Funding announced for Public Health Preparedness Centers - Recent Health Care Developments - Brief Article

Health Care Financing Review, Spring, 2002

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson recently announced $20 million in FY 2002 funding for a nationwide network of Centers for Public Health Preparedness. These centers, administered by CDC, will link schools of public health, State and local health agencies, and other academic and community health partners to foster individual preparedness at the front line. The funding is part of the $2.9 billion bioterrorism appropriations signed by President Bush on January 10.

The announcement was made as the President, Secretary Thompson, and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge toured the newly funded Center for Public Health Preparedness at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. Secretary Thompson praised the mission of the centers, which are designed to prepare our Nation's public health and health care workforce to respond to terrorist attacks and other emerging health threats.

In September 2000, CDC joined with the Association of Schools of Public Health, State and local public health agencies, and other academic and community partners, to begin development of a national system of Centers for Public Health Preparedness. The centers will receive $15 million, and the remaining $5 million will go toward creating additional centers and strengthening relationships with other academic and community health partners.

A real life example of the work being done at the centers occurred after the attack of September 11. The Center for Public Health Preparedness in New York City, a collaboration between Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the New York City Health Department, aided in the deployment of 800 public health nurses to manage the city's shelters in the aftermath of the attack. These nurses had just been trained in emergency preparedness by the center in August 2001, in conjunction with the American Red Cross.

For more information, go to www.phppo. cdc.gov.