Welcome to the Connecticut Health Care Coalition Newsletter
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Connecticut Health Care Coalition (CT HCC) is to promote collaboration, education, and joint exercises during the planning and preparedness phases of emergency management. During real-world operations, the mission of the CT HCC is to help identify resources at the state and sub-state levels, and to collect, analyze, validate, and disseminate essential elements of information (EEIs) to partner agencies.
All Clear Emergency Management Group Contracted as the CT HCC Fiduciary Agent
As of July 1, 2023, All Clear Emergency Management Group has taken over as the fiduciary agent for the Connecticut Health Care Coalition. We are excited to welcome Ginny Schwartzer, Mary Beth Skarote, and Kim Cerullo from All Clear. Kim will serve as the Readiness and Response Coordinator for the CT HCC, overseeing the daily operations of the coalition and ensuring the grant deliverables are accomplished. Ginny and Mary Beth will be available for support, continuity, and subject matter expertise. All Clear is excited to work with the coalition to recruit new members, fulfill the requirements set forth by ASPR and the CT Department of Health, and meet all member needs.
Ginny Schwartzer is the Chief Executive Officer of All Clear Emergency Management Group. She has nearly ten years of experience in safety and emergency management through positions with the North Carolina Industrial Commission Safety Education Section and as an emergency management consultant working with healthcare, higher education, and private industry clients. Ginny previously served as the System Emergency Manager for Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) Health, a health system of nine acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities and more than 200 ambulatory care clinics. Ginny is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP), Homeland Security and Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) instructor, and Incident Command System instructor. Ginny Schwartzer graduated with honors from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Meteorology and a minor in Journalism.
Mary Beth Skarote is the HCC Division Manager for All Clear Emergency Management Group. She joined the team in January 2021 and brings more than 30 years of emergency preparedness and healthcare experience with her. Previously she has worked in the healthcare/public health arena focused on preparedness and response, she worked with the US Marine Corps as an Emergency Management Specialist and with the Regional Exercise Team. Mary Beth was the Program Manager for the North Carolina Healthcare Preparedness and Response Program and has held various roles in hospitals, long-term care facilities, EMS and public health organizations at the local, regional, and state levels and has planned for and responded to numerous real-life all-hazard emergencies and disasters.
Kim Cerullo joined All Clear Emergency Management Group as a Planning Specialist in 2023. They have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Kim interned with the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate and the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund during their master’s program. Most recently, Kim served as the Data and Quality Specialist for the National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First. They have over 6 years of experience in supporting healthcare programs through training, grant management, and continuous quality improvement planning. They also hold multiple FEMA certifications, and they are a member of their local Community Emergency Response Team.
NATIONAL HEALTHCARE COALITION PREPAREDNESS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
The 2023 National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference is set to take place on November 28-30, 2023, at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Last Vegas, NV. The theme of this year's conference is A Changing World: Opportunities for Transformation. Professionals in emergency management, healthcare coalitions, volunteer organizations and all levels of government (federal, state and local) will benefit from advancing their individual and collective skill sets by participating in over 40 sessions of content, sharing best practices, building partnerships, and interacting with the latest technology and industry thought leaders in the Exhibit Hall. Early Bird Registration ends on September 29.
The Connecticut Health Care Coalition has funding available to register active coalition members to attend the upcoming conference. If you would like to be considered to attend, please fill out all sections of the 2023 National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference Registration Application. Applications close at 11:59 PM on Friday, September 1.
CONNECTICUT TOWN EQUITY REPORTS NOW AVAILABLE
The DataHaven Town Equity Reports provide access to relevant town-level information that is not available from any other source. New methods were used to disaggregate data from the 2020 Census, American Community Survey microdata files, DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey record-level files from 2015 through 2021, and federal and state agency databases.
Updated reports for 2023 are now available for all 169 Connecticut towns, as well as for groupings of towns such as DMHAS Regions, Councils of Governments (COG) service areas, the entire state of Connecticut, and custom-defined areas.
CALL FOR MRSE WORKGROUP
The Connecticut Health Care Coalition is planning this year's Medical Response and Surge Exercise (MRSE). This exercise will be scheduled for delivery in late October or early November, and will have a chemical focus. Members of the Connecticut Health Care Coalition are encouraged to join the MRSE Planning Workgroup, which will be responsible for exercise development. To volunteer for this or any other workgroup, please fill out this form or scan the QR code with your mobile device.
CT HCC CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR NOMINATIONS
Nominations for the CT HCC Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are open now. All Coalition Members can nominate their peers to fill the open Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson positions. Self-nominations are also permitted. Nominations will be open until August 31, 2023. Nominees will be notified and have one week to accept or decline their nomination. Nominees that accept their nomination will be placed on an electronic ballot for a coalition vote.
For more information about the qualification criteria and to submit a nomination, please refer to the nomination form by clicking this link or scanning the QR code with your mobile device.
PARTNER TRAININGS AND WEBINARS
Capital District Regional Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition
Pediatric Emergency Preparedness Seminar
The Capital District Regional Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition is hosting a Pediatric Emergency Preparedness Seminar. The seminar will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. This one-day emergency preparedness seminar will
provide a broad overview of potential care needs for the pediatric patient involved in an emergency/ disaster situation. The seminar will include information for medical, trauma, and safety response specific to the most vulnerable population in any emergency—children. This learning activity will award a maximum of 6.0 Continuing Nursing Education Hours and the learning activity will also award a maximum of 6.0 hours REMO continuing education credits for EMS.
See the Course Overview HERE and Register HERE
(Prospective participants must create an account to view course details)
Location: Virtual OR University at Albany ETEC Building, 1220 Washington Ave, Albany, NY, 12226
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST.
ESF-8 Region 5
MGT348: Medical Preparedness and Response for Bombing Incidents
ESF-8 Region 5 is sponsoring a delivery of MGT348: Medical Preparedness and Response for Bombing Incidents. The course is scheduled for delivery on October 18 and 19, 2023 . This course is designed for personnel from any professional background who may become part of a community response to a bombing event. This interactive, instructor-facilitated program employs case studies and research-based information designed to enhance medical preparedness for and response to blast effects. Breakout sessions address considerations and concerns specific both to medical responders and emergency planners.
See the Training Announcement and Registration HERE
Location: Litchfield County Regional Fire School, 606 Burr Mountain Rd., Torrington, CT 06790
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:00 AM EST
The Center for Rural Development
AWR 232-V: Mass Fatalities Planning & Response for Rural Communities
The Center for Rural Development is offering a virtual delivery of AWR 232-V: Mass Fatalities Planning & Response for Rural Communities. This course is scheduled for delivery on November 7 and 8, 2023. The instructor-led awareness level course is designed to prepare rural first responders and officials with the basic knowledge, skills and abilities to manage a mass fatality incident impacting their jurisdiction. Target audience includes first responders, coroners/medical examiners, public health officials, and others with responsibilities during a mass fatality incident. Issues addressed include establishing roles and responsibilities, assets management, remains processing and identification, diversity issues and development of a mass fatality plan that affect the construct of a mass fatality response.
See the Training Announcement and Registration HERE
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Date: November 7 and 8, 2023, from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Registry By: October 31, 2923
All Clear Emergency Management Group has the following upcoming free webinars:
CONTACT US
Email your coalition coordinators at Coordinator@CTHCC.org with questions, comments, or to assist you with any of your preparedness needs.