title: A whole community approach to emergency management: Strategies and best practices of seven community programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published the Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action, outlining the need for increased individual preparedness and more widespread community engagement to enhance the overall resiliency and security of communities. However, there is limited evidence of how to build a whole community approach to emergency management that provides real-world, practical examples and applications. This article reports on the strategies and best practices gleaned from seven community programs fostering a whole community approach to emergency management.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project team engaged in informal conversations with community stakeholders to learn about their programs during routine monitoring activities, site visits, and during an in-person, facilitated workshop. A total of 88 community members associated with the programs examples contributed. Qualitative analysis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings highlighted best practices gleaned from the seven programs that other communities can leverage to build and maintain their own whole community programs. The findings from the programs also support and validate the three principles and six strategic themes outlined by FEMA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings, like the whole community document, highlight the importance of understanding the community, building relationships, empowering action, and fostering social capital to build a whole community approach.
authors: Behavioral Scientist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Robyn K
authors: RK
authors: Sobelson
authors: Health Scientist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Corinne J
authors: CJ
authors: Wigington
authors: Consultant, Lockheed Martin Inc, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Harp
authors: Senior Program Officer, The National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Bernice B
authors: BB
authors: Bronson
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D060731:Emergency Responders; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods