Plain language for disaster preparedness and response
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Plain language for disaster preparedness and response

Join us for a plain language workshop designed to develop and hone the skills of professionals whose role includes disaster communication.

By OHA Health Security, Preparedness and Response

Date and time

Tuesday, June 24 · 8:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Location

To be announced

About this event

  • Event lasts 4 hours

Simplify your language. Reach a wider audience. Be understood, quickly.

Simple materials make communication more accessible, effective and actionable for the whole community. They help professionals digest complex information quickly. This workshop will develop and hone the plain language skills of disaster communicators. The course will help you write materials that can be read and understood by anyone during a public health emergency. You will have time to work on your own materials. So, please bring public-facing documents to edit during the workshop.


Who should attend: Public information officers, external affairs officers, communications officers, emergency preparedness coordinators, epidemiologists, health care providers and others who help design, prepare and deliver public information during public health emergencies.
Instructors: Instructors are from The Next Door, Inc.
Format: The is a participatory, virtual, instructor-led workshop.
Location: Anywhere you happen to be. The Next Door, Inc will send out the link to the course a few days before the training. They typically use Teams or Zoom.
Availability: This is the first of two separate offerings. The cap for each course is 25 participants.
Cost: Free to participants.
What to bring: First and foremost a willingness and ability to actively participate. Bring products you are developing, or would like to improve. The Next Door, Inc will provide all other materials.

The course is sponsored by the Oregon Health Authority's Health Security, Preparedness and Response Program and fully funded by federal US Health and Human Services Public Health Emergency Preparedness Programming.

Frequently asked questions

Who should attend?

Public information officers, external affairs officers, communications officers, emergency preparedness coordinators, epidemiologists, health care providers and others who help design, prepare and deliver public information during public health emergencies.

Is this a course where I can just "listen in"?

We're all busy, we get it. It's tempting to listen in while multi-tasking. Why wouldn't you want to do that here? The course is designed to help you do quality work, if you engage fully and bring current writing projects. Also, science says multi-tasking isn't as effective as we think it is. ;)

Is there a fee for the course?

The course is free to attendees. The only cost is a few hours of your time.

Will this workshop be offered at another date/time?

This is the second of two workshops. If June 24th session doesn't work for you, we did post a session for May 28. If that date has not yet passed, please consider registering for that session.

How many slots are available?

Each workshop accommodates 25 participants.

Who can I contact if I need an accommodation?

Please contact Jamie Bash, OHA-HSPR's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Analyst. You may reach her at 503-754-3190 or email jamie.p.bash@oha.oregon.gov. Please include 'Accommodation Needed' in the subject line. Please let us know early as it increases our ability to meet your need.

Why is OHA-HSPR offering this workshop?

Communities have said that emergency alerts and warnings are hard to understand and act on. Public health and emergency management want to do better. Often though, they've indicated they have a lack training or practice to make their communication clearer.

Who is The Next Door?

For over 50 years, The Next Door Inc. has sought to create supportive communities where all children and families are safe, healthy and valued. In support of promoting a culture of belonging, the organization assists organizations in building capacity for plain language among their other services.

Organized by

OHA Health Security, Preparedness and Response

The mission of Oregon's Health Security, Preparedness and Response (HSPR) Program is to develop public health systems to prepare for and respond to major, acute threats and emergencies that impact the health of people in Oregon.

FreeJun 24 · 8:30 AM PDT