The State of Illinois through the Illinois Department of Public Health has partnered with the Broadcast Ministers Alliance and Health Care Consortium of Illinois to develop the Illinois Faith-Based Emergency Preparedness Initiative. The Initiative's purpose it to design, develop and disseminate an emergency preparedness training module in the event of pandemic influenza for faith- and community-based organizations throughout Illinois.

The main objectives of the Initiative include:
Instill a culture of preparedness within our local communities; Identify and address gaps in preparedness; Educate the basics of risks associated with pandemic influenza; Assist in building community resource capacity; Support and facilitate relationship-building and cooperation between private
and public sectors; and, Empower our communities to prepare together.

Recognizing the lessons of Hurricane Katrina as well as the barriers to preparedness, response, and recovery, this initiative enhances awareness and the importance of local and community preparedness. The initiative provides guidance as to how best to prepare before disasters strike using faith-based and community-based organizations as the vehicles to enhance outreach of training and education. The strategic partnership with Broadcast Ministers Alliance is to include a partner with a long-standing relationship of trust and collaboration with many of the African
American and Latino faith- and community-based organizations throughout the state. The partnership with Health Care Consortium of Illinois is based upon their proven track record in developing numerous effective health and wellness educational programs to underserved communities. Together, with the Illinois Departent of Public Health, the Illinois Faith-Based Emergency Preparedness initiative will provide an opportunity to develop relationships and to engage together with our communities to set in place a training module that will train, educate and empower our communities to prepare before disasters strike.

Additional information will be forthcoming in the weeks to come. For general information, please call the Initiative's hotline at 1-866-779-9832 or visit the website at www.planready.illinois.gov.