How can Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) help people to communicate during an influenza pandemic?

Answer:

During an influenza pandemic, FBCOs will play a vital role in maintaining community morale and cohesion, especially if worship services, community events, and gatherings are cancelled. More than ever, people will need to be able to communicate with loved ones and receive timely information. People are likely to turn to their faith and community leaders for reliable information and social support during a health emergency.

The following strategies can provide pandemic communication resources in your community:

• FBCOs should make sure that people can access them by way of the Internet, by telephone, by e-mail or other ways.
  
  
• These organizations should also help people gather contact information so they can reach other family and congregation or organization members, key community leaders, and emergency contacts.
  
  
• Mailed newsletters, pre-recorded messages from trusted leaders on a designated call-in phone number, and printed copies of daily teaching guides from trusted leaders are useful ways to communicate with people who do not have Internet access.
  
  
• Designated congregation or organization members can also put together phone trees—well-organized systems for activating a group of people by telephone. The members need to test the phone trees before an emergency occurs and continue to test them regularly.
  
  
• Congregational or organizational leaders should also practice putting their teaching guides or other notices in convenient pick-up boxes.
  
  
• Assist people with disabilities who will need to communicate with organizations as well, and ensure that you have considered their communication methods in your planning.  For example, Web sites should be made accessible to persons who use screen readers, and pre-recorded telephone messages should be made available through a TTY or relay service number as well as by voice telephone.

FBCOs can work with state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments to help ensure that timely and accurate information is available to community members in ways that are easy to understand. FBCOs can also help to ensure that the information is presented in the context of shared values and honored traditions where these already exist.

Related Questions:

How will faith-based and community-based organizations ...

• ... help with child care?
• ... help people to keep healthy during a pandemic?
• ... provide spiritual and emotional support during a pandemic?
• ... assist people who rely on public, community, or congregational support?
• ... assist people who are vulnerable because of a disability?

Other related questions:

• What will be the role of Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) in helping their communities during an influenza pandemic?
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• How will Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations’ (FBCOs) work environments need to change during an influenza pandemic?
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• How can Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations’ (FBCOs) facilities be useful during an influenza pandemic?
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• How are partnerships a vital part of community mitigation efforts?
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• What is a good example of Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) and a Pandemic Influenza Exercise?
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• Where can Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations (FBCOs) find additional information?

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Last Updated: 11/06/2007