# 7180
Although it is far too soon to know what, if any, public health impact the H7N9 virus will have here in the United States, it is never too soon for healthcare organizations, businesses, and community and faith-based organizations to review, update, or implement new emergency plans.
Which is why, every few months I highlight the Public Health Practices project, a freely accessible repository of public health tools and strategies, sponsored by CIDRAP at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).
Over the past two years Public Health Practices has broadened its original scope to include more than just pandemic response. You’ll find tools and practices that cover a wide range of public health concerns, including chemical, radiological, and natural disasters.
In addition to the constantly expanding website, there is also a monthly email newsletter you can sign up for. You’ll find an incredible amount of great content on this site, so pack a lunch and plan to stay all day.
Some highlights include:
Features of Public Health Practices include:
More than 400 public health practices in 9 categories of emergency preparedness and disaster response from state and local health agencies, community-based organizations, and colleges and universities.
In-depth stories on how state and local projects were created, communications materials in more than 40 languages, and tools like job action sheets and media campaigns.
Expert reviewers' commentary on a practice's effectiveness, reach, sustainability, feasibility, and transferability. Please note: expert review is only available for a select number of practices.
A regular e-newsletter featuring our newest practices and other updates from the CIDRAP Public Health Practices staff.
The ability to search for practices based on geography, available languages, and key topics in preparedness and response.
We've got tools!
Need an idea, tool, story, strategy, or reality-check
in a hurry? Our speed-read newsletter is a curated
list of practices on a theme, pulled directly for our site.Here's what we've got:
HEALTHCARE
- Altered standards of care - March 2013
- Pediatric partnerships - September 2012
- Pharmacists - January 2012
- Protecting healthcare workers - April 2013
- Other partnerships - May 2012
NON-HEALTHCARE PARTNERS & GROUPS
- Community-based & businesses - June 2012
- Faith-based - March 2013
- Public safety - April 2013
- Tribal - January 2013
POPULATIONS
- Children - April 2012
- Functional needs - February 2012
- Geographically isolated/rural - February 2013
- Pregnancy - October 2012
EMERGENCIES & DISASTERS
- Flooding & wildfires - March 2012
- Influenza: seasonal & pandemic - February 2013
- Natural disasters - November 2011
- Radiation - December 2012
- Storms - November 2012
- Winter hazards - December 2011
GOVERNMENT FRAMEWORKS
- CDC's 15 Capabilities - August 2012
- Cities Readiness Initiatives - January 2013
COMMUNICATION
- Public opinion - July 2012
You can also follow Public Health Practices on twitter at @PHPractices.
Whether you are looking for a specific solution, or simply looking for muse to inspire your organization’s emergency preparedness efforts, visiting Public Health Practices – and returning often – will likely pay tremendous dividends.
Highly recommended.
