CTR068539_fully_executed.pdf

Christina Contreras Digitally signed by Christina Contreras DN: cn=Christina Contreras, o=Arizona Attorney General's Office, ou, email=christina.contreras@azag.gov, c=US Date: 2023.11.30 09:45:08 -07'00'

Hana Hehman Digitally signed by Hana Hehman Date: 2023.11.30 11:51:56 -07'00'

Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

AZ-MRC STTRONG GRANT GUIDE AND DELIVERABLES

PROJECT PERIOD: June 01, 2023 – May 31, 2025

Exhibit B

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Year 1: June 01, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Year 2: July 01, 2024 – May 31, 2025

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 2 of 48 Revised: 10.16.2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background

Introduction

Overview

Approach

Performance Indicators

AZ MRC STTRONG Objectives

Sub-recipient Deliverables Project Guide

Section I. Overarching Activities

Section II. Specific Activities

Focus Area (FA) #1: Strengthen Healthcare Workforce (Tier 1 & Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

Focus Area (FA) #2: Grow Networks (Tier 1 & Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

Focus Area (FA) #3: Improve Access to Care (Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

Focus Area (FA) #4: Ready Response Teams (Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

Appendix A: AZ-MRC Coalition Deliverables Project Guide

Section I. Overarching Activities

Appendix B: Project Monitoring and Assessment

Program Resources and Tools

Appendix C: MRC National Program Requirements and Guidelines

How To Maintain Active Membership?

Appendix D: Acronyms List

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 3 of 48

BACKGROUND

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s (ASPR) Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program announced $2 million in American Rescue Plan funding is available to Arizona, and its local MRC sub-contracted units to expand the work of the national MRC network.

Arizona is using the MRC-STTRONG grant funding to expand, sustain, and improve the MRC network, with a particular focus on health emergency preparedness, response, and health equity needs. This one-time funding award supports a two-year project period June 01, 2023, through May 31, 2025.

Details of the Arizona statewide project are listed in the National MRC approved AZ-MRC STTRONG Application document filed with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Statewide project activity for this specific project includes prescriptive workplan activity, budget, and deliverables for sub-contracted local MRC units.

These project funds are intended to implement new programmatic mission areas, capabilities, and activity intended to be supported and sustained beyond the life of this particular project.

For background information on allowable expenses, funding restrictions, terms and conditions, and national reporting requirements see ADHS and the MRC STTRONG Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement document. Additional background information can be reviewed in the National MRC-STTRONG Awards Summary https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/STTRONG.aspx and the Grant Opportunity Webpage https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346507.

● Funding Opportunity Number: EP-U3R-23-002 | Name: MRC STTRONG.

https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/STTRONG.aspx https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/STTRONG.aspx https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346507 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346507

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 4 of 48

INTRODUCTION

The award received for this project is $2 million, and the project period is two years. This award is intended to initiate transformation of MRC programs in Arizona and sustain developed programs and activities beyond the life of the project period.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will utilize these funds to transform local MRC programs into resources of support for underserved areas, increase the number of volunteers throughout the state, and to expand the number of MRC units among local counties and tribes.

Funding has been allocated systematically to 12 local MRC units. Participating local units will serve as award sub-recipients, to help fulfill this legacy project deliverables with ADHS, and the development of a newly formed statewide AZ MRC Coalition. Sub-recipients are participating in a cost reimbursement grant and will be actively working to ensure future sustainability and effective transformation of Arizona MRCs. This project objective and activity cohesively align with the four main priorities of the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the National MRC Program Office as indicated in the figure 1 below.

Figure 1

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 5 of 48

This project also aligns with the statewide Arizona Health Improvement Plan (AzHIP) - priority strategies for Pandemic Recovery and Resiliency (PR&R): https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/operations/strategic-initiatives/azhip-2021-2025.pdf.

This project seeks to transform AZ MRC operations and capability statewide into the “Next-Generation MRC Program” with greater integration into local and state emergency plans both for emergency and day to day community resilience initiatives that promote community responsive access to care, and fairness in health opportunity. Figure 2 below provides a high-level snapshot of the Arizona MRC-STTRONG framework and funding allocations associated with the four pillars of the project.

AZ MRC STTRONG Project - Priority Focus Areas (FA):

● FA #1: Strengthen Healthcare Workforce ● FA #2: Grow Networks

● FA #3: Improve Access to Care ● FA #4: Ready Response Teams

Figure 2 https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/operations/strategic-initiatives/azhip-2021-2025.pdf

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 6 of 48

OVERVIEW

The Challenge Situation and the Solution-Based Design:

A review and analysis of the initial project award criteria and funding intent was collectively assessed by local MRC and juridical partners to prioritize and align the AZ MRC STTRONG project with the greatest needs and most effective impact to support both MRC Units and Statewide Public Health Improvements. The following is an executive summary of the highest priority problems and challenges that informed this project’s work plan goals and activities. (For more information see the approved AZ-MRC STTRONG Application filed with ADHS).

A. The problems and challenges currently facing Arizona heavily hinge on a recovering healthcare system and the post COVID-19 ongoing state of unprecedented surge outside of a declared emergency incident (low bed availability, and ICU surge for both pediatrics and adults up to 90% on any given day, as hospitals and staffing shortages are continued to be forecasted to intensify in the coming future (2030). This project intends to engage MRCs as partners in addressing the local community’s workforce crisis.

● 60% ($1,201,685) of this project investment seeks to “Strengthen Healthcare Workforce” and implement Training programs. The goal is to ensure workforce readiness, and outreach engagement to support workforce recruitment and retention in targeted underserved areas.

B. An additional challenge faced during the recent pandemic response include 25% of local counties and 0% of Tribes not having an MRC program nor adequate public health volunteer response capability to meet the response needs. 100% of Arizona counties submitted emergency requests for health volunteers, and Tribes in Arizona requested over 500+ health volunteers.

Only 33% of active MRC units were able to support the local emergency needs. This project intends to engage MRCs as partners in connecting community partners in forming greater networks for community resilience.

● 26% ($523,315) of this project investment seeks to “Grow Networks” to improve community partner public health integrated collaboration. The goal is to foster greater disaster resilience and continuity of operations capability by MRCs offering training and mission area programs to targeted organizations in identified disaster and climate change impacted areas.

C. As local service organizations, entities, and response operations mobilized efforts to address the recent COVID-19 pandemic needs - community feedback voiced the various challenges faced in accessing services. This was attributed to a lack of response entities implementing best practice for fairness in health opportunity and disconnects in providing services within the appropriate community context. This project intends to mobilize MRCs as training and education partners charged with

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 7 of 48 engaging community entities and statewide workforce to better prepare for disasters with greater attention to community responsiveness and accessibility best practices.

● 8% ($150,000) of this project investment is strategically targeted to “Improve Access to Care” by integrating a statewide

MRC training program that will equip all local MRC units with the capability to outreach and engage with community entities and statewide workforce. The goal is to increase access to care by promoting the integration of community responsiveness and accessibility best practices in response plans and service operations.

D. Arizona received emergency medical staffing support and disaster response human resource teams during the COVID-19 emergency response. As nationwide needs for federal teams surged, deployed teams were limited in staffing numbers and mission support duration. The result was staffing gaps and a lack of federal staffing backfill capability in Arizona to support continuity of operations. This project intends to develop federal back-fill staffing capability by training specialized MRC units prepared to meet this need in future response.

● 6% ($125,000) of this project investment is aimed at boosting Arizona MRC capability to support federal operations by

“Ready Response Teams.” The goal is to build out at least three new teams capable of supporting federal operations to expand support operations in a time of need.

Funding Note for MRC units: This project funding is specific to this project's work plan and not intended to supplement any additional other/MRC special funded project, nor the day-to-day local MRC work. Each participating unit should develop a specific AZ-MRC STTRONG project specialist job description to address the work and administrative responsibilities of this award.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 8 of 48

APPROACH

The primary organizational structure which serves as the conduit for the AZ-MRC STTRONG Project is by way of a newly formed AZ MRC Coalition. The coalition will be led by local MRC units, and project funding has been allocated to a primary sub-recipient to ensure the organization, equipping, administration, and sustainability. All sub-recipients are involved in delivering the coalition workplan outputs.

The coalition will have its own set of collective project deliverables (Build Training Library, Planning, Membership and Partners, MRC Media, Contractor, Equipment Cache, Supplies, Reporting and Publications, and Workshops/Exercise Activities). This activity is integrated with individual sub-recipient project work. The coalition events and activities are the lead meeting ground and intersection point for MRC units, community partners, subject matter experts, and resource providers to help fulfill both coalition and individual sub-recipient project work plans. Overall, year one focuses on planning, equipping project capabilities, and sustainability, while year two focuses on delivering project services, demonstrating capability in drills and exercises as well as measuring project progress, impacts, and outcomes. Table 1 below describes the four main MRC levels of involvement and collaboration inclusive of direct sub-recipients and non-sub-recipients working together for, and benefiting from, this project work plan and initiative.

Table 1

Tier 1 Sub-recipients

MRC units with the primary initiative of directly achieving project focus area #1: Strengthening Healthcare Workforce, focus area #2: Grow Networks, and through the coalition collectively support the remaining focus areas and outputs. A contract, workplan, and reporting are required as partners in this project.

There are 10 Tier 1 Sub-recipients participating in this grant: a) Apache County MRC CISM Team, b) Animals and Humans in Disaster MRC (AHD), c) Cochise County MRC, d) La Paz County MRC, e) Mohave County MRC, f) Navajo County MRC, g) Santa Cruz County MRC, h) Yavapai County MRC, i) San Carlos Tribe and j) Yuma.

Tier 2 Sub-recipients

MRC units with the primary initiative to achieve focus area 1 and 2, as well as execute fulfillment of statewide implementation of focus area #3: Improve Access to Care, and focus area #4: Ready Response Teams. In addition, these units are also tasked with statewide project administrative work, leadership, and acquisition of coalition equipment and resources that can benefit all local MRC units. Contracts, workplan, and reporting are

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 9 of 48 required as partners in this project.

There are 2 Tier 2 Sub-recipients participating in this grant: a) Maricopa County Public Health MRC, and b) MRC of Southern Arizona (MRCSA)

AZ-MRC

Coalition

Fulfilling an overarching work plan and project milestones that both sub-recipients, key stakeholder partners, and other MRC units can collectively be strengthened and prosper when unifying to support these shared project goals and outcomes.

Arizona Public Health Volunteer Program

All local MRC units and public health volunteer programs seeking to become an MRC unit: Ensuring project activity is beneficial to all developing programs in Arizona, the coalition is open to both project sub-recipients, and non-subrecipients—public health volunteer programs seeking to register and become an MRC unit.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 10 of 48

Performance Indicators

The following is a summary of the challenges previously faced in Arizona (performance indicators) and what this project hopes to accomplish (AZ-MRC STTRONG Implementation Goal). These performance indicators are a self-assessment tool to help measure the effectiveness of both local MRC unit, and AZ MRC Coalition project accomplishments. Table 2 is a tool to measure program progress and will be assessed by evaluating the goal achievement during end of year reporting for both individual sub-recipients, and the AZ- MRC Coalition.

Table 2

Scoring System: 2 = Fully met, 1 = Partially met, 0 = Not met

Performance Indicator Then

(Pre AZ-MRC-

STTRONG)

AZ-MRC STTRONG

Implementation

(Goal)

Now (Post AZ-MRC

STTRONG)

Score

1. Ability of MRC to support statewide emergency response operations.

N Y — —

2. Ability of MRC unit to integrate in cross-jurisdictional operations.

N Y — —

3. Statewide MRC program viability and administration.

N Y — —

4. MRC ability to booster community response efforts.

N Y — —

5. Effective implementation of both medical and lay non-Medical MRC mission sets supporting both day-to-day and emergency activity

N Y — —

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 11 of 48

Scoring System: 2 = Fully met, 1 = Partially met, 0 = Not met

Performance Indicator Then

(Pre AZ-MRC-

STTRONG)

AZ-MRC STTRONG

Implementation

(Goal)

Now (Post AZ-MRC

STTRONG)

Score

6. Support to health workforce critical shortages

N Y — —

7. Resilient networks for community partners serving vulnerable populations

N Y — —

8. Ready Workforce in Underserved Areas Prepared for Disaster

N Y — —

9. Responder and service organizations during disaster promoting best practices in access to health opportunity within community context

N Y — —

10. AZ-MRC capability to backfill federal staffing operations

N Y — —

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 12 of 48

AZ MRC STTRONG Objectives

The following is a summary of what this project seeks to accomplish (see ADHS “AZ MRC STTRONG AWARD APPLICATION” for more information)

1. Implement eight new MRC mission sets in 100% of AZ Regions: These 8 new statewide MRC standard mission sets are viable for supporting day-to-day community resilience and emergency response activity to strengthen healthcare workforce.

2. 100% of sub-recipients implementing an active MRC liaison program: MRC units will conduct a needs assessment and target key organizational partners to outreach, engage, and support with MRC liaison services to grow networks.

3. Deliver workforce disaster preparedness training to at least 200 Community partners statewide: MRC units will target underserved areas, places of known disaster, climate change emergencies, and engage with organizations that serve vulnerable populations to strengthen community resilience and continuity of operations to strengthen healthcare workforce.

4. Establish three MRC strike teams trained to support federal operations: Enhance capability to support federal operations in Arizona to expand staffing resources by ensuring local ready response teams.

5. Establish at least six new MRC units of which at minimum three are within Tribal Jurisdictions: to strengthen healthcare workforce.

6. Implement in 100% of AZ regions, active MRC units working with responders and service organizations to implement training on promoting best practices in access to health opportunity within community context: MRC units and the AZ MRC Coalition will build capability to train MRC volunteers to outreach and engage with partners in targeted area and deliver training in order to better prepare community partners and the state’s workforce during disasters to improve access to care.

7. At minimum help ensure 12 out of 15 county jurisdictions have access to a local MRC unit: to strengthen healthcare workforce.

8. Increase the statewide total number of volunteers by 25%: to strengthen healthcare workforce.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 13 of 48

9. Develop statewide standard training, protocols, and procedures: to ready response teams.

10. Enhance data integration and develop a statewide Volunteer Deployment Common Operating Picture (COP)

Mapping System: Working with the AZ MRC Coalition and ADHS on this project to address electronic system gaps and help better track statewide volunteer activation awareness of ready response teams.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 14 of 48

SUB-RECIPIENT DELIVERABLES PROJECT GUIDE

Section I. Overarching Activities

This section describes the general and overarching activity for every sub-recipient. Sub-recipient work will also include direct collaboration and additional activities specified within the AZ-MRC COALITION DELIVERABLES PROJECT GUIDE (See Appendix A).

The tables in this section are organized and referenced by each essential “category” (A, B, C,...), “elements” (1, 2, 3, …), and the associated “sub-elements” (a, b, c,...) necessary for the AZ-MRC STTRONG project statewide workplan. Project progress monitoring and program evaluation will be based on and assessed by the deliverables of these categories, elements, and sub-elements listed below.

● Performance Indicator #3: Statewide MRC program viability and administration

A. Participate

1. ADHS Grant Business Meetings (monthly AZ-MRC STTRONG project well-check meetings)

2. AZ MRC Coalition (active engagement and participation)

3. Jurisdiction vulnerability analysis and target partnerships

4. Project workplan activities 5. Project reporting 6. AZ-MRC STTRONG Training & Exercise

7. Project Technical Assistant (TA) calls/visits 8. AZ-MRC STTRONG statewide marketing and recruitment campaign

9. Local critical health workforce assessment

10. National MRC program, its meetings, and webinars

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 15 of 48

B. Develop

1. AZ-MRC STTRONG project specialist/lead - position description (to be completed within 30 days of contract execution)

2. Project sustainability plan (AZ-MRC STTRONG operational activities beyond this grant funding)

3. Volunteer utilization policy and procedure guide (to ensure viable use and movement)

4. Administrative policy and procedure guide (to ensure viable MRC operations and programmatic activities)

5. Volunteer recruitment, retention, & recognition policies & procedures.

6. Volunteer Screening and Selection protocols & procedures.

C. Engage

1. Five critical health workforce professional organizations

2. Five local public health programs 3. Twenty community partners

4. AZ-MRC STTROG Coalition & Project Partners:

a) Academic Institutions

b) Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response

(AzCHER)

c) Arizona Department of Economic Security (AZDES)

d) Arizona Department of Education (ADE)

e) Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)

f) Arizona Health Care Association (AHCA)

g) Arizona Health Occupation Students Association

(AzHOSA)

h) Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AZHHA)

i) Arizona Medical Association (ArMA)

j) Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Units (Arizona)

k) Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA)

l) Arizona Tribal Executive Committee (AzTEC)

m) Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA)

n) National MRC Program Office

o) Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC)

p) Other (please specify)

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 16 of 48

D. Administrate

1. National MRC program participation (e.g., establish an MRC unit with the national MRC program registration, maintain administrative requirements, and report AZ-MRC STTRONG unit activity).

2. Registry (update and maintain volunteer registry data)

3. Inventory (maintain project specific inventory) 4. Project workplan (follow “ADHS AZ-MRC STTRONG Sub-recipient Guide and Deliverables”)

5. Appoint a temporary project specialist/lead (funded through this project) or staff member responsible for overseeing all grant related activities, budgets, and reports, E. Report

1. Initial - budget, and workplan with timeline.

2. Monthly finance expenditures – CERs.

3. Monthly activity and quarterly progress reports.

4. Unit profile (e.g., National MRC unit number, lead point of contact, number of volunteers, and AZ-MRC STTRONG mission sets).

5. Summary - updates on Plans, policy, procedures relevant to:

a) sustainability plan to support the unit operational activities beyond this grant funding.

b) volunteer utilization to ensure viable use and movement.

c) administrative processes to ensure viable MRC operations and programmatic activities.

d) common operating picture (activation and mobilization).

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 17 of 48

E. Report

6. See “Section II: Specific Activity” - Reports (page 16-26).

7. End of Year - project updates with impact and outcomes (at the end of year 1, and end of year 2) includes inventory and volunteer totals (at the end of year 1, and at the end of year 2).

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 18 of 48

Section II. Specific Activities

This section describes specific activities of this project within its four main “focus areas.” Each focus area identifies the type and tier of sub-recipient partner required deliverables. Table 3 below is a list of the project sub-recipients classified by their associated Tier.

Table 3

Tier 1 Sub-recipients Animals and Humans in Disaster MRC (AHD), Cochise County MRC, La Paz County MRC, Mohave County MRC, Navajo County MRC, San Carlos Tribe, Santa Cruz County MRC, Yavapai County MRC, and Yuma County

Tier 2 Sub-recipients Maricopa County Public Health MRC, and MRC of Southern Arizona (MRCSA)

The tables in this section are organized and referenced by each essential “category” (A, B, C,...), “elements” (1, 2, 3,..), and the associated “sub-elements” (a, b, c,...) necessary for the AZ-MRC STTRONG Project statewide workplan. Project progress monitoring and program evaluation will be based on and assessed by the deliverables of these Categories, Elements, and Sub-elements listed below.

Focus Area (FA) #1: Strengthen Healthcare Workforce (Tier 1 & Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

FA#1 Description: Enhance working collaborations among complementary organizations by providing programs that ensure health workforce readiness and innovative practices.

A. Performance Indicator #4: MRC ability to boost community response efforts.

B. Performance Indicator #5: Effective implementation of both medical and lay non-Medical MRC mission sets supporting both day-to-day and emergency activity.

C. Performance Indicator #6: Support to health workforce critical shortages.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 19 of 48

A. Year 1 (FA#1)

1. Activity 1: Year 1

a) Develop MRC program gap assessment.

b) Build up MRC program statewide standardization.

c) Stabilize local MRC program.

Note

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #1: Implement eight new MRC mission sets in 100% of AZ four Regions: These 8 new statewide MRC standard mission sets are viable for supporting day-to-day community resilience and emergency response activity to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce.

2. Activity 2: Year 1

a) Build MRC capability to outreach, support, and provide health and public healthcare entities with employee resilience training and workplace disaster readiness education.

3. Activity 3: Year 1

a) Build MRC capability to outreach and support healthcare and public health entities with workshops to explore facilitating cross-knowledge planning for continuity and surge mitigation plans.

4. Activity 4: Year 1

a) Build MRC capability to outreach and support healthcare and public health entities with - activities and training workshops that foster critical health and public health workforce career development/recruitment and workplace resilience.

b) Report on the targeted critical workforce types and numbers within the area prior to outreach activity.

c) Report quarterly on the number of partners engaged and training provided during Year 1 of the project.

5. Activity 5: Year 1

a) Coordinate with AZ-MRC Coalition/ADHS PPE distribution project and/or Stop the Bleed.

b) Report on the number of partners and PPE and/or Stop the

6. Activity 6: Year 1

a) Procure in collaboration with AZ-MRC Coalition: AZ-

MRC safety vests/hats, badging resources, and MRC program management.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 20 of 48

A. Year 1 (FA#1)

Bleed training provided. b) Develop resources and tool Kits, recruitment media and marketing campaign material.

c) Participate in MRC unit leader mentorship activity.

Notes

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #5: Establish at least six new MRC units of which at minimum three are within Tribal Jurisdictions: to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce.

AZ-MRC STTRONG objective #7: At minimum help ensure 12 out of 15 county jurisdictions have access to a local MRC unit: to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce.

B. Year 2 (FA#1)

1. Activity 1: Year 2

a) Implement MRC program standardization and AZ-MRC

Coalition resources/tools to enhance MRC program sustainability in areas where there are gaps and identified needs.

2. Activity 2: Year 2

a) Provide targeted outreach and community partner engagement to deliver education/training on cross-knowledge facilitation for strengthening continuity of operations.

Note:

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 21 of 48

B. Year 2 (FA#1)

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #3: Deliver workforce disaster preparedness training to at least 200 Community partners statewide: MRC units will target underserved areas, places of known disaster, climate change emergencies, and engage with organizations that serve vulnerable populations to strengthen community resilience and continuity of operations to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce.

3. Activity 3: Year 2

a) Implement outreach and report on the number of partners engaged and training on cross-knowledge planning facilitated.

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners engaged and training provided during year 2 of the project.

4. Activity 4: Year 2

a) Implement and sustain MRC activity that fosters targeted public health career development, recruitment, and resilience.

b) Report (quarterly) on the Year 2 numbers of critical workforce types and totals after outreach activity.

5. Activity 5: Year 2

a) Continue to perform strategic outreach with commodity distribution (PPE, Stop the Bleed, etc)

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners and

PPE/Stop the Bleed Kits provided.

6. Activity 6: Year 2

a) Sustain AZ-MRC STTRONG Volunteer management resources and implement tools and media campaign efforts.

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of people/partners reached (for MRC program awareness/promotion).

c) Report quarterly on the total number of volunteers recruited.

d) Report the percent change from the end of Year 1 to the end of Year 2.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 22 of 48

B. Year 2 (FA#1)

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #8: Increase the statewide total number of volunteers by 25%: to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 23 of 48

Focus Area (FA) #2: Grow Networks (Tier 1 & Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

FA#2 Description: Better maximize and improve public health partner networks for greater disaster resilience.

A. Performance Indicator # 7: Resilient networks for community partners serving vulnerable populations.

B. Performance Indicator # 8: Ready workforce in underserved areas prepared for disaster.

C. Year 1 (FA#2)

1. Activity 1: Year 1

a) Collaborate with AZ-MRC Coalition to identify underserved areas and develop and execute coalition strategic plan.

2. Activity 2: Year 1

a) Collaborate with AZ-MRC Coalition identify areas impacted more frequently by disasters and climate change and develop and execute coalition strategic plan.

3. Activity 3: Year 1

a) Collaborate with AZ-MRC Coalition identify targeted partners/organizations in underserved areas and develop and execute coalition strategic plan to integrate AZ-MRC liaison mission set to strengthen partner networks.

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #2: 100% of sub-recipients implementing an active MRC liaison program: MRC units will conduct a needs assessment and target key organizational partners to outreach, engage, and support with MRC liaison services to Grow Networks.

D. Year 2 (FA#2)

1. Activity 1: Year 2

a) Conduct outreach and partner engagement activity to support underserved areas to offer AZ-MRC STTRONG mission area support/resources according to the AZ MRC Coalition strategic plan.

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners engaged and support/resources provided.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 24 of 48

D. Year 2 (FA#2)

2. Activity 2: Year 2

a) Conduct outreach and partner engagement activity in identified disaster and climate change impact areas - to offer AZ-

MRC STTRONG mission area support/resources according to the AZ MRC Coalition strategic plan.

b) Report (quarterly) according to the identified disaster and climate change areas - the number of partners engaged, and support/resources provided.

3. Activity 3: Year 2

a) Conduct outreach and engagement among healthcare and public health system partners in defined underserved areas - to provide education/training on response communications and mitigating risk in crisis, and report (quarterly) on the identified areas and partners engaged.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 25 of 48

Focus Area (FA) #3: Improve Access to Care (Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

FA#3 Description: Better prepare community partners and the state's workforce for all types of public health emergencies and disasters.

A. Performance Indicator #1: Ability of MRC to support statewide emergency response operations.

B. Performance Indicator #2: Ability of MRC unit to integrate in cross-jurisdictional operations.

C. Performance Indicator #9: Responder and service organizations during disaster promoting best practices in access to health opportunity within community context.

E. Year 1 (FA#3)

a) Collaborate with AZ MRC Coalition to establish AZ mission set: MRC Accessibility and Inclusion Officer (access to health opportunity in the community context trainer, and AZ-MRC access and Functional Needs (AFN) assessment and education team program).

2. Activity 2: Year 1

a) Develop AZ-MRC STTRONG project Mission Area Teams, and coordinate with AZ MRC Coalition on developing MRC cross-jurisdictional rural operations planning guide.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 26 of 48

E. Year 1 (FA#3)

3. Activity 3: Year 1

a) Participate in AZ-MRC Coalition mission set capability development.

b) Preparedness training and exercise planning.

4. Activity 4: Year 1

a) Collaborate with AZ-MRC Coalition in developing teams to provide community partners with education/training on best practice for ensuring services that promote fairness in health opportunity responsive to the unique health challenges within community context.

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #6: Implement in 100% of AZ regions, active MRC units working with responders and service organizations to implement training on promoting best practices in access to health opportunity within community context: MRC units and the AZ MRC Coalition will build capability to train MRC volunteers to outreach and engage with partners in targeted area and deliver training in order to better prepare community partners and the state’s workforce during disasters to Improve Access to Care.

5. Activity 5: Year 1

a) Participate in AZ-MRC Coalition threat assessment and response planning project.

b) Identify areas within the local jurisdiction most impacted by disaster or extreme weather incidents and identify program partners serving at-risk or vulnerable individuals/populations.

6. Activity 6: Year 1

a) Collaborate with AZ-MRC Coalition in developing teams to support access and functional needs assessment.

b) Coordinate with AZ-MRC Coalition on how to request and mobilize the coalition AFN cache and resources for training/drills/exercises/ and real-world response operations.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 27 of 48

F. Year 2 (FA#3)

1. Activity 1: Year 2

a) Conduct outreach and partner engagement activity to support underserved areas with the delivery of education/training on best practice for ensuring services that promote fairness in health opportunity responsive to the unique health challenges within community context.

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners engaged and training provided.

2. Activity 2: Year 2

a) Train and exercise the implementation of the MRC cross-jurisdictional rural operational planning guide.

b) Demonstrate the operational capability and integrate exercise after-action report (AAR) and improvement planning into the planning guide update at the end of year 2.

3. Activity 3: Year 2

a) Coordinate with AZ-MRC Coalition to sustain statewide standard guide, and protocols.

b) Conduct outreach to community partners to provide education/training on workforce readiness.

c) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners engaged and total number of trainings provided.

4. Activity 4: Year 2

a) Conduct outreach and engagement to provide community partners with education/training on best practice for ensuring services that promote fairness in health opportunity responsive to the unique health challenges within community context.

b) Report (quarterly) on the number of partners engaged and the number of trainings provided.

5. Activity 5: Year 2

a) Participate in AZ-MRC Coalition threat assessment and response planning project.

b) Update identified areas within the local jurisdictions most impacted by disaster or extreme weather incidents and identify program partners serving at-risk or vulnerable individuals/populations.

6. Activity 6: Year 2

a) Train and exercise teams to support access and functional needs assessment, and mobilization of the coalition resource AFN cache for training/drills/exercises/ and real-world response operations.

b) Submit an AAR and integrate improvement planning by partnering with the AZ-MRC Coalition to review and update relevant protocols/guides or plans.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 28 of 48

Focus Area (FA) #4: Ready Response Teams (Tier 2 Sub-recipients)

FA#4 Description: Enhance capability to support Federal operations in Arizona.

A. Performance Indicator #10: AZ-MRC capability to backfill federal staffing operations.

G. Year 1 (FA#4)

a) Develop capability to support emergency federal workforce backfill for Long Term Care (LTC) facility surge support operations.

AZ-MRC STTRONG objective #9: Develop statewide standard training, protocols, and procedures: to Ready Response Teams.

2. Activity 2: Year 1

a) Establish statewide enhanced volunteer data collection/integration measures.

b) Collaborate with ADHS on establishing a common operating picture (COP) visualization system for tracking/mapping active volunteer response missions during an emergency.

c) Collaborate with DEMA (Arizona) to promote jurisdictional functional standardization for Ready/Set/Go mapping capability.

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #9: Enhance data integration and develop a statewide Volunteer Deployment Common Operating Picture (COP) Mapping System: Working with the AZ MRC Coalition and ADHS on this project to address electronic system gaps and help better track statewide volunteer activation awareness of Ready Response Teams.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 29 of 48

H. Year 2 (FA#4)

1. Activity 1: Year 2

a) Exercise the capability to support Emergency

Federal Workforce backfill for LTC facility surge support operations, and

b) submit an AAR report and integrate improvement planning by partnering with the AZ-MRC Coalition to review and update relevant protocols/guides or plans.

AZ-MRC STTRONG Objective #4: Establish three MRC strike teams trained to support federal operations:

Enhance capability to support federal operations in Arizona to expand staffing resources by ensuring local Ready Response Teams.

2. Activity 2: Year 2

a) Sustain statewide enhanced volunteer data collection/integration measures.

b) Work with ADHS to test the COP visualization system for tracking/mapping active volunteer response missions during an emergency.

c) Collaborate with DEMA to report on improvements or enhancements made to jurisdictional functional standardization for Ready/Set/Go mapping capability.

d) Submit an AAR report and integrate improvement planning by partnering with the AZ-MRC Coalition to review and update relevant protocols/guides or plans.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 30 of 48

APPENDIX A: AZ-MRC COALITION DELIVERABLES PROJECT GUIDE

Section I. Overarching Activities

This section describes the general and overarching activity for the AZ-MRC Coalitions. All sub-recipients will work together to complete the tasks and deliverables of this project. These program guide are organized and referenced by each essential

“category” (A, B, C,...), “elements” (1, 2, 3, …), and the associated “sub-elements” (a, b, c,...) necessary for the AZ-MRC STTRONG project statewide workplan. Project progress monitoring and program evaluation will be based on and assessed by the deliverables of these categories, elements, and sub-elements listed below.

A. Partner Engagement

1. Government:

a) Academic Institutions

(Health Profession)

b) Arizona Department of

Economic Security (AZDES)

c) Arizona Department of

Education (ADE)

d) Arizona Department of

Health Services (ADHS)

e) Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA)

f) National MRC

g) Statewide Independent

Living Council (AZSILC)

h) Other (please specify)

2. Associations:

a) Academic Institutions

b) Arizona Health Care

Association (AHCA)

c) Arizona Health

Occupation Students Association (AzHOSA)

d) Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association

(AZHHA)

e) Arizona Medical Association (ArMA)

f) Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA)

g) Other (please specify)

3. Coalitions:

a) Arizona Coalition for

Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER)

b) Arizona Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Coalition

c) Arizona Tribal Executive Committee (AzTEC)

d) Other (please specify)

4. MRC Member Services:

a) Mentorship: new and established unit leader’s sign-up for the mentor and mentee teams.

b) Unit Growth: outreach to establish six new MRC units (three from tribal jurisdictions).

c) Leadership Development:

Resources for Unit Leaders.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 31 of 48

B. Planning

1. AZ-MRC STTRONG Mission Set: Must include “Job Action and Training Module for:”

a) MRC Vulnerability Assessment Planner

b) MRC Liaison

c) MRC Accessibility Officer

d) MRC Community Integration Officer

e) MRC Workforce Recruitment Officer

f) MRC Workforce Resilience Officer

g) MRC Emergency Preparedness just in time training

(JITT)

h) MRC Volunteer - Ready/Set/Go

2. Plans and Guides:

a) Activation guide for requesting staff integration of MRC units for federal operations.

b) Coalition strategic plan for implementing AZ-MRC

STTRONG.

c) AZ Threat assessment and project response plan.

d) Coalition guide for requesting accessibility cache and resources.

e) AZ MRC cross-jurisdictional response guide.

f) Sustainability plan for ensuring continuity of operations for the AZ Coalition and the AZ-MRC STTRONG Project beyond the life of the initial award.

g) Exercise after-action and improvement plan.

3. State Public Health Plan Integration:

Recommendation on protocol for activating and integrating MRC units in Arizona:

a) ADHS Medical Surge Personnel and Public Health Volunteer Coordination Plan appendix - a protocol for activating and integrating MRC units in Arizona.

b) ADHS Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) appendix recommendation - a guide to requesting and integrating MRC mission sets to support HEOC.

c) ADHS Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution Plan - an ADHS partnership guide for local MRC units on supporting local and state PPE distribution campaigns.

4. State Emergency Management Plan Integration:

Recommendation to Arizona DEMA State Emergency Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP):

a) Review and align MRC support partner listing with emergency support functions (ESF).

5. Local Public Health Plan Integration:

a) Local MRC unit and local public health integration via

County/Tribe plans.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 32 of 48

C. Training

1. Project Overview: AZ-

MRC STTRONG

2. AZ Mission Set: MRC Vulnerability Assessment Planner

a) Vulnerability assessment and health outcome planning.

3. AZ Mission Set: MRC Liaison

a) AZ MRC liaison program, (include a module on supporting rural and tribal communities, and tips for integrating accessibility resources).

4. AZ Mission Set: MRC Accessibility and Inclusion Officer

a) Access to health opportunity in the community context,

b) AZ MRC Access and Functional Needs (AFN) assessment and education program.

5. AZ Mission Set: MRC Community Integration Officer

a) Public health emergency communications and mitigating risk in crisis.

b) Strategies for building and growing community networks.

6. Mission Set: MRC Workforce Recruitment Officer

a) Public health professional career development for supporting workforce recruitment initiatives & marketing campaign.

7. Mission Set: MRC Workforce Resilience Officer

a) Critical workforce resilience for facilitating cross-knowledge capability exchange.

8. Mission Set: MRC Emergency Preparedness Just in Time Trainer

a) Workplace disaster preparedness and integrating public health interventions for continuity of operations

(COP).

9. Mission Set: MRC Volunteer - Ready/Set/Go

a) Ready/Set/Go evacuation Support.

10. Program Guide: PPE Community Distribution

11. Program Guide: Stop the Bleed

12. Program Guide: Naloxone Education

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 33 of 48

D. Reporting

1. Workplan with timeline. 2. Coalition membership, meeting agenda, and minutes.

3. Finance reports throughout the project period. 4. Activities and progress updates (quarterly).

5. End of project report (year 2) with impacts and outcomes.

6. Copies of program materials with source files (if applicable).

7. AZ-MRC coalition website analytics (end of year 1, and year 2).

8. AZ-MRC Coalition Inventory (end of year 1, and year 2).

E. Media and Resource Library

1. AZ MRC Standard Operating Guide:

a) Volunteer utilization policy and procedure guide (to ensure viable use and movement).

b) Volunteer Screening and Selection protocols & procedures

2. Videos—What is the MRC (featuring rural, tribal, and accessibility teams):

a) MRC overview volunteer orientation with a focus on community partners (highlight MRC mission services for community partners), and a volunteer orientation

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 34 of 48

E. Media and Resource Library

c) Setting up an MRC Training program.

d) Administrative policy and procedure guide (to ensure viable MRC operations and programmatic activities).

e) Volunteer recruitment, retention, & recognition policies & procedures.

f) MRC leadership development.

g) Emergency Communications and Mitigating Risk in Crisis.

h) Response guide for local MRC units integrating into the state emergency operations.

with a focus on the new volunteers.

b) Join the MRC.

c) MRC deployment standards (to support pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment) activities.

3. NACCHO - MRC Core Competencies Training Plan

a) Volunteer MRC core competencies (a baseline level of knowledge and skills that Arizona volunteers should have) to support public health and healthcare systems preparedness and response activities.

4. Publish AZ MRC Coalition Website

5. Copewell Model Link (https://copewellmodel.org/) 6. AZ designated health shortage area report and AZ list of emergencies declared areas (ADHS has these resource).

F. Equipment Cache

1. Badge Printing/Scanning System 2. AFN Kit 3. AED KIT 4. 800 MHz Radios 5. Laptops/iPads

G. Supplies

1. Canopy Tents 2. Office First Aid Kit (for 3. Workplace Disaster Kit (for 4. Stop the Bleed Kits (for https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downloadable-resources/2019-MRC-Core-Competencies-and-Training-Plan.pdf https://copewellmodel.org/

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 35 of 48

G. Supplies education) education) education)

5. Printed Training Materials (upon request)

6. Naloxone Kit (for education) 7. MRC First Aid Kits - Fanny Packs

8. Shelter/Mass Casualty Kit (for education)

9. Safety Vests 10. Reflective Hats 11. Printing and Publication

H. Contractor Services

1. Event and venue logistics for workshop 2. Exercise planning and reporting for workshops, drills, tabletops (TTX), and full-scale exercise (FSE) activities

3. Media Marketing Campaign

I. Workshops

1. a) Y1: Workshop 1 (Q2 - December 2023) — MRC Summit (Project Kick-Off) This summit will introduce the statewide overview of the AZ MRC-STTRONG project goals and objectives, timeline, and workplan. The purpose of this summit is to bring all MRC units and project partners together to introduce essential partnership guides, gain greater awareness of sub-recipient activities conducted within the project period, and accelerate the integration and sustainability of the projects four focus areas into new standard Arizona MRC unit activity and team capability across units statewide moving forward. Output from this summit will be more detailed activity timelines and project synchronization among local sub-recipients/MRC units and the overarching AZ MRC coalition project schedule.

AZ-MRC STTRONG – Grant Guide and Deliverables (June 01, 2023 – May 30, 2025) Page 36 of 48

I. Workshops

b) Y1: Workshop 2 (Combined with Workshop 1) — AZ MRC-STTRONG Focus Area (Best Practices)

This workshop will educate on best practices and data driven approaches to supporting AZ MRC-STTRONG four focus areas. Each session will provide foundational instruction and guidance on the following themes: 1. Emergency response practices that provide culturally appropriate services, addresses health equity, diversity, and inclusion, and introduces tools and resources to train responding organizations to help better meet the needs of underserved areas, and vulnerable individuals and groups with access and functional needs, 2. Overview and update on statewide projects and initiatives seeking to address the critical health and public health workforce shortage and introduce the AZ MRC liaison program.

Education will be provided on best practice and initiatives local MRC units can get involved with local entities and partners to help outreach and recruit health professionals, work with schools and colleges, and collaborate with local hospitals on providing training events to help retain and strengthen resilience among workforce professionals in various settings, 3.

Data briefings and education will be provided to help participants identify key jurisdiction impacted by disaster, areas of high risk for emergencies, and areas within tribe/county locations that face the most challenging threats and vulnerabilities. This session will also introduce new workforce disaster preparedness training tools and MRC unit resource materials to equip units to go out and provide workforce disaster preparedness class sessions in targeted areas of their communities, and 4. Participants will receive an overview of the Arizona history of federal operations which benefited from MRC staffing support including introducing a new project with Maricopa MRC and MRC of Southern Arizona units training and equipping for federal operation support.