Joe Eyerman, PhD, Patrick J. Kelley, CPH, MA, Kevin Strom, PhD, Jibril Abdum-Muhaymin, MS, Alki Burdett, MPH, and George Campbell, MA. RTI International, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, 919-367-8033, eyerman@rti.org

In the post-9/11 world, public health and law enforcement are required to assume new and overlapping roles in response to terrorist threats. This project examines strategies for inter-agency coordination in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, emphasizing technological mechanisms that can be used to facilitate communication, such as public health surveillance systems. Collaboration across public health and law enforcement agencies in the design and implementation of these systems could contribute to the common goals of producing dual-use systems that inform both groups. The project’s primary goal is to yield a set of promising practices that will help U.S. agencies improve cross-agency preparation and response to terrorist threats. This will include identifying successful methods and technological tools used to coordinate efforts, as well as barriers to coordination and data quality issues that impact the utility of information systems. As part of this effort, RTI researchers are cataloging surveillance systems in each of the three countries to determine their potential for informing cross-agency coordination. Key law enforcement and public health stakeholders from the three countries are also being interviewed to gain insight on the potential application of these systems as well as related issues impacting cross-agency coordination. The RTI team is supported by an expert panel with expertise in terrorism incident response, bioterrorism preparedness, public health surveillance, and law enforcement operations. The study is also supported by area consultants from the United Kingdom and Canada. This project is funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to identify mechanisms to facilitate coordination between law enforcement and public health for terrorism response planning.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Coordination

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I employed by RTI International and conducting the research through a grant from the National Institute of Justice.