CT HCC August 2026 Newsletter

Back to School Preparedness: Strengthening Pediatric Surge Planning

As students head back into the classroom this fall, health care facilities may experience an increase in pediatric patients seeking care. Increased spread of communicable illnesses, sports and playground injuries, and routine medical concerns are just some of the few factors that may drive higher demand for pediatric health care services. While these events are typically routine and manageable, this time of year provides an opportunity for health care coalition members and partners to evaluate how prepared they are to support pediatric patients before, during, and after an incident.

Children Are Not Just Tiny Adults

When preparing for pediatric patients and surge events, it is important to recognize that children are not just “small adults.” They have unique physiological, developmental, and emotional needs that require thoughtful, comprehensive planning.

Health care organizations should engage pediatric subject-matter experts, either within their own organization or through the health care coalition, to ensure pediatric preparedness plans reflect current best practices and clinical guidance. Plans should address family-centered care, including how caregivers will receive information and how children will be reunited with their families following an incident. Supporting resources, such as pediatric treatment protocols, medication dosing references, and quick reference guides, may be developed and can help staff make timely decisions during a response.

Training and exercises should reinforce these plans and resources while building staff confidence in caring for pediatric patients. Organizations should also verify that equipment and supplies are readily available to care for pediatric patients and are sized appropriately and in good working order.

Everyone Has a Role

Pediatric preparedness extends well beyond hospitals and emergency medical services. Every health care organization and response partner contributes to a coordinated approach that supports children and their families during emergencies. Even organizations that do not routinely care for pediatric patients, such as long-term care facilities or dialysis centers, may experience operational impacts during community-wide events or need to support employees and families affected by a pediatric incident. Understanding the role your organization plays in a pediatric surge event helps strengthen overall regional preparedness and creates a more resilient, pediatric-ready community.

Building Partnerships

Strong partnerships are one of the most valuable components of emergency preparedness, and pediatric surge planning is no exception. Health care coalition members should aim to build relationships with organizations that support children and families directly. This may include local schools and school districts, childcare providers, social services, and other community-based organizations. These partnerships improve information sharing, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen resource coordination before an emergency occurs.

The health care coalition provides a valuable forum for building and strengthening these partnerships through collaborative planning, training, and exercises. As coalition members assess their emergency plans, identify capability gaps, and enhance coordination across their communities, they strengthen the collective preparedness of the health care system. These efforts help ensure a more coordinated and effective response to meet the needs of children and families during emergencies and disasters.

Welcome to CT HCC's New Co-Chair: Jordan Swenson

Congratulations to Jordan Swenson, who has been elected CT HCC Co-Chair and will officially take over for Pat Srenaski at the end of this month. Jordan works as the Health System Manager in the Office of Emergency Preparedness at Yale New Haven Health. She has represented ESF-8 Region 2 on our Executive Committee and will now step into the role of Co-Chair for the remainder of this term, which runs through June 30, 2027. Thank you to all who voted in this special election. We'd like to also thank Pat Srenaski for her service to the coalition and wish her all the best in her retirement and future endeavors. Welcome, Jordan!

Save the Date: CT HCC August Bimonthly Meeting [HYBRID]

Please save the date for our next CT HCC Bimonthly meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, August 12, from 11:30-1:30 PM at Johnson Memorial Hospital at 201 Chestnut Hill Rd, Stafford, CT 06076. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. There will also be the option to attend virtually via Zoom. Calendar invites have been sent out to all coalition members. To be added to the calendar invite, please email coordinator@cthcc.org.

RSVP to attend in-person by this Friday, August 7

Information Sharing and Communications Assessment Report

The Connecticut Health Care Coalition's Information Sharing & Communications Assessment is now available on our website.

This assessment provides an overview of the communication and information-sharing platforms currently used across Connecticut's healthcare preparedness community, highlights key strengths and challenges, and identifies opportunities to enhance interoperability, governance, and coalition-wide situational awareness.

The report reflects input from coalition members and partners across the state and will help guide future planning, technology initiatives, and investments to strengthen regional preparedness and response capabilities.

We encourage all members and partners to review the assessment and consider how its findings can support your organization's preparedness efforts and strengthen collaboration across Connecticut's healthcare system.

Read the Report

Join the CT HCC Functional Exercise Planning Workgroup

The CT HCC Functional Exercise Planning Workgroup will soon begin planning efforts for our functional exercise for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. If you are interested in being a part of this workgroup, please email our team at coordinator@cthcc.org. Calendar invites will be sent to all workgroup members soon.

Sign-Up for a Member Portal Account

CT HCC's new website launched earlier this summer and includes new features that will allow members to more easily navigate the site. The website also features access to all of the coalition plans, events, and materials that we have to offer. In addition, members now have more ability to add their own trainings and events directly to the CT HCC calendar on their own time.

Are you a CT HCC Member and still need to sign up for a Member Portal account?

The Member Portal allows coalition members exclusive access to important coalition documents, reports, plans, guidance, and the member directory.

Request an Account

IAEM National Emergency Management Awareness Month

During the month of August, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) is hosting the second annual National Emergency Management Awareness Month. This industry-wide awareness and advocacy campaign will promote the capabilities of emergency management and the role of emergency managers from across the country by shining a light on the profession and the many ways it supports preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. If you are interested in getting involved, accessing resources, or sharing your own story, check out the National Emergency Management Awareness Month webpage.

Registration is Now Open for the Second Annual Access and Functional Needs University

The Colorado Access and Functional Needs Program is hosting the Second Annual Access and Functional Needs University. This hybrid training series brings foundational and advanced courses together into streamlined learning opportunities offered across three training weeks. Participants may attend individual courses, complete a training track, or participate in the full Access and Functional Needs University. Build practical skills, strengthen community partnerships, and learn how to better plan for access to critical resources before, during, and after disasters. Attend virtually or in-person!

Learn more here and register here.

On-Demand Course: Application of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

A picture of a man in a phone screen participating in virtual learning with books and web pages around him. The image reads "Application of the National Incident Management System (NIMS): Complete Guide to IS 100, 200, & 700"

Unlock the key to mastering the essential elements of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses with our comprehensive on-demand program. This meticulously crafted course covers the critical components of IS 100, 200, 700, and 800, offering a deep dive into the core concepts and practical applications of emergency management as outlined by FEMA.

Course Highlights:

IS 100, 200, 700 & 800 Course Content: Gain a practical understanding of key incident management elements.
Expert Instruction: Benefit from the expertise of industry professionals with years of experience in healthcare incident management.
Course Certification: Receive a prestigious certificate upon course completion, showcasing your commitment to excellence in incident management.

Who Should Enroll: This course is ideal for healthcare emergency management professionals, administrators, and incident response team members who are looking to learn the foundations of incident management.

Register for free here

Check out the Pediatric Pandemic Network Podcast: Ready, Prep, Go!

Be sure to check out the engaging Ready Prep Go Podcast offered by the Pediatric Pandemic Network.

Through conversations with frontline experts and leaders, listeners gain insight into communication, coordination, resilience-building, and the unique needs of children during emergencies.

Whether you’re a clinician, emergency manager, educator, or community leader, the Pediatric Pandemic Network and Ready Prep Go Podcast serve as a trusted source of knowledge and inspiration. They provide practical ideas you can adapt to your own setting, empowering you to strengthen preparedness efforts and better protect the communities you serve.