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In
alignment with federal law, state law now requires licensed family child care
providers to have an emergency preparedness plan for responding to emergency
situations or natural disasters, that may require evacuation, lock-down, or
shelter-in-place. DHS’ Keeping
Kids Safe includes detailed emergency planning guidance for providers, as
well as additional instructions for how to complete the required Child
Care Emergency Plan form, which providers must use to document their
emergency preparedness plan. These two resources, as well as additional
information for family child care providers about new licensing requirements
and relevant effective dates, are available online on the DHS
Licensing webpage for licensed family child care.
Minnesota’s
State Child Care Emergency Plan, which was developed by DHS in 2015, and most
recently published in October 2016, is the product of a collaborative work
effort that included emergency managers, family child care and center
providers, their various organizations, state government staff and a
representative of the Governor’s Early Learning Advisor Council. This plan prioritizes
the health and safety of children by assisting families, child care providers,
counties and state agencies to prepare for and respond to emergencies and
disasters. Each section of the plan provides guidance on how individuals and
organizations who care for children should prepare for and respond to
emergencies. To learn more, see Minnesota’s
State Child Care Emergency Plan.
When a large disaster strikes, what should health care providers consider as they determine how to use strained medical resources? Minnesota’s Crisis Standards of Care Framework provides ethical guidance to health care providers on how to provide medical care when there are simply not enough resources to go around. The Framework seeks to answer the question, when there isn’t enough to save everyone, how should we decide who gets what?
The Minnesota Department of Health is asking the public to assist with answering this question by attending a series of community conversations across the state. Receiving the public’s feedback on Crisis Standards of Care ensures that the recommendations drafted reflect the values and priorities of Minnesota’s communities.
Each session includes a short presentation and a facilitated discussion. Community members are given the opportunity to explore ethical questions such as, when you cannot save everyone, what matters most? Ideas generated during these sessions will shape Minnesota’s Framework for providing health care in severe crisis conditions.
Four sessions have been completed so far with additional sessions taking place across the state over the next one to two years. For more information, please contact Emily Moilanen in the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response at emily.moilanen@state.mn.us.
After sending our first Health Alert in 1999, we quickly realized that we needed a system to manage all the contacts and messages, as well as a secure place to share documents with partners. Nothing we could buy or subscribe to at the time met our needs. So, MDH hired programmers and built the first Workspace from scratch!
Workspace's directory allowed MDH to reach people by role, agency, and geography. It had more than 3,500 users from MDH, local and tribal health, healthcare, and other organizations. Over 300 Health Alerts were sent via Workspace, and it allowed MDH to share thousands of documents.
The transition from Workspace to the new system, PartnerLink, has been virtually seamless. Most local and tribal health department partners have registered and logged in, and messages have been sent successfully!
Thank you to the Workspace Transition Team, especially Alexa Runquist from Scott County and Brenda Polman from Fillmore County, who made sure that PartnerLink would meet the needs of local and tribal public health. Other MDH team members included Christine VanBergen (IDEPC), Deb Radi (EPR), Angie Koch (EPR), Allison Thrash (CHECH), Jennifer Miller (EPR) and Toby McAdams (EPR).
If you need to register for MDH PartnerLink, please visit the registration website. Questions? Contact Toby McAdams at 651-201-5730, toby.mcadams@state.mn.us
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a--year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
For more information about this resource, check out the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Disaster Distress Helpline.
November 22, 2017
Health, Climate Change & Air Quality Webinar
Noon - 1:00 p.m. (CST)
Climate change may increase exposure to air pollutants, especially from particulate matter, ozone, pollen, and mold. This webinar will cover the health impacts of breathing polluted air, and at risk populations. Register here!
December 13, 2017
Health, Climate Change & Wellbeing
Noon - 1:00 p.m. (CST)
The mental health impacts of climate change are likely to be gradual and cumulative. Each individual will react to climate change differently based on a variety of factors such as where he or she lives, occupation, and previous experiences. This webinar will cover disasters and mental health, sense of place, loss, and at risk populations. Register here!
February 21, 2018 (save the date)
16th Annual Preparedness Practicum 2018
Earle Brown Heritage Center
To register and learn more about the Preparedness Practicum, visit the Metro Health & Medical Preparedness Coalition's website.
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