Making Mutual Aid Happen: A Leadership & Advocacy Training Kerry Dunnell, MSW Local Government Liaison Mary E. Clark, JD, MPH, Regional Preparedness Manager Cambridge Public Health Department Advanced Practice Center for Emergency Preparedness

Agenda for the Day Introductions What is the public health mutual aid agreement? Why leadership and advocacy training? The Training Tools

Who is the CPHD APC? Host agency for Massachusetts public health Region 4b (27 communities surrounding Boston) Public health emergency planning for City of Cambridge, MA Emergency planning & training for the Cambridge Health Alliance

Public Health Mutual Aid WHY? Limited local staffing & resources Hepatitis A in food handler CDC Deliverable

Public Health Mutual Aid Working Group APC staff Attorneys with municipal and health board expertise MDPH Attorney MDPH Center for Emergency Preparedness staff

Leadership & Advocacy WHY? Need for tools to accomplish implementation of mutual aid agreement Need for training that acknowledges challenges of work system

Leadership & Advocacy Working Group Training developed with Local Public Health Institute Piloted with local staff in R4b Peer reviewed by MDPH health educators and APC trade show group Further review by MDPH rural health educators

The Training

Leadership & Advocacy Let no man imagine he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power. -Henry George Notes: Have this slide up as participants gather for the training. When ready to begin, welcome participants, introduce yourself and the training, and ask participants to do the same. Ask people to include their names, where they work, and one thing they’d like to get from the training. Then read the quote. This quote was chosen to set a tone of optimism and power. It is idealistic – meant to inspire, encourage, and remind the participants about their own power – it captures the intent of this training.

Workshop Goals To empower one another and reinforce leadership and advocacy skills To draw on personal and professional experiences to address the obstacles you face in your work Review the goals and link them to any expectations participants expressed in their introductions.

Workshop objectives Collectively, we will be able to describe: The definition and characteristics of effective leadership The steps to effective advocacy The key aspects of the Mutual Aid Agreement A process to obtain approval of the agreement The 3rd and 4th objectives should be modified to reflect the issues you are addressing with the training.

What is leadership? “Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential.” Warren Bennis, Chairman of the Leadership Institute, Marshall Business School, University of Southern California Start by reading the quote and identifying the speaker. Warren Bennis is recognized as the person who ‘created’ the discipline of leadership studies.

Qualities of effective leaders Creativity in action Vision with the courage and fortitude to put the vision into reality Flexibility with a commitment to change things for the better Ability to back off when someone else is the better lead These two slides are excerpted from a speech given by Dr. Louis Rowitz, Director of the MidAmerica Regional Public Health Leadership Institute. While the list is long, the points are good, and the words are those of a public health leader.

Qualities of effective leaders Ability to work within the context of the organization without letting the organization defeat us Commitment to the community and the values for which it stands Dr. Louis Rowitz, Director of the Mid America Regional Public Health Leadership Institute

Discussion Is your definition of leadership in local public health similar to or different from the previous definition? How would you describe the qualities of an effective leader? Participatory exercise for the group. Spend 10 minutes. Use easel pad or dry board to take down responses (You may wish to have an additional facilitator to record the comments).

Case example: Changing the smoking ordinance What obstacles did the Health Director face? What options are available to her now? What might she do differently if she had the opportunity to do it all over again? Would options be different under a different government structure? Distribute the smoking ordinance case example, review and then brainstorm around these questions.

What is advocacy? “The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.” The American Heritage Dictionary Be sure to read the quote, and allow time for the participants to absorb and reflect upon the meaning.

Discussion How is the definition of public health advocacy similar to or different from the previous definitions? How would you describe the steps to successful advocacy? Participatory exercise for the group. Allow 10 minutes. Use easel pad or dry board to take down responses (may need separate recorder person). Personal Example “I describe my work as conversations and dialogues. I educate and explain.”

Steps to successful advocacy Be able to clearly articulate the outcome you want Know your stakeholders – allies and opponents Craft an effective message Practice and improve your ASK Follow up Ask for examples of when these steps have worked, failed or been neglected. Be prepared to provide your own.

Advocacy Tools Coalitions Fundraising Data Messages Presentations Evaluation Participatory exercise for the group. Ask them to provide examples of these tools, either from personal experience, or from knowledge of current events. Come prepared with your own local examples just in case. Spend 10 minutes. Use easel pad or dry board to take down responses. (You may wish to have another person record the responses for you.)

Small group activity As a group, choose one current issue that requires leadership and advocacy Work together to identify the stakeholders and describe the obstacles Brainstorm actions to address the obstacles Be prepared to report back to the whole group Allow 30-45 minutes for this portion. Come prepared with your own examples in case a group is slow to start. Use easel for report back, and look for connections to prior report backs.

Leadership & Advocacy Challenge Public Health Mutual Aid

Public Health Mutual Aid Questions What is public health mutual aid intended for? Who is in charge? Is giving aid required? How does it work? How do we make this happen?

Public Health Mutual Aid Agreement An intermunicipal agreement that allows communities to support each other, IF their resources are stretched beyond normal capacity.  The agreement addresses the scope of work, issues of employment and liability, and provides guidelines for requesting and providing mutual aid.   

Public Health Mutual Aid Definition Aid to another public health agency Personnel, equipment, facilities, services, supplies, or other resources Includes inspections, vaccination clinics, emergency dispensing sites, administrative assistance, etc….  

Public Health Mutual Aid Scope & Limitations   Scope - mutual aid for “incidents” not just emergencies Limitations - communities are not required to provide aid  

Public Health Mutual Aid Employment & Liability Employment- Employees sent for mutual aid remain employees of their community Employees report to the Incident Commander in the receiving community Liability- Liability for employees retained by home community

Public Health Mutual Aid Key Concepts Public Health = first responders Response is local Mutual Aid = one agreement “Mutual Aid allows us to expand our resources without expanding our budget” Canton, MA Board of Health

How do we make this happen? Do you know the process for adoption of such an agreement within your community? Who in your community do you need to involve for this project to be successful? What concerns/questions do you anticipate? What potential obstacles can you identify? How will you address these barriers? Review the questions with the goal of identifying and addressing the obstacles participants are likely to face in presenting the mutual aid agreement to their town counsel. Distribute scenarios for use of mutual aid.

Training Materials Presentation and trainer notes Handouts Public Health Mutual Aid kit Evaluation forms

Questions? Comments? Kerry C. Dunnell Local Government Liaison kdunnell@challiance.org 617-665-3859 Mary E. Clark Regional Preparedness Manager mclark@challiance.org 617-665-3688