Mission

The NCDP is an academically-based resource center dedicated to the study, analysis and enhancement of the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to major disasters, including terrorism.

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness' particular areas of interest include readiness of the health and public health systems, health workforce and citizen readiness, disaster communications, national preparedness benchmarks and the needs of special populations. In addition, the NCDP is concerned about the integration of preparedness efforts and the existing public health infrastructure.


Summary of Programs, Studies & Priorities:

Public Health & Health Systems Preparedness

Working with NYC DOHMH on workforce curriculum development, training & competency evaluation Developing standards to certify departments of health with respect to "state of readiness" Working on health system surge capacity studies with NYC and Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), including major study on "Hospital Employee Ability and Willingness to Report to Duty During Disasters" Developing surveillance models Bioterrorism training and evaluation for clinicians Working with Columbia's dental school on disaster response training for dentists and other providers Developing distance-based learning systems to ensure dissemination of competency training Collaborating with DOHMH on refining Incident Command Systems for public health workers Training and competency development for disaster planning in Westchester County Responding to SARS and emerging public health crises High level collaboration with experts in Israel Public health leadership competency development; crisis decision-making

Program for Pediatric Preparedness*

Pediatric preparedness standards in 50 state planning documents Development and dissemination of the pediatric preparedness consensus Identifying research agenda for pediatric content in terrorism and disaster planning Organizing of training and drill programs around pediatric preparedness National standards for school-based emergency planning (including all congregate facility environments)

Direct Services

Community-based mobile services for children and families affected by 9/11 and prospect of additional terrorism* "A Common Ground" Project Liberty-funded Columbia support services for affected workers and families

Issues Research & Analysis

Major study of 9/11 survivors with respect to developing standards for evacuation of buildings Tools to ensure recommended preparedness programs are, to the extent possible, evidence-based Examining real costs of preparedness programs Developing community resilience and preparedness participation at local, grassroots level* Improved health professional curricula in essential areas around preparedness, WMD, etc. Curricula on WMD & preparedness for health professional students and trainees Follow-up of impact of 9/11 on children* Unmet needs of affected children and families* Assessment and revision recommendations for the NYC public health codes Assessment of emergency resources information used by school nurses Long-term study of WTC tragedy on women who were pregnant at the time of the disaster and their newborns Psychological outcomes in WTC evacuees and their families Effects of stress on first responders and children of first responders Technology and communication enhancements in emergency planning and preparedness

In Planning

Development of methodologies to ensure broad-based community-wide participation in disaster planning; concept of "community resiliency and active participation", including defining roles for families, individuals, community organizations and institutions Special population focus areas: elderly, disabled, ethnic minorities, etc. Individual "symptom surveillance" to supplement syndromic surveillance modalities Roles and responsibilities of community-based health providers in terrorism and disaster preparedness

Unmet Needs and Continuing Challenges: Continuing Roles for Columbia's NCDP

Defining "preparedness" & creation of appropriate benchmarks Understanding true economic impact of preparedness planning Massive decentralization of WMD diagnostic capacity Assessing and monitoring public perception of preparedness Monitoring impact of preparedness on traditional public health agenda: costs and benefits* Developing recommendations and modalities to ensure improved regional planning for terrorism and disasters Defining optimal partnerships with international resources dealing with health and public health preparedness Creating nationally applicable models for disaster & terrorism planning Refining models of risk & crisis communications Delineating the ethical and legal ramifications of wide-scale preparedness programs and planning Ensuring that there is equitable distribution of planning resources & information among all communities with presumed levels of risk and need Understanding societal impact of 9/11 and on-going threat of continued terrorism in the U.S.

* In collaboration with the Children's Health Fund