FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 18, 2007

Regional health departments receive award for collaboration efforts

Last week, planners for the Kansas City Regional Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) accepted the model practice award for the creation of a workbook titled, “Protecting Your Employees in Public Health Emergencies: Closed Dispensing Site Workbook for Businesses.” The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) presented the award.

The workbook introduces critical components to protecting the health and safety of businesses. It provides the background and information necessary to becoming a site where employees can receive medication for themselves and their family during a public health emergency. 

CRI is a federal grant program of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that helps metropolitan areas increase their capacity to deliver medications and medical supplies during a large-scale public health emergency.

CRI planners also presented two posters at the annual NACCHO conference in July. One poster was an overview of the closed dispensing site workbook and the second poster analyzed different methods of dispensing medications from around the nation.

Additionally, the Greater Kansas City Metro Area health departments collaborated to create a regional poster presentation on the public health response trailers. The primary purpose of the trailers is to expedite medication distribution to emergency responders. The trailers will also be used to enhance other public health emergency response operations.

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