Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Public Health Emergency Response Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response - PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY The state of Hawaii includes four counties encompassing 7 islands, which comprise the world’s most isolated land mass. The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) is a state agency with headquarters on Oahu in Honolulu County and district health offices (DHOs) located in each of the other counties. Despite and because of our geographic challenges, HDOH has made considerable progress in refining our pandemic response processes since the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic and in the context of ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to identifying and addressing gaps in functional areas, we have made considerable enhancements in disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations, laboratory capacity, data entry and management, and public communications. To ensure rapid mobilization and response to a public health emergency such as an acute respiratory disease pandemic, material needs such as equipment, supplies, and personnel resources beyond what can be met with our usual fiscal capacity are required. The Public Health Crisis Response (PHCR) cooperative agreement (CA) will be applied very deliberately to the gaps identified in a public health emergency response. We have modeled our application based on our experience during the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic with the understanding that the actual event/emergency for which the PHCR-CA would be used will likely dictate additions and modifications to assure an optimal public health response. Therefore, PHCR-CA monies will be applied to planning for and implementing a potential state-wide vaccination campaign, enhancing surge capacity for key emergency response areas (e.g., disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation, other medical countermeasure or resource distribution from the Strategic National Stockpile as necessary), and developing an aggressive and focused public information campaign. HDOH has outlined its budget and justification in the accompanying document and has outlined its preliminary work plan in this Project Narrative for review and consideration.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).