Many communities across Region 2 need a coordinated, trusted way to reach residents with urgent information during public health emergencies. Community Emergency Networks (CENs), including Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COADs), Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs), Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs), and other local coalitions, are uniquely positioned to fill this role.
The Region 2 Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response (R2C) wants to hear from these coalitions!We are asking Community Emergency Networks to complete this brief 15-minute form that captures each CEN’s structure, capacity, and needs. The results will guide program planning and capacity-building efforts led by the Region 2 Center. We are especially interested in CEN capacity for information-sharing and door-to-door or canvassing outreach.
Only one response should be submitted per CEN and we encourage each CEN to discuss the questions with their leadership teams before submitting to ensure the answers reflect the coalition or network as a whole.
The input collected will also shape a soon-to-launch Community Emergency Network Learning Collaborative (Collaborative), which will provide resources, training, and support to strengthen the communities each CEN serves. CENs that complete the form can also indicate their interest in joining the Collaborative. The collaborative is a short-term, high-impact program that deepens our understanding of how CENs operate and how they can best serve their communities, working with subject matter experts and other CENs. Each CEN will receive hands-on support and be a part of a regionwide peer network.
Up to five CENs selected will:
- Receive $20,000 for their CEN’s active participation.
- Build a locally tailored canvassing plan that strengthens preparedness capability.
- Join a regionwide Community of Practice for shared learning and support.
- Use a practical data system to monitor reach and outcomes.
- Test workflows in scenario-based exercises, one of which will involve a full-scale canvassing effort.
If your coalition is locally focused and active in disasters and wants to deepen its preparedness role, we invite you to express your interest by completing this form by February 10th! Learn more about this effort in detail by attending our webinar: R2C in Focus: Building Strong Community Emergency Networks on January 15th.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mary Cleary.