Contributing panelists are encouraged to: 

• Review the evaluation framework introductory pages, including overview and contents, purposes and approach and assumptions and caveats.
• Participate in the online discussion topics that address CERC principles, at-risk populations and our draft evaluation framework for emergency communications to at-risk populations. 

Project Description

In collaboration with local partners, the CDC, and the Crisis Emergency Risk Communications (CERC) professional panel, and building upon risk communication models and standards developed by these partners and other APCs, the Southwest Center for Advanced Public Health Practice (APC) will produce an evaluation framework and guidance document to help public health agencies assess the quality of various emergency communications ranging from fact sheets, virtual JIC Websites and Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site signage to public service announcements/alerts for vulnerable populations who may have cultural, language or physical barriers to receiving mainstream public health communication.

Recognizing the broad definition of at-risk populations and the fact that a one-size fits all communication tool is not feasible, this project will attempt to focus on these three areas as common to many jurisdictions. Emphasis will not be on generating multiple or special messaging templates, but on enabling key partners and other organizations that represent or conduct outreach to at-risk populations. The framework will:

• Address key emergency communications effectiveness measures such as results, timeliness, credibility, accuracy, practicality/usefulness, audience suitability, teamwork, replicability, depth and brevity.
• Explore strategies and best practices for effective emergency communications through appropriate community-based partners who can best identify challenges and opportunities for targeted groups.
• Identify and analyze some examples of effective (or ineffective) communications for the various evaluation framework measures.

The APC will also apply the framework in an examination of at least one excercise case study.

A written report, to be completed by October, 2010, will present the evaluation framework and accompanying guidance on its potential use. This project is intended to help agencies strengthen outreach to vulnerable populations and enhance community resilience by enabling other non-public health groups and community-based organizations to serve their special-needs clients with better public health preparedness messages.