1. Introducing… Presented by: Lillian McDonald - ECHO Executive Director

2. What is ECHO? Emergency & Community Health Outreach Coalition of professionals across Minnesota –Public Health & Emergency Management Agencies –Social Service & Ethnic Community Agencies –Non-profit Assistance Agencies (e.g. Red Cross) Objective –Develop public health system’s capacity to communicate health & safety advisories and emergency alerts to Minnesota’s limited-English proficiency populations (LEP).

3. What kinds of information? Emergency –Disease Outbreak Mass dispensing Containment –Chemical/Radiological Evacuation plans Shelter-in-place plans Preventing exposure Treating exposure –Weather warnings Flood, tornado, blizzard –Terrorist attack Educational –Disease prevention (Influenza, bioterrorism) –Proper health habits Nutrition Hygiene –Weather safety –Homeland Security Shelter or evacuate? Family preparedness plans

4. Redundant and integrated… Public Health Education & Emergency Communication Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV (Public Television) ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

5. ECHO TV Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations Public Health Emergency Risk Communication English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV Public Television ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

6. WDSE KAWE KAWB KGFE KFME KTCA/KTCI KWCM KSMQ KSMN KWCM #1 Emergency Alerts (On the air ASAP in 6 languages) #2 Educational Programs (Monthly in 6 languages) Public Television’s potential…

7. ECHO TV so far… Monthly health & safety educational show launched in Sept. 2004 Common content, but tailored to cultures

8. Features of each show… Written and edited by experts ensuring specific messages about subject Q&A with experts allows us to address cultural differences via trusted sources Scripted closing reinforces three key points Open captioning promotes ESL English learning DVDs circulated to clinics, cable TV and ECHO Partners for replay 2006: 6,500 households (avg.) watching

9. Sample ECHO – TV

10. ECHO Web Public Health Emergency Risk Communication Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV Public Television ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-Alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

11. www.echominnesota.org Streaming video Advisories & updates Downloads (FAQs, MDS info, etc.) Hits per month (avg.): 27,000 Leading download: Scripts Common use: ESL curriculum

12. ECHO Phone Public Health Emergency Risk Communication Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV Public Television ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-Alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

13. 1-888-883-8831 “This is the ECHO Information Line.” “Si desea obtener información en español, marque el uno (1).” “Yog xaav nov ua lug Moob, nyem ob (2)” “Haddii aad af Soomaali rabto, taabo lambar saddex (3)”…etc. “A potentially dangerous disease outbreak has been identified by health authorities…”

14. ECHO – Phone Sample

15. ECHO Email /Fax & Partners Public Health Emergency Risk Communication Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV Public Television ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-Alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

16. 2007: Exploring “new partners” (health plans, employers, schools, etc.) ECHO Partners CommonBond Communities Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES) Confederation of Somali Community Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans Hmong American Mutual Assistance Association Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota Minneapolis Public Housing Authority Neighborhood House Pillsbury United Communities Project for Pride in Living Red Cross – Twin Cities Area Chapter Riverside Plaza Sub-Saharan African Youth and Family Services United Cambodian Association of Minnesota West Side Community Health Services (La Clinica) Trusted sources of information, w/Systems already in place, and Motivated to be actively involved.

17. TV+Web+Phone+Fax+Partners Public Health Education & Emergency Communication Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations English-language media & Non-English-language media ECHO TV (Public Television) ECHO Phone Info line ECHO Partner E-Alert ECHO Website Streaming TV & Advisories (www.echominnesota.org) ECHO Partner Systems

18. Some 2007 Objectives Improve Greater MN awareness and involvement –Engage existing networks: local public health, emergency managers, U of M extension, human service agencies, association of Minnesota counties Increase marketing and promotion –Monthly E-Newsletter, web site E-subscribe, some media events –Ethnic events & professional conferences Develop emergency activation plan –Template annex for emergency preparedness plans –Tabletop and exercise ECHO Expand ECHO partnerships –Schools, ethnic employers, health plans Strengthen fiscal resources –Grants, TV show sponsors, funds for specific projects –National awareness of ECHO improvements (CDC, NACCHO, others) Expand existing communication tools –ECHO Public TV in Appleton, Austin, Rochester, Brainard & Fargo –ECHO Phone recordings scripted for “emergencies” in advance –ECHO E-Alerts, Faxes, Partner networks and Web site –Add ECHO Radio? Add ECHO ESL Curriculum?

19. Questions? ECHO (Emergency and Community Health Outreach) C/o Association of Minnesota Counties – St. Paul, MN 651-224-3344 / info@echominnesota.org