| Session Title: Emergency Preparedness Standards of Acceptability for Evaluation |
| Multipaper Session 543 to be held in Edgar Allen Poe Room on Friday, November 9, 10:20 AM to 11:05 AM |
| Sponsored by the Disaster and Emergency Management Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Ralph Renger, University of Arizona, renger@u.arizona.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Ralph Renger, University of Arizona, renger@u.arizona.edu |
| Abstract: This session will discuss the importance of using emergency preparedness standards of acceptability for evaluation of emergency preparedness initiatives (courses, exercise programs and so forth). The Core Bioterrorism Competencies for all Public Health Workers (Core Competencies), a set of public health preparedness standards, will be used to illustrate how standards can serve as the foundation of course content and evaluation. We will then focus on what evaluators can do in situations where standards of acceptability are revised, or new standards are introduced. We will argue the importance of understanding the relationship between new, revised or existing standards to determine if, and where, existing content and evaluation strategy modifications are needed. |
| The Importance of Using Emergency Preparedness Standards of Acceptability for Evaluation |
| Adriana Cimetta, University of Arizona, cimetta@email.arizona.edu |
| Anneke Jansen, University of Arizona, annekej@u.arizona.edu |
| Erin Peacock, University of Arizona, epeacock@email.arizona.edu |
| Kim Fielding, University of Arizona, kjf@u.arizona.edu |
| This session will focus on the utility of the Core Bioterrorism Competencies for all Public Health Workers (Core Competencies) in evaluating emergency preparedness initiatives (courses, exercise programs and so forth). The Core Competencies are, in essence, standards of acceptability for what public health professionals should know with regard to emergency response. From a planning and evaluation standpoint, the Core Competencies are useful in (1) guiding content development, and (2) focusing the evaluation on appropriate outcomes. The result of using the Core Competencies toward these ends is that the initiatives will have the greatest chance of success. This session will discuss the application of the Core Competencies in the planning and evaluation of emergency preparedness initiatives. |
| The Benefits of Understanding the Relationships Between Emergency Preparedness Standards of Acceptability From an Evaluation Standpoint |
| Anneke Jansen, University of Arizona, annekej@u.arizona.edu |
| Adriana Cimetta, University of Arizona, cimetta@email.arizona.edu |
| Erin Peacock, University of Arizona, epeacock@email.arizona.edu |
| Kim Fielding, University of Arizona, kjf@u.arizona.edu |
| The Core Bioterrorism Competencies for all Public Health Workers (Core Competencies) can be considered standards of acceptability for evaluating public health preparedness initiatives (courses, exercise programs and so forth). It is important for success of the initiative that evaluation and content development are centered on these standards. Frequently, existing emergency preparedness standards are revised and new standards are developed. This session will explore the impact of introducing new standards and/or modifying existing standards on the development and evaluation of preparedness initiatives. We will argue the importance of understanding the relationship between standards (new, revised and current) to determine whether it is necessary to modify the existing evaluation. Finally, we will present a methodology to determine the relationship between changing standards. |