Exercises - PH 466: Recovery and Reconstruction

In addition to a variety of learning activities, there are 3 instructor-evaluated activities associated with PH 466: (1) complete the individual exercise; (2) participate in a multi-learner conferencing exercise; and (3) complete and submit the assessment quiz. Each of these is explained below.

Learning Activities (Note: these ARE NOT to be submitted!)

A series of individual learning exercises for this module are provided below. Completing these exercises will familiarize you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that relate to the competency expectation for this module that is described above. Note that learners are not required to submit written response for these learning exercises. Completing these exercises, however, will prepare you for components of this module that are assessed and scored.

1. The content for PH 466 is provided in:
   • Public Health Considerations in Recovery and Reconstruction (Chapter 11, pp 139-146) in Public Health Management of Disasters. LY Landesman. Washington DC; APHA; 2001
   • Evaluation Methods for Assessing medical and Public Health Response to Disasters (Chapter 12, pp 147-154) in Public Health Management of Disasters. LY Landesman. Washington DC; APHA; 2001
   • Environmental Health Issues (Chapter 7, pp 81-96) in Public Health Management of Disasters. LY Landesman. Washington DC; APHA; 2001
   • Mental Health Strategies (Chapter 8, pp 97-108) in Public Health Management of Disasters. LY Landesman. Washington DC; APHA; 2001
2. Describe the major phases of emergency event and disaster recovery, and the various stages within each phase.
3. Describe the prioritization process during the recovery phase and list at least three factors affecting the establishment of these priorities.
4. Identify key participants in the recovery process and their roles.
5. What can be learned from scientific evaluations of emergency and disaster response that can be used to improve further disaster preparedness and response efforts?
6. What are the main features of post traumatic stress disorder?
7. Environmental poisoning disasters -- that is, those involving toxic chemicals or radioactive materials -- present new challenges for communities, emergency planners and managers, policymakers, and health and human service professionals. Discuss the characteristics of environmental poisoning disasters and the challenges they pose.

Evaluated Activities (Note: these ARE to be submitted!)

(1) Individual Exercise

Each learner will submit a brief response to the following exercise. Produce your response (less than 500 words) on a separate document to be uploaded at the "Submit Assignments" link. Please use "PH 466 Individual Exercises" as the title of your submission.

Review the case study, Anthrax Threats in the Aftermath of 9/11: Policy Recommendations. The evaluation in this case study extends to the collateral impacts of dealing with threats as well as actual events. Is it important for public health agencies to deal effectively with "non-events"? Why or why not?

(2) Conferencing Exercise

For this multi-learner conferencing exercise, produce your response on a separate document to be uploaded at the "Submit Assignments" link. Please use "PH 466 Conferencing Exercises" as the title of your submission.

After reviewing the responses of other learners, provide your own response to the following:

• First identify a public health emergency event or threat that differs from those selected by the other course participants who have already responded to this exercise.
• Next, for the public health emergency event or threat that you have selected, identify four groups that may have special needs or may be particularly vulnerable for that emergency event or threat. Briefly discuss each of these groups and their special needs.

(3) Assessment Quiz

Follow the LearningSpace link to the Assessment Quiz. You may be asked for your login ID and password to access the quiz through your Preparedness Center Personal Page. Complete the quiz and submit your responses. You make take the quiz several times.

Course Evaluation: All learners are asked to electronically complete a Course Evaluation Questionnaire; this is available to you as an electronic form and will be transmitted to a data base without your identity being known, and your instructor will have no way to link your identity to your comments. Before participating in these course evaluation activities, students should review the specific learning objectives established for this course (and others you may have taken as part of this series); these are available in the Syllabus. Evaluation of the course should focus on the extent to which these objectives were achieved.

PH 466 Exercises last revised June 30, 2005 (dkapadia)