Disaster Management graduate students at Tulane’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine joined the Region 6 Center for Health Security, Readiness and Response for a tabletop exercise facilitated by the Louisiana Department of Health.

The scenario challenged participants to plan and operationalize a point of distribution (POD) for non-medical prophylaxis following a simulated anthrax attack.

March is National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness about kidney health and the prevention of chronic kidney disease. Kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste, balancing fluids and supporting overall health, yet millions of people are at risk for kidney disease often without knowing it.

To support learning and awareness this month, the Region 6 South Central Public Health Training Center has compiled several resources on kidney health, chronic kidney disease prevention and early detection. We encourage everyone to explore and share these resources with their communities.

Course Spotlight:

Risk Communication in Public Health Emergencies

Course Description:



This course is an introduction to risk and crisis communication during a public health emergency. This course is a hands-on, case-study based application of risk communication theory and practice. Theory and concepts are taught in the context of extensive examples and practice problems interspersed throughout the lectures. By the end of this course, participants will have learned and practiced a variety of tools in the formation of risk communication messages.

Learning Objectives:

Module 1: Introduction to

Risk Communication Theory

• Give reasons for the importance of developing messages before an event occurs
• Discuss the ways that information is processed differently under low stress and high stress conditions
• Describe the conditions necessary for mass panic
• List factors that contribute to the formation of risk perception

Module 2: Tools for Risk Communication

• Explain and use the 27/9/3 Rule of Communication
• Explain and use the Know, Do, Go method of message development
• Describe and construct a message map
• Discuss the components of and construct a fully mapped first message

Module 3: Failures and Successes

in Risk Communication

• List and explain five ways to fail in delivering an effective risk communication during a crisis
• List and explain five ways to succeed in delivering an effective risk communication during a crisis

Module 4: Risk Communication

and the Media

• List four DOs and DON’Ts of dealing with the media
• Write and respond to challenge questions from the media

Module 5: Timeline for Risk Communication: Before, During and After a Crisis

• Discuss the chronology of communication events as they should occur before, during and after a crisis

For more info about this training,

please click here.

Featured Course Bundle:

Data into Action for Tribes

Course Bundle Description:

The Data into Action for Tribes (DIA) curriculum is designed to provide general guidance and understanding to increase the knowledge among tribal health departments of how to access available data from federal, state, and local resources for program planning surveillance, and data use.

The trainings included in this course bundle will cover several topics related to data, including an overview of epidemiology, sources of publicly-available data, conducting assessments and writing reports. 

Trainings in this course bundle include:

• Data into Action for Tribes: Conducting a Community Health Assessment

• Data into Action for Tribes: Introduction to Epidemiology

• Data into Action for Tribes: Publicly-Available Data Sources

• Weaving the Threads of Culture:Working Effectively with American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN)

For more info about the DIA course bundle, please click here.

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