Risk and Readiness Assessments Development Process:
Starting in March 2024, IDOH hosted multiple stakeholder webinars with local health departments and healthcare coalition partners on the development of customized public health and healthcare risk and readiness assessment for the state of Indiana. The process:
- Conducted research on tools throughout the United States used to assess the public health risks a jurisdiction could experience, approaches to hazard vulnerability identification, and methods to assess the public health response capabilities of local jurisdictions
- Developed a focused workgroup comprised of 10 LHD representatives and the 10 Healthcare Coalition (HCC) Readiness and Response Coordinators (RRCs).
- A final draft of the JRA, HVA, and PHHRA tools was distributed to LHD and HCC representatives participating in the pilot phase
- Based on feedback and improvements identified during the pilot, a final JRA, HVA, and PHHRA tool was released in August 2024
Final Risk and Vulnerability Rating Overview:
The final risk and vulnerability rating of the HVA and JRA were calculated by combining the data collected as it relates to two distinct factors.
Risk factor
For the purposes of these assessments, “risk factor” is the chance of a given threat or hazard affecting a community. Regardless of how communities express the risk factor associated with a specific incident, understanding the likelihood of their threats and hazards and the external forces that may also contribute to larger impacts can help communities understand capability requirements and prioritize preparedness and response efforts
Protective factor
For the purposes of the assessments, “protective factors” are environmental attributes that are associated with positive adjustment and development throughout the course of life-threatening conditions. Protective factor characteristics are associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events