Connecticut Department of Public Health Keeping Connecticut Healthy

Sylvia Reeves Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Radiological Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Management Program Specialist

Implementation of the

Radiation Professional Volunteer Program

(RPVP)

In the State of Connecticut

1

•Supported through funds awarded by:

Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors

(CRCPD) 2013-present

*Strengthening State and Local Population Monitoring

Surge Capacity for Radiation Emergencies through

Recruitment, Training and Management of Radiation

Professional Volunteers

•We call it the Radiation Professional Volunteer

Program (RPVP) for short

2

*Establish the CT-RPVP Steering Committee

*Develop RPV recruitment materials

*Identify RPV positions and related

qualifications

*Develop the contents of the online

(didactic) course and instructor-led class

*Configure online course content for

publishing on the LMS server which hosts

the course

*Develop and launched the CT-RPVP website

*Recruit volunteers to pilot the CT-RPVP

Training Program

3

*Recruiting individuals

*Keeping volunteers engaged

*Staff turnover at DPH and DEMHS

*Activations and connecting this

specialized volunteer base to other

established ones

*Visually identifying credentialed

volunteers

4

*Brochure and marketing

materials for the program

5

*2014-2016 materials

6

*2017 Materials

7

*Developed by

marketing

company

*Emphasis about

helping people

*Primary

functions

highlighted

*Logo/branding

design

8

GOALS and FOCUS

*Multi-step training process that engages volunteers

*Adult learners – reduce lecture, increase hands-on

1. Complete the online course

2. Attend hands-on training with DEEP, DEMHS and

Dominion Energy/Millstone staff

*Use of survey meters

*Issuing dosimetry

*Set-up of portal monitors

3. Participate in DEMHS REP exercises and put your

skills to use

(Annual Cycle) 9

*Internal staffing changes at each

of the state agencies

*DESPP/DEMHS

*DPH/OPHPR

*DEEP/Radiation

*An opportunity to reassess,

refresh, and re-evaluate!

10

*Who are RPVs?

• ESF8 (Public Health) asset

•Medical Reserve Corps specialized

members or Volunteer Health

Professionals

–activation process needs to be

refined

*How do we engage them to

participate in exercises and real

world events?

11

12

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Recruitment increased:

*2013-2014: Nine (9) individuals trained

*2015-2016: Twenty-one (21) registrants

*2017-present: Forty (40+) registrants

Greater collaboration and coordination

among state agencies

Positive feedback from HCRC host town

15

Improvement Plan:

*RPVs Notification

- Activation through established systems that provide

liability and workers compensation coverage

*Training and Unit Integration

- development of Job Action Sheets

- deployment and organizational communications

*RPV Engagement

- get more volunteers for exercises/real world events

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Connecticut Department of Public Health Keeping Connecticut Healthy

Sylvia Reeves Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Radiological Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Management Program Specialist

QUESTIONS ?

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