Citation

Taylor L, Miro S, Bookbinder SH, Slater T. Health Promot. Pract. 2008; 9(4 Suppl): 88S-95S.

Affiliation

New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services,Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0369, USA. laura.taylor@doh.state.nj.us

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Society for Public Health Education, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524839908321944

PMID

18936264

Abstract

Federal funding supports the growth and development of public health infrastructure and preparedness. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services used federal funds to increase local public health infrastructure that included the hiring of health educators or risk communicators (HERCs). The HERCs are a diverse group of health and communications professionals trained in emergency communication. They provide crisis information regarding pubic health threats. Over the years, the role and duties of HERCs have expanded from bioterrorism to all-hazards approach and emerging infections public health preparedness, including pandemic influenza. This article describes how HERCs are used in the New Jersey public health infrastructure.

Language: en