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Office of Communications and Public Liaison
MissionThe Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) is responsible for communicating information on NIH programs and activities to the public, the media, the scientific and medical communities, and public advocacy groups. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), located in NIH's Office of the Director is the central office for communications at NIH. We lead the effort to communicate information about NIH programs, issues and accomplishments to the public, the media, public interest groups and the scientific and medical communities. We manage the principal website for NIH and produce a variety of original communication products tailored for different external audiences. We also set communications policies for the NIH and coordinate communications and public liaison activities across the agency. We are responsible for agency-wide internal communication efforts as well, producing both traditional and electronic publications for NIH employees. The office serves as the communications link between the NIH and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, we also coordinate how NIH implements the Freedom of Information Act. The office encourages broad national public participation in NIH activities through the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) and helps to resolve local community concerns through its management of the Office of Community Liaison (OCL). OCPL Components
Council of Public Representatives (COPR)The Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) is a federal advisory committee made up of members of the public, who advise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director on issues related to public participation in NIH activities, outreach efforts, and other matters of public interest. NIH selects new COPR members every year, to serve an average of 4-year terms. The COPR is made up of up to 21 people from across the country who have been chosen to represent the public through an open application process (To access the COPR Application please see: http://copr.nih.gov/application.asp). COPR members are patients, family members of patients, educators, professionals working in health and science related careers as well as health and science communicators.Freedom of Information OfficeThis office manages the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at NIH; receives and processes FOIA requests submitted for information within the possession of the NIH; provides FOIA policy guidance, training, and advice to Institutes, Centers, and components of the Office of the Director; responds to selected, highly sensitive FOIA requests; coordinates the response to FOIA requests involving more than one NIH component; issues all denials under the FOIA for NIH; provides the NIH position if FOIA decisions are appealed to the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and helps the public interested in NIH in use of the FOIA. The FOIA office maintains two Reading Rooms, an on-site Reading Room and an Electronic Reading Room.Office of Community Liaison (OCL)This office advises the NIH Director on policies, programs, and issues involving the NIH and its community; Plans and directs activities to promote collaboration and cooperation between the NIH and its community; Conducts and oversees studies, projects, and evaluations designed to address problems, questions, and issues of community concern and environmental impact; Ensures that NIH activities that affect the community involve community representation at all levels of design, review, and implementation; and Ensures effective communication and collaboration on policy and programs involving the community between the Office of the Director and operating components of the NIH.Public Information OfficeThis office communicates about cross-cutting NIH issues that span multiple disease categories, or involve medical research policy. It manages the central news and media operations for NIH and provides internal and external communications about NIH activities. The office produces and distributes a number of publications that showcase NIH research results; provides print, radio and TV coverage of NIH news and activities, runs the NIH home page, produces the NIH Record; clears NIH publications through DHHS, conducts tours and orientations for visitors to NIH, and organizes special events for NIH, such as building dedications and the annual NIH Research Festival.
This office assists in developing public information policies and
programs designed to achieve greater understanding and appreciation
of NIH programs and activities by the public, Congress, media (print),
and medical professions.
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