Emergency Risk Communication for Public Health Professionals

3. Communication Skills

3B4. Uses a variety of approaches to disseminate public health information

3B5. Presents demographic, statistical, programmatic, and scientific information for use by professional and lay audiences

3C1. Ensures that the health literacy of populations served is considered throughout all communication strategies

3C2. Communicates in writing, orally, in person, and through electronic means with linguistic and cultural proficiency

3C4. Ensures a variety of approaches are considered and used to disseminate public health information

3C6. Applies communication and group dynamic strategies in interactions with individuals and groups

2. Communicate and Manage Information

2.1 Manage information related to an emergency

2.2 Use Principles of crisis and risk communication

Capability 4: Emergency Public Information and Warning

Function 5: Issue public information, alerts, warnings, and notifications

Competency Description	Level of Competency
	Aware	Knowledgeable	Proficient
Establish emergency communications roles and responsibilities for bioterrorism (BT)/emergency response.	X
Ensure, coordinate, or contribute to the development and delivery of accurate event-specific, science-based risk communication messages to the public, to health care providers, to the media, and to the response community during a BT/emergency event.		X
Use, coordinate, or contribute to event-specific information and scientific principles of risk communication to inform the public, the media, health care providers and the response community during a BT/emergency event.		X
Designate or serve as a media spokesperson during a BT event.		X
Generate a BT/emergency response plan for the public health information staff that is integrated with the emergency response plan for the agency by applying the following competencies: Establish emergency communications roles and responsibilities for BT/emergency response. Maintain an up-to-date directory of materials and resources on bioterrorism/emergencies. Maintain written plans for 24/7 availability of staff and specialists required during a BT event.		X