Virginia Department of Health Access and Functional Needs Annex Overview

1. Virginia Department of Health Access and Functional Needs Annex Overview

2. Purpose of Annex • Provide guidance for planning, response and recovery actions • Resources for districts and offices to provide services to all citizens before, during and after emergencies • Consistent approach across the Commonwealth

3. Access and functional needs means: • Access-based needs: all individuals need access to all resources available • Function-based needs: the limitations an individual may have that requires assistance before, during or after an emergency

4. VDH Annex Population Groups: • Infants and children • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity • Older Adults • Economically Disadvantaged Persons • People with Chronic Medical Conditions • Pregnant Women

5. 10 Next Recommended Steps 1 of 2 • District AFN Coordinator Role • Distribute signage and/or vendor info • Train Medical Reserve Corps volunteers • Develop POD training to focus on AFN • Encourage full-scale exercise with AFN groups in October • Evaluate AFN online training for all VDH staff to complete during orientation

6. 10 Next Recommended Steps 2 of 2 • Update Emergency Operations Plans to include AFN recommendations • Collaborate with DBHDS for Medication Assisted Treatment activities in disasters • HHS emPOWER program education for localities

7. Coordinator in Each District/Office • Designate an informal role of AFN Coordinator in each office • Develop role and responsibilities • Engage leadership support for this initiative

8. Print Materials and Signage • Survey districts for AFN signage and print materials needs • Determine if state or local purchase is best method • Identify vendors, funding sources, and recommended materials and signage

9. Training to Volunteers • Identify AFN teams of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers • Coordinate with Virginia Department of Emergency Management to deliver existing course to all teams • Incorporate teams into district and regional exercises

10. Training for Districts • Develop “just-in-time” training modules for use in points of dispensing • Designate a training coordinator to serve as ‘lead’ trainer for AFN topics

11. Exercise Scenarios • Develop scenarios to address needs of each AFN population group • Post scenarios on internal VDH web page for access and use by all districts/offices

12. Incorporate AFN into Full-scale Exercise • Encourage districts/offices to engage with partners and invite groups to exercise locations • Provide guidance for how to engage • Monitor and report lessons learned in AFN exercise activities

13. AFN Training for All VDH Staff • Evaluate HHS/ASPR’s online AFN course • Adopt course – and based on evaluation results – include in orientation for all VDH staff

14. Update Emergency Operations Plans • Provide detailed guidance on EOP updates. Examples: • Establish or strengthen partnerships with Centers for Independent Living • How to identify, exercise and plan with (not for) population groups • Ways to improve inclusion of district/office staff in operational activities with AFN populations

15. Collaborate to Educate • Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has offered to assist VDH with the education of staff on: • Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) • How ESF-8 can assist before, during and after a no-notice event

16. Educate on emPOWER Program • Provide localities consistent and additional information about this program and how to use it during disasters • https://empowermap.hhs.gov

17. To summarize… • A plan only works if • action, dedicated persistence, and a driving need to • do the right thing • serve as its foundation.