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Virginia Department of Health Access and Functional Needs Annex Overview

This annex provides guidance for planning, response, and recovery actions during emergencies, with resources for all citizens. It focuses on access-based needs and function-based needs of population groups like infants, older adults, and pregnant women. The next steps include training volunteers, updating emergency plans, and collaboration with other departments. The initiative emphasizes training, signage, and coordination to enhance preparedness for emergencies.

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Virginia Department of Health Access and Functional Needs Annex Overview

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  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.

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