Webinar hosted by ECHO and MDH, June 8, 2011 at 3-4 p.m. CST Webinar Presenters: José L. González, Director, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, MDH Lillian McDonald, Executive Director, ECHO Minnesota Anthony Schmitz, Health Advocates Featured Guests: Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Commissioner of Health, MDH Tony Yang, Adult Services Director, Wilder Foundation
introduction Webinar Troubleshooting Technical problems? Chat them in. Go to your chat box located on the left of your screen. Type in your question and it will automatically go to tech support. Call technical support. 800.843.9166 Email technical support. help@readytalk.com
introduction Agenda Introduction and Housekeeping Commissioner of Health Introduction of Guest Speakers Overview of Webinar 7 Steps to Creating a LEP Emergency Plan Activating ECHO Planning Template Questions and Answer Segment (chat your questions early to ensure we get you some answers at the end!)
introduction Commissioner of Health (video) View the 90 second message from Ed Ehlinger by: Opening the meeting invitation you received earlier today and select the first VIDEO link toward the bottom of the message. Copying and pasting the link from the chatbox on the left of your screen into your web browser. Once the video is open: Select the Play button buffering may take a few seconds.
introduction Agenda Introduction and Housekeeping Commissioner of Health Introduction of Guest Speakers Overview of Webinar 7 Steps to Creating a LEP Emergency Plan Activating ECHO Planning Template Questions and Answer Segment
introduction Today s Guest Speakers Lillian McDonald, Executive Director, ECHO José L. González, Director, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Anthony Schmitz, Consultant, Health Advocates
introduction ECHO Minnesota Go-to resource for Minnesota s service providers and limited English proficiency (LEP) populations for culturally relevant and high-quality information on health, safety, emergency, and civic topics. ECHO Team 2010 Lillian McDonald, Executive Director
introduction Hmong Community Event Twin Cities LEP stands for Limited English Proficiency. 500,000 Minnesotans speak a language other than English. A emergency communications plan is mandated (reaching all including Special Populations ).
introduction The changing face of America By 2042, the nation will be a majority people of color (Source: www.policylink.org) In 2008, Minnesota s Foreign Born workforce was 254,000 or 8.5% of our total workforce. (Source: MN Demographer) Immigrant-owned businesses in MN = 3%. In one year alone, they generated $331 million dollars in net income. (Source: www.clac.mn.us) Minnesota is healthy but health disparities exist. Example: Smoking is more prevalent among Hispanics at 23.5 percent than non-hispanic whites at 16.3 percent. (Source: www.americashealthrankings.org)
introduction Use this guide to create or improve your own emergency communications plan. This webinar is part of a planning package that also includes: A printable planning guide. Resources and tips. A planning template. All available at. Printable planning guide cover
overview Seven Steps
1. commit to planning FEMA Photo Library Step 1: Commit to Planning
1. commit to planning ECHO Meeting Decide who is responsible for the plan. Make sure that person has adequate resources and time. Planning will take days, not hours. A plan is required for each LEP community. Also commit to reviewing and updating each LEP plan yearly.
1. commit to planning ECHO ELL Class Stearns County, Minnesota, example.
2. locate LEP residents Somali Community Event Twin Cities Step 2: Locate LEP Residents
2. locate LEP residents Start by connecting with those already working with LEP groups. Visit places of worship, ELL classes, community centers, restaurants and shops. Consider all sources of data, including the Department of Education, U.S. Census, local nonprofits, universities, etc. Note: U.S. Census data is not always accurate, communities can be larger than reported. Hmong Freedom Celebration and Soccer Tournament Twin Cities
2. locate LEP residents Somali Community Event Twin Cities Consider sub-populations within LEP groups. Counties are big areas, populations don t follow county borders.
3. involve community members ECHO Team Meeting Twin Cities Public Television Step 3: Involve Community Members
3. involve community members Way To Grow Event Twin Cities Meet with community and faith leaders. Face-to-face meetings are more effective. Be aware and accepting of cultural norms and differences. Talk with staff at service organizations.
3. involve community members Somali Community Event - Twin Cities Community contacts will vary from group to group. Education and availability of time will vary to devote towards assisting you with creating a plan.
3. involve community members Tony Yang, Adult Services Director, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation View the 90 second message from Tony Yang by: Opening the meeting invitation you received earlier today and select the first VIDEO link toward the bottom of the message. Copying and pasting the link from the chatbox on the left of your screen into your web browser. Once the video is open: Select the Play button buffering may take a few seconds.
4. research communication tools Somali Community Event Twin Cities Step 4: Research Communication Tools
4. research communication tools Check existing news and information sources. Communication vehicle and reach. Local news source vs. satellite. Look into newer media, including internet and social media. Research existing organizational systems such as translated automated phone calls by the school district. Eventos News Spanish and English Newspaper in Worthington, Minn.
4. research communication tools Hmong Freedom Celebration and Soccer Tournament Twin Cities Is word-of-mouth the best way? Calling trees? Community leaders as a communication vehicle?
5. record and map data FEMA Photo Library Step 5: Record and Map Data
5. record and map data Record partner organizations, gathering places, etc., in a secure database. Create a map. Be sensitive to LEP communities fears about government surveillance. Only record what you really need. East African Community Event Twin Cities
5. record and map data Passport to Healthy Living Event at the Neighborhood House Twin Cities Be aware of secondary migration. Keep the data updated so it will be useful in an emergency.
6. prepare messages ECHO Team Pre-Program Preparation Meeting Twin Cities Public Television Step 6: Prepare Messages
6. prepare messages Review the messages your agency has developed in English for emergency situations. Which of these messages will your agency translate in advance? Avoid literal translations, consider cultural context. Keep messages at a 5 th or 6 th grade literacy level, use pictures whenever possible. ECHO Program Filming Twin Cities Public Television
6. prepare messages ECHO Team Member Is your agency prepared to serve LEP community members in an emergency? Building signage, phone line with bilingual/multilingual speakers, etc.
7. test your plan ECHO At Prepare Fair Twin Cities Step 7: Test Your Plan
7. test your plan Lillian McDonald, ECHO Executive Director at a Tabletop Exercise Twin Cities Incorporate testing into your organization s existing emergency preparedness testing. Collaborate with emergency management to include your organization s LEP communication plans in an emergency exercise. Revise plan as needed. Testing helps build trust.
activate ECHO Assistance in an emergency response situation ECHO has developed an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) which explains how to access ECHO services in an emergency. That plan and a summary Field Operations Guide (EOP) can be downloaded from. ECHO works within the structures set by the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS). The State Duty Officer can activate ECHO at any time needed.
planning template Planning Template You will need one for each LEP group in your community.
about ECHO ECHO Services and Communication Tools Emergency Uses Assembly of trained ECHO Cultural Teams (bilingual/multilingual talent) and ECHO staff Quick cultural content message review and translation Using ECHO communication tools to distribute critical information to LEP communities Non Emergency Uses Educational Programming TV, DVD, ECHO Web, YouTube Public Service Announcements Radio, TV, ECHO Web, YouTube ELL/ESL Curriculum Cultural Competency Training Community Outreach Information Gathering Survey, Focus Groups, Community Meetings
about ECHO Become an ECHO Partner ECHO partners with government, educational, nonprofit, and community organizations. Support ECHO s work through financial contributions. Promote ECHO resources. Alert limited English-speaking communities during emergencies. ECHO Sponsorship Opportunities TV, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), Phone, Outreach, ELL Curriculum Other, including webinar, focus groups, surveys, cultural competency training, etc. Sign up online at by clicking Get Involved.
questions and answers Questions? Type your questions into the chat box and we will be glad to address them. If we are not able to answer all of the questions by 4:00 pm, we are available to continue the Q&A portion until 4:15 pm for those of you who are able and interested in continuing. An email will be sent to all participants by Friday that contains links to the Planning Guide and Planning Template. These items are also available for download at. The webinar will also be posted online for future access.
acknowledgements Assistance Provided By Minnesota Department of Health Cindy Borgen, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Edward Ehlinger, Commissioner of Health Sara Chute, Refugee Health Consultant Buddy Ferguson, Risk Communication Specialist Jose Gonzalez, Director, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Geri Maki, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Kristen McIntosh, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Karen Moser, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Jessica Roe, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
acknowledgements Additional Thanks To Barret W.S. Lane, Lane Consulting, LLC Somali-speaking and Spanish-speaking community leaders in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Tony Yang, Adult Services Director, Wilder Foundation David Yang, Police Officer, St. Paul Police Department The multilingual spokespersons whose time, talent and commitment to their communities informs all of ECHO s work.
acknowledgements Webinar Produced By ECHO Minnesota Lillian McDonald, Executive Director Rose Lindsay, Associate Director Joanna Olson, Communications and Marketing Specialist Health Advocates Patricia Ohmans, Consultant Anthony Schmitz, Consultant