Mass Antibiotic Dispensing: Engaging At-risk Populations Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and Public Health Training Network Webcast Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Originally aired October 16, 2008 Course Overview The capacity to reach every person in the community is the goal of emergency preparedness planning. This will be especially important during a public health emergency that requires mass antibiotic dispensing to the entire population within the Cities Readiness Initiative goal of 48 hours. In order to reach everyone in the community, planners must know what subgroups make up their populations, where the people in these groups live and work, and how they best receive information. Research indicates that many jurisdictions have not defined or located their at-risk populations. At-risk populations include groups whose needs are not fully addressed by traditional service providers or people who feel they cannot comfortably or safely use the standard resources offered in disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery. Such people may be physically or mentally disabled, have limited language skills, or be geographically or culturally isolated. This program will focus on defining, locating, and reaching at-risk populations for a mass antibiotic dispensing campaign. Experts in the process of defining, locating, and reaching at-risk populations as well as state and local public health professionals who have used this process will share their experiences. Goal To assist state and local public health planners in reaching out to and partnering with American Indian and Alaska Native governments and communities for a mass antibiotic dispensing campaign. Objectives Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be able to: * Define some of the challenges of reaching out to tribal populations * Identify ways to reach out to the tribal communities * Determine the most appropriate contacts within local tribal communities * List two preferred methods of communication within the tribal community * Describe two methods for providing training in the tribal community * Promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations, and other members of an inter-professional team of health care providers by assuring the availability of effective, quality health and disease prevention services. Intended Audience State and local public health officials, state and local SNS and Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) planners, emergency managers, and tribal liaisons Presenters Capt. Pelagie "Mike" Snesrud, Senior Tribal Liaison for Policy and Evaluation, Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Joe Finkbonner, Executive Director, Northwest Portland Indian Health Board, Lummi Tribe Richard Buck, Border Health Manager and Tribal Liaison, Public Health Preparedness Program, New York State Department of Health April Sells, Tribal Emergency Management Director, Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Alabama)