Researcher Develops Pandemic Responses for Kentucky
Media Contact: , (859) 257-1754, x229
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 18, 2009) − A researcher at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work has
received a federal grant to develop best practice recommendations to manage the needs of
children affected by pandemic containment in the Commonwealth.
The UK funding of nearly $1 million is part of a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security through its agreement with the National Institute for Hometown Security. UK partnered with the University of Louisville on the grant which could total $4.6 million over a 3-year period. UofL was awarded an initial $2.3 million research grant for a period of 18 months with the option of an 18-month continuation grant for an additional $2.3 million. Overall, the grant funds the research at UK and four other research projects at UofL. This research collaboration is aimed at detection, preparedness, protection, response and recovery involving future pandemic outbreaks.
Researchers at the two universities will seek ways to more quickly detect a pandemic and share information with community leaders, such as state and city planners and leaders, emergency medical service providers, mental health professionals and school superintendents.
Specifically, the research at UK will systematically investigate biopsychosocial effects of quarantine and isolation to develop best practice approaches to understanding and managing the needs of children and families affected by pandemic disease containment strategies. Ginny Sprang, the Buckhorn Professor of Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health and the executive director of the Center for the Study of Violence Against Children (CSVAC), is the principal investigator on UK's portion of the research.
"Several decades of disaster research tells us that the most serious and persistent negative effects of any disaster are the secondary losses – disruptions of social and familial support networks, stigmatization and blame, loss of employment and financial stability," commented Sprang. "It is injudicious to design strategies to contain disease without considering the unintended consequences of these policies, the secondary losses that threaten to destabilize families and communities. Our project will help disaster planners in Kentucky and across the nation develop response strategies that reduce the secondary trauma and loss associated with a pandemic disaster."
Other UK CSVAC researchers involved in the project include: Jim Clark, co-principal investigator; Miriam Silman; Charmaine Mohipp; and Phyllis Leigh.
The other four research projects housed at UofL will:
The UK funding of nearly $1 million is part of a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security through its agreement with the National Institute for Hometown Security. UK partnered with the University of Louisville on the grant which could total $4.6 million over a 3-year period. UofL was awarded an initial $2.3 million research grant for a period of 18 months with the option of an 18-month continuation grant for an additional $2.3 million. Overall, the grant funds the research at UK and four other research projects at UofL. This research collaboration is aimed at detection, preparedness, protection, response and recovery involving future pandemic outbreaks.
Researchers at the two universities will seek ways to more quickly detect a pandemic and share information with community leaders, such as state and city planners and leaders, emergency medical service providers, mental health professionals and school superintendents.
Specifically, the research at UK will systematically investigate biopsychosocial effects of quarantine and isolation to develop best practice approaches to understanding and managing the needs of children and families affected by pandemic disease containment strategies. Ginny Sprang, the Buckhorn Professor of Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health and the executive director of the Center for the Study of Violence Against Children (CSVAC), is the principal investigator on UK's portion of the research.
"Several decades of disaster research tells us that the most serious and persistent negative effects of any disaster are the secondary losses – disruptions of social and familial support networks, stigmatization and blame, loss of employment and financial stability," commented Sprang. "It is injudicious to design strategies to contain disease without considering the unintended consequences of these policies, the secondary losses that threaten to destabilize families and communities. Our project will help disaster planners in Kentucky and across the nation develop response strategies that reduce the secondary trauma and loss associated with a pandemic disaster."
Other UK CSVAC researchers involved in the project include: Jim Clark, co-principal investigator; Miriam Silman; Charmaine Mohipp; and Phyllis Leigh.
The other four research projects housed at UofL will:
- examine best practices and materials to craft a preparedness guide and playbook of community-level pandemic preparedness;
- enhance Kentucky pandemic preparedness and response efforts by educating nurses and other health care personnel about best practices in infectious disease prevention and containment;
- develop and implement a comprehensive surveillance plan for hospital-based health care workers; and
- develop a near real-time system for early detection of communicable diseases for use by Kentucky schools.
Paul
McKinney, associate dean at UofL's School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS),
and Ruth Carrico,
assistant professor at SPHIS, are co-leaders of the research team. Other UofL researchers
participating are Robert
Esterhay, chair of the Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences; Julio Ramirez,
director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training program at the UofL School of Medicine;
and David Simpson, Fifth
Third Bank Professor of Community Development at UofL’s School of Urban and Public
Affairs.
For more information on the UK grant, contact Phyllis Leigh, project director, at (859) 543-0078 ext. 226 or by e-mail.
For more information on the UK grant, contact Phyllis Leigh, project director, at (859) 543-0078 ext. 226 or by e-mail.