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Bioterrorism and Emergency Readiness Training
UConn’s College of Continuing Studies is providing Bioterrorism and Emergency Readiness training for state and local public health professionals. The series consists of four modules; each module includes 20 hours of training, including 14 hours in a classroom and six hours of web-based, interactive learning activities. Training is free of charge and offered through the CT Department of Public Health’s cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The training includes modules on "Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Agents" on Fridays, February 28 and March 7; "Public Health Preparedness" on Fridays, March 28 and April 4; "Developing an Organizational Response" on Fridays, April 25 and May 2; and "Approaching Bioterrorism Initiatives Through Effective Project Management" on Thursdays, May 29 and June 5. The final module will provide a hands-on opportunity to apply project management principles to large-scale initiatives, including smallpox vaccination plans. The first and third modules will be held at the UConn Health Center in Farmington; the second and fourth will be held at UConn’s Hartford campus.
The goal is to keep the training practical so professionals who leave a training program will have a new tool, technique or strategy to apply directly to practice. Disaster preparedness is integral to public health practice, and much of what will be addressed in training relative to preparedness for a bioterrorism event will also apply to general disaster preparedness. Knowledge gained through participation will be relevant, even if an actual bioterrorism event were never to occur in Connecticut.
"Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Agents" covers agents that may be employed as weapons of mass destruction and identifies specific agents, possible modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, and treatment options. It also provides information on red flags, clinical disease patterns, or sentinel health events that can alert public health professionals to the possibility of a bioterrorist activity for each agent of concern.
"Public Health Preparedness" addresses the roles of local public health agencies in preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies and helps them understand their unique responsibilities in relationship to other agencies and in preparing their own agency for responding to emergencies. Participants will learn the Incident/ Unified Command System (ICS) using a training program developed by the CT Association of Directors of Health.
"Developing an Organizational Response" is a "train-the-trainer" module designed to teach local health department leaders how to train their staff and volunteers. Participants will develop a sample module for subsequent training of health department staff. This module will emphasize small group interactive activities and hands-on/ simulation training, and will incorporate appropriate materials from other sessions.
"Approaching Bioterrorism Initiatives Through Effective Project Management" provides a basic, systematic approach to managing projects with techniques and tools that are effective and easy to use. Professionals can bring their own teams and apply course content to an actual public health project, or work on ad hoc teams to apply project management principles to various projects, including developing a smallpox vaccination plan, coordinating emergency medical services, developing local health networks, and enhancing surveillance.
For more info call Martha McKerley at 860-486-5713.
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