Project Grant NUE1EH001497

RADIATION PROTECTION STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAMS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER - THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT AND SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND APPROACH FOR RADIATION PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO PREVENT OR REDUCE UNNECESSARY RADIATION TO ALL POPULATIONS THROUGH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL RADIATION CONTROL AGENCIES, AS WELL AS INVOLVEMENT OF STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES AND OTHER EXPERTS IN RADIATION PROTECTION. THE RADIATION PROTECTION ISSUES IDENTIFIED WILL BE ADDRESSED BY THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION OF PRACTICE-AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES AND TOOLS, INCLUDING GUIDANCE, OUTREACH, WORKSHOPS, TOOLS, AND TRAINING THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL. THE CONFERENCE OF RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAM DIRECTORS (CRCPD), A NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS MADE UP PRIMARILY OF THE DIRECTORS AND RADIATION PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF STATE AND LOCAL RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, WILL USE MULTI-FACETED METHODS IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, INCLUDING ENGAGING MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL WORKING GROUPS, THUS ENHANCING THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER RADIATION PROTECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS; DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING TECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDANCE; AND SHARING INFORMATION THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES, TRAINING, AND WORKSHOPS ON RADIATION PROTECTION ISSUES. THE FOLLOWING ARE OUTCOMES THAT WE EXPECT TO ACHIEVE BY THE END OF THE PROJECT PERIOD. THESE OUTCOMES SUPPORT THE HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030 FRAMEWORK THROUGH THE OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: - IMPROVED AVAILABILITY OF GUIDANCE, BEST PRACTICES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RADIATION PROTECTION COMMUNITY TO BETTER PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM UNNECESSARY RADIATION. - IMPROVED CONTENT DELIVERY OF POPULATION MONITORING TRAINING MODULES AND OTHER TRAINING. - INCREASED AVAILABILITY AND USE OF DATA FROM THE RADIATION RESPONSE VOLUNTEER CORPS (RRVC) FOR NON-RRVC PARTICIPATING STATES. CRCPD PLANS TO FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES DURING THE PROJECT: - DEVELOP GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM UNNECESSARY RADIATION IN CONSULTATION WITH CDC. - DEVELOP A PROCESS TO COLLECT AND COMPILE PATIENT RADIATION EXPOSURE DATA. - SUPPORT ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF THE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER POPULATION MONITORING MODULES AND EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING TRAINING, TOOLS, AND GUIDANCE THROUGH COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND STATE RADIATION CONTROL AGENCIES. - DEVELOP OR UPDATE SUGGESTED MATERIALS FOR STATE AND LOCAL RADIATION PROGRAMS AND FOR THE CDC WEB PAGE FOR THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC, WITH EMPHASIS ON NEW MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES AND EMERGING RADIATION PROTECTION ISSUES. - CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE RADIATION RESPONSE VOLUNTEER CORPS (RRVC) THROUGH OUTREACH AND PROVISION OF TRAINING AND EXERCISE AIDS. - UTILIZE STATE AND LOCAL RADIATION CONTROL PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN THE APPLIED COURSE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION MAKING IN A RADIATION EMERGENCY TRAINING COURSE.