Enhancing Public Health PIO Communications: A Progressive Training Approach

1. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach Bret Atkins Ohio Department of Health Office of Public Affairs

2. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach • The Need • The Goal • The Challenge • The Solution • The Process • The Result • The Next Step

3. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Need • Communicating the organization’s response can be as important as the response itself • People will find their own solutions and determine their own actions unless directed otherwise

4. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Need • Public health was under funded for decades • Crisis and risk communication is the “new kid on the block”

5. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Need • The increased number of media outlets has increased the competition among media outlets • Reporters are more skilled and demanding

6. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Goal • Establish and maintain a communications workforce with sufficient capability to work independently and jointly before and during a crisis

7. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Goal • PIOs at local health departments capable of launching and operating a joint information center

8. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Challenge

9. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Solution • Communications training • instruction • practice • plans • drills • exercises

10. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Process • Needs assessment • Spokesperson training • PIO training • PIO exercises

11. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach Needs Assessment • Survey of Ohio’s 139 local health departments to determine communications capacity early in preparedness process • Survey repeated 15 months later

12. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach Spokesperson Training • WAS: Interview training • WAS NOT: Writing, planning, operations, information management or other “behind the scenes” duties

13. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach PIO Training • WAS NOT: Interview training • WAS: Writing, planning, operations, information management or other “behind the scenes” duties

14. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach PIO Training • Networking and partnership building • Presentations on: • Differences between PIO and spokesperson • Role of PIO in Incident Command • Introduction to NIMS • Short tabletop exercise on JIS/JIC

15. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach PIO Training • Review of previous material • How to facilitate an exercise • Four-hour JIS/JIC tabletop and functional exercise

16. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach • The Need • The Goal • The Challenge • The Solution • The Process • The Result • The Next Step

17. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach Communications Capacity • Regional PIO Advisory Group to ODH • JIC locations identified in plans • Nearly 400 PIOs and spokespersons identified (primary and backup) • Regional PIO meetings • Some independent training

18. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach • The Need • The Goal • The Challenge • The Solution • The Process • The Result • The Next Step

19. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Next Step • Advance the material • Remove artificiality • “Put it to the test”

20. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach The Next Step • JIC in a Box • A multimedia self-facilitated JIS/JIC exercise conducted at the local level, at the JIC location with real-life response partners

21. Training the Public Health PIO:A Multiyear, Tiered Approach Bret Atkins Ohio Department of Health Office of Public Affairs Questions?