Do 1 Thing Team building new ambassador program and part of the 2014 Cohort of the The National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH) program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).

Improving Local Emergency Preparedness Gets Federal Support

Lansing-based emergency preparedness non-profit, Do 1 Thing, has been selected to participate in a national program that will help make preparedness more accessible to mid-Michigan residents.

The National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH) program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a national program focused on improving population health by working with multi-sector leadership teams and training the teams through an applied, team-based collaborative leadership development model. The program is implemented by the Center for Health Leadership and Practice (CHLP), a center of the Public Health Institute (PHI), and will provide training and support for a period of one year. NLAPH is provided at no cost to the participants or the community.

The goal of the National Leadership Academy is to improve public health outcomes—in this case to help people become more resilient to emergencies and disasters.

“The ice storm and power outage that happened over the holidays really showed the importance of being prepared,” said Erika Mahoney, Do 1 Thing Director. “Those that had taken steps to be prepared for emergencies were safer, more comfortable, and better able to stay in their homes during the event. Even small steps—like having flashlights and extra batteries—made a difference.”

Do 1 Thing intends to use this opportunity to develop an “ambassador” program that will train people in how to encourage preparedness in their neighborhoods, workplaces, or with the people they serve, using Do 1 Thing resources.

Do 1 Thing has preparedness materials available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Somali, Nepali, Burmese, and simplified Chinese. Materials are also available in large print, Braille, audio file, and in a low-literacy format. Development of low-literacy materials was also funded by the CDC, when it selected Do1Thing as one of seven promising examples of whole community emergency management in 2013. The team assembled to participate in the NLAPH includes Erika Mahoney from Do 1 Thing, Elise Magen from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Christine Hendrickson from the Ingham County Health Department, and Carol Barrett, of SoWhat? Evaluation.

NLAPH will provide training and support to assist the team in successfully developing the Do 1 Thing Ambassador Program in mid-Michigan. Training and support will focus on two tracks. The first is the development of leadership skills, including personal and collaborative leadership in a multi-sector environment. The second emphasizes growth from team-based collaborative work to policy and systems change. NLAPH is provided at no cost to the participants or the community.

“This program will impart population health teams with the skills to lead across sectors and collaboratively solve complex population health problems in innovative ways,” said Carmen Rita Nevarez MD, MPH, Vice President for External Relations and CHLP’s Director. “These are the types of leaders who will ultimately be able to drive critical efforts, such as the adoption of evidence-based policies and practices at the community level, which can have a tangible impact on health outcomes.”

To learn more: http://www.healthleadership.org/program_nlaph