H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations

This FLU.gov document, produced by the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the United States Department of Health and Human Services with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an online resource to help prepare community and faith-based organisations (CFBOs), government, businesses, and schools for responding to the challenge of the 2009-2010 flu season.

In addition to providing information about 2009 H1N1 flu and current response activities, this guide provides specific action steps to take to help keep one's community healthy by:

1. Communicating health information effectively;
   
2. Supporting vaccination efforts;
   
3. Linking vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations to vital information and resources; and
   
4. Expanding and adjusting organisational activities to help people stay healthy. 

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
  
• Section A. Community and Faith-based Involvement
  1. What can CFBOs do to help people stay healthy during the 2009-2010 flu season?
  2. How can my organization create effective partnerships for the 2009-2010 flu season?
     
• Section B. Vaccine Distribution
  1. When will the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine be available?
  2. Do I need both the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine?
  3. Who should get the seasonal flu vaccine?
  4. What are the target groups for the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine?
  5. Should senior citizens be vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 flu?
  6. Where will the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine be available?
  7. What about the use of antivirals to treat flu?
  8. How can my organization support 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine distribution efforts?
     
• Section C. Communication
  1. How can my organization communicate effectively about flu?
     
• Section D. Vulnerable and Hard-to-Reach Populations
  1. What special challenges do vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations face?
  2. What can my organization do to help vulnerable and hard-to-reach people in my community?
  3. My organization supports homeless and emergency shelters. How can we protect the health of our clients, staff, and volunteers?
     
• Section E. Participation in Community Response
  1. How can my organization support increased needs for medical personnel?
  2. How can my organization’s facility be used during the 2009 H1N1 flu response?
     
• Section F. Meetings and Religious Gatherings
  
• Section G. Mental Health and Stigma
  1. How can my organization provide emotional comfort and support to my community during the 2009-2010 flu season?
  2. How can my organization prevent and stop the spread of stigma around 2009 H1N1 flu?
     
• Section H. Childcare Organizations and Youth Programs
  1. Will schools be dismissed during the 2009-2010 flu season?
  2. How can my organization support efforts to prevent flu transmission in schools?
  3. How can my childcare or after-school program support the 2009 H1N1 flu response?
• Section I. Work Environments
  1. How should my organization’s work environment change during the 2009-2010 flu season?
     
• Appendices
  1. Appendix A: About Flu
  2. Appendix B: Resources
  3. Appendix C: Lessons Learned from the Minnesota Immunization Networking Initiative (MINI): Delivering Flu Vaccine in Non-traditional Settings