COVID Listening Sessions

A Unique Opportunity to Reimagine Preparedness

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant event to test the public health preparedness system since its inception. What we are learning from this response will help us to reimagine the disaster life cycle moving forward.

This April, the first in-person Preparedness Summit since the beginning of the pandemic, presents a unique opportunity. To meet this opportunity, we are transforming the Preparedness Summit’s traditional Town Halls into COVID Listening Sessions. Like an interim review, these sessions will be designed to engage attendees in dynamic conversations to inform future planning efforts, development of policies, and refinement of national health security strategy efforts. The Listening Sessions will focus on the “future of” public health and healthcare sector-specific concerns.

In-person Listening Sessions topics are included below. Two of the below Listening Sessions will be livestreamed to include virtual attendees each day.

Tuesday, April 5, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM ET


Emergency Preparedness and Response (livestreamed)
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related the Emergency Preparedness and Response foundational capability including: 1) the capacity to develop, exercise, and maintain preparedness and response strategies and plans; 2) the capacity to coordinate with federal, state, and local emergency managers and other first responders within the incident management system; 3) the capacity to establish and promote basic, ongoing community readiness, resilience, and preparedness; and 4) the capacity to be notified of and respond to events on a 24/7 basis. 

Partnerships
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to 1) the ability to create, convene, and support strategic partnerships; 2) the ability to maintain trust with and engage community residents at the grassroots level; and 3) the ability to lead internal and external stakeholders to consensus, Special attention in this session will be paid towards those partnerships promoting health equity and social justice.  
 
Mitigation Strategies
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to investigating best practices related to conducting disease investigations and other mitigation strategies including 1) contact tracing; and notification; 2) mask wearing and 3) testing. 
 
Communications (livestreamed)
This session will be devoted to assessing the ability to maintain ongoing relations with local and statewide media; the ability to write and implement a routine communications plan; the ability to develop and implement a risk communication strategy; and the ability to develop and implement a proactive health education/health prevention strategy. Monitoring and countering misinformation.  

Wednesday, April 6, 1:30-3:00 PM ET

 
Workforce (livestreamed)
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to the ability to develop and maintain a competent workforce, including recruitment, retention, and succession planning; training; and performance review and accountability. 
 
Volunteerism
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to recruitment and retention of a competent volunteer workforce, including recruitment, retention, and training.
 
Organizational Administrative Preparedness, including Public Health Authority and Leadership (livestreamed)
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to 1) the ability to secure grants or other funding; 2) the ability to access and appropriately use legal services in planning, implementing, and enforcing, public health; and 3) and the ability to serve as the public face of governmental public health in the department's jurisdiction.  
 
Assessment and Surveillance
This listening session will be devoted to assessing the current and next steps related to the assessment and surveillance of foundational capabilities including where the public health preparedness profession stands in relation to: 1) the ability to collect sufficient foundational data; 2) the ability to access, analyze, and use data; 3) the ability to prioritize and respond to data requests; 4) the ability to conduct community and statewide health assessments; and 5) the ability to access 24/7 laboratory resources capable of providing rapid detection.

The Summit’s planning committee partners welcome attendees to come together, take leadership, and share your experiences responding to COVID-19 with other attendees representing public health and healthcare system stakeholders. Together, we can explore strategies for what the public health and healthcare preparedness system should look like in function and practice moving forward.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the conversation.