The purpose of the 2024-2029 PHEP cooperative agreement aims to strengthen the capacity and capability of state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health systems to prepare for, respond to, - The West Virginia Department of Health, Center for Threat Preparedness (CTP) utilizes a strategy that focuses PHEP activities across five preparedness domains, to strengthen those domains collaboratively with partners. Several activities will be identified this budget period that will focus on whole community planning to enhance public health preparedness initiatives which include ensuring ongoing coordination with Health Care Coalitions, collaboration with the West Virginia Poison Center to share information and data, coordination with local and community-based organizations, serving on the Senior Advisory Committee, maintenance of emergency response plans, supporting processes to expedite fiscal and administrative preparedness, coordinate emergency information sharing and warning, conduct and participate in required trainings and exercises, coordination of surge activities to manage public health and medical surge, coordination of mass care and mass fatality management activities, surveillance and lab testing capabilities, and explore options to coordinate with vital records to implement an electronic birth registration system. CTP will also continue the coordination of training for stakeholders throughout West Virginia. Areas for improvement identified via drills, exercises, and responses, operational readiness reviews (ORR), PHEP capability assessments, and CDC Grant Guidance requirements, are prioritized and activities developed to accomplish PHEP goals. Outcomes of activities include the earliest possible identification/investigation of incidents that affect public health, enhanced emergency operations continuity, timely assessment and sharing of essential information, implementation of intervention/control measures, communication of situational and risk information, enhanced surveillance and lab testing capacity, initiation and support of PHEP to develop an electronic death registry, and coordination and support of response activities with Health Care Coalition and local community partners. This process results in a well-assessed, prioritized, and planned PHEP initiative over the life of the PHEP Cooperative Agreement. For further information, please contact: Donnie Haynes, Interim Director West Virginia Center for Threat Preparedness 304-558-6900 Donnie.W.Haynes@wv.gov
