesday, March 1, at 5:00 PM ET. Award Categories include Community Preparedness and Resilience; Community Response; Innovator; Outstanding MRC Preparedness and Resilience Volunteer; Outstanding MRC Responder; Mentor; Outstanding MRC Housing/Sponsoring Organization; Outstanding MRC Partner Organization (or Partnership); and MRC Picture of the Year. View the nomination form to learn more.
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The Preparedness Brief blog provides updates and information from NACCHO's public health preparedness portfolio, which includes a range of projects that influence preparedness policy with federal decision makers and develop practical solutions that help local health departments build resilient communities. Check it out for the latest news, resources, tools, and events that help build healthy and resilient communities. To write a guest blog post or submit content for consideration, email preparedness@naccho.org.
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Stay Connected with NACCHO
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The mission of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is to improve the health of communities by strengthening and advocating for local health departments.
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