Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement - The public health and health care system play a critical role in emergency preparedness and response. A major statewide or regional emergency could cause severe illness and/or injuries and fatalities. To prepare for and respond to an emergency of great severity and magnitude requires rapid response surveillance and communications systems, a trained and available public and private health and medical workforce, and volunteers to help perform essential tasks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant funds will support activities that further develop the public health emergency preparedness systems, capabilities and capacity of the CT DPH and CRI jurisdictions. This will ensure we are prepared and positioned to respond to and protect our population from both emerging and identified public health risks and threats from an all hazards approach. The CT DPH will work collaboratively with government, private industry, non-profits, and other DPH programs to build or sustain its readiness across the three strategies outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the 10 Response Readiness Framework program priorities. To measure progress, the CT DPH will develop and execute detailed evaluation and performance measurement plans developed to collect and measure data to utilize for outcome monitoring and development of continuous improvement plans. Supplemental initiatives will be informed by identified lessons learned, best practices models, and the recommendations of the CDC. In order to achieve these goals, the CT DPH must ensure that we have robust all hazards public health emergency response plans and public health control measure guidelines in place, resilient and well-prepared public health systems and partners that can operate through all phases of a public health disaster or incident, and continuity and access to public health services, regardless of the event. Over the course of the five-year project period, Connecticut will focus its grant-related investments, activities and efforts on outputs that result in the following long-term outcomes: • Timely implementation of public health interventions and control measures • Continuity of emergency operations during public health incidents and surge conditions • Timely and accurate communication of situational awareness and public health risk information to statewide partners (as applicable) on established communications platforms and systems • Timely procurement, and identifying and utilizing surge personnel to support medical countermeasures distribution and dispensing • Timely coordination and support during response activities with healthcare coalitions and other statewide public health and emergency management partners • Early identification and investigation of public health incidents, or events that have a public health impact To succeed in meeting the outcomes of the PHEP cooperative agreement (CoAg), Application CDC-RFA-TU-24-0137, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) will implement evidence-based strategies and activities as required within the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Evidence-based resources, HSEEP principles, and materials made available through the CDC, and funded communities of practice will be applied to advancing public health readiness and response. The ten Response Readiness Framework program priorities also align with several After Action Report Improvement Plan focus areas for DPH based on the COVID-19 and mpox responses. DPH leadership has prioritized 7 of the 10 readiness response framework focus areas independent of and prior to CDC’s publication. This unprecedented support and focus on integrating preparedness into the entire agency will enable the Office of Public Health Preparedness Connecticut appreciates the availability of federal funds to sustain and build upon the state’s efforts to prepare for public health emergencies and disasters.
