Barriers and Opportunities for the MCH Workforce to Support Hurricane Preparedness, Response, and Recovery in Florida.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, catastrophic hurricanes have devastated numerous areas, prompting a need to build resilience particularly in at-risk populations that rely on health care and social services. The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) workforce covers a wide breadth of services to pregnant women, families, and children with special health care needs. Research has noted the need to strengthen this workforce with training and skills to help their patients and clients prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. METHODS: Focus groups and interviews with 35 Florida parents and professionals impacted by Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Michael were conducted to evaluate the stressors placed on systems of care serving mothers and infants in Florida. Journey mapping was used to explore opportunities for improving MCH training and services. RESULTS: Results highlight the importance of increased communication and collaboration between families and providers, coordination among health care and social services providers, effective public messaging, tailored preparedness materials and processes, and the need for post-disaster mental health services and employment resources. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, hurricane preparation and mitigation are key for improving community resilience and these efforts should be tailored to MCH populations as well as delivered by the providers who know their needs best.

Challenges for the disaster workforce during a compound hurricane-pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new workforce considerations for emergency management community in addressing cumulative and cascading disasters. This research identifies how emergency management planning for both the changing dynamics of COVID-19 and the upcoming hurricane season may change under a compound threat. Many jurisdictions have faced challenges in providing adequate staffing of shelters before the pandemic. Now, fatigue among staff further exacerbates these challenges as resources are stretched thin. Six workshops, involving 265 national, state, and local leaders, staff, experts, and advocates from 22 states, and a range of disciplines (disaster planning, public health, social services, academia, and healthcare), were convened to identify concerns and potential strategies to address staffing, training, logistics, and support. Strategies proposed to increase the number and skill set of staff available involve increased reliance upon volunteers and nonprofit organizations. Mental health resources, personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies, and defining roles within emergency shelters were recommended to reduce fatigue and redistribute responsibilities. Findings illuminate additional research avenues regarding assessing the underlying stressors contributing to the planning process and effective means of implementing these interventions to bolster emergency management shelter operations during a prolonged pandemic and in the future.