Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement - As the state’s lead agency for public health policy, planning, and surveillance, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) has a proven history of implementing data driven interventions using a coordinated approach to Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP). The Department is the only public health entity in Vermont, with one central office and 12 statewide offices of local health that extend the reach of all Department efforts to the local level. Through this application the Emergency Preparedness program will maintain its robust emergency preparedness activities, but also engage in planning and implementation of activities that will improve response readiness in alignment with the CDC Response Readiness Framework. This will be achieved with an approach that focuses on an all-hazards planning; whole community readiness, response, and recovery; improved administrative and budget management; and a ready response workforce. VDH, through extensive partnerships, will work collaboratively to facilitate the timely exchange of relevant information for situational awareness, risk information, and essential elements of information between response partners including the VHEPC and its members. VDH will support training and exercise initiatives to enhance partnerships and promote a culture of continuous improvement in emergency preparedness and response capabilities throughout the program period. VDH will contribute to a reduced exposure of risk to public health threats to the population of Vermont, and public health and healthcare systems by utilizing data-driven and evidenced-based information to regularly assess hazards, maintain a trained and informed workforce, and update and exercise preparedness and response plans and protocols. VDH will also enhance preparedness and response capabilities through robust surveillance system reporting, monitoring, and testing systems for infectious diseases, the public health laboratory response networks, and environmental health tracking systems and a comprehensive responder safety and health program. These programs are vital components of the preparedness and response systems at VDH that will contribute to the resilience of the public health and healthcare systems in Vermont.
