Purpose: To establish
Special Needs Shelter standards, protocols and technical
assistance that can be integrated into the Florida Emergency
Management System.
Mission: To develop a standardized, comprehensive, county
and regional approach to Special Needs Shelter operation that
ensures continuity in services and quality care to clients, care
givers and staff during their stay in a Special Needs Shelter.
Vision:
Provide services to Florida's vulnerable population and people
with special medical needs during a disaster using a systems
approach, integrating with community partners to provide the
best possible sheltering care.
Office of Public Health Nursing's role:
The Department of Health, in coordination with the local county
health departments and other partners, is responsible for
operating and staffing all Special Needs Shelters. The Office of
Public Health Nursing (OPHN) provides leadership and support to
the SpNS program and the Regional Special Needs Consultant (RSpNC). OPHN coordinates all SpNS program
activities and maintains a comprehensive action plan. OPHN
ensures that the SpNS Program will be enhanced through a
continuous cycle of planning, equipping, training, exercising,
and evaluating, which is designed to ensure prepared
communities, a prepared workforce, and informed clients, should
Special Needs Sheltering be required as part of the state's
response to a natural, man made or technological incident.
Regional Special Needs Consultant's (RSpNC) Role:
The RSpNC's role is to provide statewide representation for
SpNS planning to ensure that this program meets the needs of
communities. Consultants actively participate in SpNS planning
and operation at the local, state and federal levels.
RSpNC Contact Information and Map
Regional Domestic Security Task Force Map
