PENNSYLVANIA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMSTATE PLAN AMENDMENTEMERGENCY OPERATIONAL PLANNING FOR PANDEMIC INFLUENZA Introduction The Pennsylvania Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) hereby ammends its State Plan to include an Emergency Operational Plan in the event of a Pandemic Influenza. This amendment once received and approved by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), will hereafter be found as an addendum to the existing State Plan. The RRP is in the very beginning stage of a collaborative effort with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) through two key offices under the DOH's umbrella. Through discussions with relevant staff in the Bureau of Community Health Systems (BCHS) and the Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP), the RRP unit has identified the need to establish a working relationship with these offices to provide the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) with direction in emergency operational planning for refugees in the event of a pandemic influenza. Activities include "first-steps" planning, stakeholder notification, regional meetings, workgroup formation and reporting, and information dissemination to result in the creation of a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). Program Access and Involvement in Governmental Planning Through established contact with DOH, the RRP will collaborate with and contribute to any relevant summits, forums, stakeholder meetings, planning, and implementation for emergency preparedness. In particular, the OPHP has invited staff from the RRP to attend and participate in their Special Populations Initiative which will directly address the needs of all disadvantaged persons throughout Pennsylvania, including refugees, who may be physically restricted and/or have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Assurance of Represented Refugee Populations in Emergency Planning Using the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System Network (WRAPSNET) to identify arriving groups, the RRP will prepare refugee demographic profiles for the DOH. Staff in the RRP has already indicated to DOH that certain refugee populations, such as the Somali Bantu or the Burmese, may require special assistance due to potential physical health issues. Demographic, cultural, and religious affiliation data of refugee groups that have resettled to Pennsylvania in the last 60 months will also be made available to the DOH. The RRP will provide this all-encompassing approach to assist in narrowing the margin of error when considering the target population. Avenues for Refugee Involvement in Preparedness Planning With DOH approval, through DOH District Offices and County Municipal Health Departments (CMHD), refugee clients will be involved in the Special Populations Initiative by being provided information relative to their ethnic backgrounds, personal experiences, and specific requirements. This involvement will include the dissemination of H1N1 Influenza educational materials in various languages, as well as serve as a contact point to mobilize the refugee's community for vaccination or another emergency operation. Special attention will be placed on cultural and linguistic sensitivity for all refugee populations. Implementing Pulic Health Measures National Voluntary Resettlement Agencies (VOLAGS) in Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the DOH District Offices and the CMHDs, address the need for infection control by seeking preventive health screenings for refugee clients within the first 30 days of resettlement. In addition, the DOH's District Health Offices, which oversee State Health Centers, have plans, which address containment procedures and infection control for all residents of Pennsylvania. State Health Centers are located in 60 counties with six District Offices in Jackson Center, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. In addition, practices such as personal hygiene habits, to help avoid the spread of infectious diseases, are regularly discussed with refugee clients through VOLAGS and contracted service providers. Information Dissemination The RRP will disseminate emergency planning to its refugee communities in the following manner:
The Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) The delegating authority for the Emergency Operational Plan in Pennsylvania rests on the State Refugee Coordinator in DPW, Office of Income Maintenance (OIM). Following the receipt of a DOH warning that an emergency has occurred, the delegate will inform the RRP to advise refugee clients to immediately practice safety measures and to seek medical attention if needed. Provider agency staff will be on-call with questions and concerns as they pertain to the specific refugee issues and refugee-focused mental health referrals. CONTACT INFORMATION Asresu Misikir, State Refugee Health Coordinator
Telephone: (717) 783-3350 
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