Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Health Authority

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

Local health official being interviewed by TV reporterDuring public health emergencies, the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division (OHA-PHD) works with local and tribal health authorities to make sure all Oregonians get health and safety information that is timely and accurate. We help develop outreach materials in a variety of formats (websites, social media, print, radio, television) and we provide our partners with training and technical assistance in crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC).

CERC Resources and Toolkits

 In order to view PDF files in languages other than English, install the free Font Pack for Acrobat Reader.

​Awareness 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication​ provides  principles to guide equitable communications along with additional resources and tools for putting principles into action.

National Center for Education Statistics: Health Literacy of America's Adults (2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy) links health literacy and accessible communications to health equity. The report describes levels of health literacy and offers data and tables to help practitioners understand health literacy as an equity concern.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A New Way to Talk About the Social Determinants of Health (2010) provides guidance to practitioners on how to use plain language when describing the determinants of health in the context of equity.

Accessibility in Communication

Pacific ADA Center​ is a regional partnership between the disabilities and business communities. The partnership has led to the development of preparedness toolkits for people with disabilities.

The Center also offers training and webinars designed to help emergency management practitioners be more inclusive in their preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation work. Be sure to check the archives for previously recorded sessions.

US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: ADA Requirements: Effective Communication helps communications practitioners and service providers at the state and local level understand their legal obligations related to communications under the Americans with Disabilities Act.​​

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Communication

US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health: National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS) outlines  standards for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services. The site contains tools and resources for implementing CLAS standards.

US Department of Justice: Limited English Proficiency has a section dedicated to helping communicators support populations with Limited English Proficiency. Emergency preparedness professionals and communicators can learn more about best practices in planning for language access, emergency preparedness, interpretation, translation, public assistance and health.




​Background

Increasingl​y public health communicators find themselves encountering mis-information and dis-information that needs to be corrected. Fortunately, several federal and academic resources exist to help practitioners understand and overcome these separate, but related challenges. The science continues to evolve, particularly around social media's role. Communicators are encouraged to monitor professional journals to remain grounded in the most promising practices.

American Psychological Association's Controlling the Spread of Misinformation is a quick, easy to read broad summary of psychological science on m​is-information up through March 2021. 

International Journal of Science and Analytics The disaster of misinformation: a review of research on social media is a February 2022 pre-publication version of a systematic analysis of the existing literature on social media and mis-information.

Tips and Toolkits​

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's How to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation​ provides practical tips and tools for countering COVID-19 Vaccine misinformation, much of which is easily transferable to other health topics.

Office of the Surgeon General Health Misinformation Reports and Publications includes a Community Toolkit for Addressing Misinformation. Some portions of the toolkit are available in English and Spanish.

Public Health Information Coalition Vaccine Misinformation Management Field Guide provides information "to address the infodemic and foster vaccine demand." This was produced by several trusted partners including Yale's global health program and UNICEF. 

US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Disinformation Toolkit focuses on disinformation and social media.  

World Health Organization How to Report Misinformation provides quick links to 10 social media platforms' instructions on how to report misinformation.


Talking Points (2018)

Airborne Disease Prevention

Measles Outbreaks

Chickenpox

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Press Releases (2018)

School Exclusion Day

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Measles/Announcing Increased Number of Cases

Measles Outbreak

Chickenpox Outbreak

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word​

Letters (2018)

Notification for Individuals Exposed to Measles in a Healthcare Setting

Notification for Parents of a Child Who Attends a School with a Measles Case (Version 1)

Notification for Parents of a Child Who Attends a School with a Measles Case (Version 2)

Voluntary Home Confinement

Health Alert Network (HAN) Message: Chickenpox

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word​

Notification for Parents of a Child Who Attends Same School as Chickenpox​

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word​

Social Media Messages (2018)

Measles

Chickenpox

Videos (2019)

YouTubeMeasles in Highly Contagious

Phone Script (2018)

Measles Flight Exposure

​

​

Talking Points

Talking Points: Contact-Droplet Disease Prevention

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821B - Talking Points: Pertussis Outbreaks

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821C - Talking Points: Mumps Outbreaks

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Press Releases

OHA 8821D - Press Release: School Exclusion Day

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821E - Press Release: Pertussis Outbreak

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821F - Press Release: Focus on Immunization

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821G Press Release: Pertussis Outbreak at School

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821H - Press Release: Mumps Outbreak

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Letters

OHA 8821i - Letter: Provider Alert, Pertussis Testing

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821J - Letter: To Healthcare Providers

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821K - Letter: To Parents/Schools

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821L - Letter: For Workplaces

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

OHA 8821M - Letter: Provider Alert, Mumps

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Social Media Messages

OHA 8821N - Social Media: Pertussis Outbreaks (Word and PDF)

OHA 8821O - Social Media: Mumps Outbreaks (Word and PDF)

Fact Sheets

OHA 8821P - Fact Sheet: What is Pertussis? (PDF only)

  • English: PDF
  • Español / Spanish: PDF
  • Русский / Russian: PDF
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: PDF
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: PDF
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: PDF

Frequently Asked Questions (2017)

Heat FAQ

PDF Format

Extreme Heat and Public Health

Fact Sheets (2017)

PDF Format

Heat and Your Health

First-aid for Heat Illness

Caring for Your Vulnerable Patients During a Heat Wave

Social Media Messages (2017)

Graphics (2019)

Talking Points (2017)

Press Releases (2017)

Press Release 1: Plan to beat the heat and avoid heat-related illness

Press Release 2: Beat the heat or you could get sick

Press Release 3: Extreme heat can make you sick. Learn the signs. Learn how to protect yourself.

Videos

YouTubeHow to Protect Yourself During Extreme Heat

​


Talking P​oints

Talking Points: Fecal Oral Transmission

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Talking Points: STEC Outbreaks

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Talking Points: Salmonella

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Press Releases

Press Release: E. coli Outbreak

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Press Release: Salmonella Outbreak

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

For Providers

Provider Alert: STEC

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Provider Alert: Salmonella

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word
​

For Parents

Parent Letter: Severe Diarrheal Illness

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Parent Letter: STEC

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

Parent Letter: Salmonella

  • English: Word
  • Español / Spanish: Word
  • Русский / Russian: Word
  • 简体中文 / Simplified Chinese: Word
  • Af Soomaali / Somali: Word
  • Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese: Word

PSAs

Handwashing

​

Fact Sheet (2017)

factsheet thumbnail

Hepatitis A: What You Need to Know

PDF format


​
​ ​

Bookmarks (2018)

bookmarks thumbnail

PDF format, 2-sided, 5 bookmarks per sheet

English:

​ ​Social Media Messages

Handwashing

Food Safety

Swimming

Animals

Oregon Health Authority Resources:

Toolkits and Campaign materials:

Helpful websites:

Resources from partners:

Save Lives Oregon​ is a coalition of organizations working on harm reduction and includes an on-line toolkit.​

CDC Drug Overdose​ website contains data, strategies and resources for preventing drug overdoses, including information on opioids, fentanyl and Xylazine.

Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Drug Takeback Day website includes public service announcement toolkits and take back location look up tool.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) National Substance Mis-Use Prevention Week (May) contains event planning and promotion resources.

National Institutes of Health: National Drug and Alcohol Fac​ts Week (March) provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers and community partner's to help advance the science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide.  Materials include information on planning events, classroom resources, including some from Kahoot​!, and parent conversation starters.​

​Flooding Complete Toolkit (2015)

PDF | Word

Fact Sheets (2017)fact sheet

PDF format

 What To Do When Your Water Source is Flooded

​

Keeping Food Safe During an Emergencyfact sheet

​

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency

Press Releases

Tips for Preparing for a Flood

​

Flood Warning

​

Videos (2017)

Protect yourself during a flood​​​​

YouTubeFood Safety During a Power Outage

YouTubePreventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During an Emergency​​​

Fact Sheet (2017)

factsheet thumbnail

Hepatitis A: What You Need to Know

PDF format

Bookmarks (2018)

bookmarks thumbnail

PDF format, 2-sided, 5 bookmarks per sheet

English:

Vaccine Reminder Card (2019)

bookmarks thumbnail

Frequently Asked Questions (2017)

FAQ

PDF format

What College Communities Need to Know

Fact Sheets (2017)

PDF format

Meningococcal B Vaccine fact sheet

Bacterial Meningitisfact sheet

Customizable Tools

toolkit

Microsoft Word format

Bexsero vaccine reminder cards

Trumenba vaccine reminder cards

Get the vax! Vaccine promotion poster

Got the vax? Now what? Vaccine promotion poster

Bookmark / door hanger

Additional Resources

CDC's Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet

Vaccine Information Statement: Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine (MenB)

​Key Websites

Medical Countermeasures

OHA: About Medical Countermeasures

Includes:

  • Point of dispensing (POD) signage
  • Fact sheets on bioterrorism agents
  • POD planning and operation resources

Injection Safety

The One & Only Campaign

This national campaign is a public health effort to eliminate unsafe medical injections. Through targeted education and awareness efforts, the One & Only Campaign empowers patients and healthcare providers to insist on nothing less than safe injections – every time, for every patient.

Includes:

  • Healthcare provider toolkit
  • Infographics
  • Patient and provider videos
  • Brochures
  • Checklists, quizzes, FAQs and more

Learn what OHA is doing to support the One & Only Campaign.

Seasonal Influenza Toolkit (2016)

PDF | Word

Fact Sheets (2017)

Fact sheet

PDF Format

Flu Background

Videos (2017-2018)

YouTubeProtect yourself against the flu

YouTubeProtect yourself and others from the flu

YouTubeWhen to get a flu shot

YouTubeWhy get a flu shot?

YouTube4 great reasons to get a flu shot

YouTubeWhat are the emergency warning signs of the flu?

YouTubeVacuna contra influenza (gripe)

YouTubeVacúnese Contra La Gripe

Talking Points

PDF Format

General Flu Talking Points

​

For Parents

For Health Workers

School and Day Care Center Resources (2018)

Outbreak Detection and Management

Long-Term Care Facility Resources (2017)

Employee Vaccine Promotion

For Patients and Family Members

​
​​​

Fact Sheets (2017)

PDF format

frostbite

Frostbite

hypothermia

Hypothermia

Keeping Food Safe During an Emergencyfact sheet

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergencyfact sheet

Videos (2017)

YouTubeFood Safety During a Power Outage

YouTubePreventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During an Emergency​​

PSAs (2017)

Social Media Messages (2017)

Talking Points (2017)

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Preventing Frostbite

Preventing Hypothermia

Press Releases (2017)

Press Release 1: Cold weather health and safety tips

Press Release 2: Protect yourself in extremely cold conditions

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


For more information about risk communication