Support for this initiative is provided through a generous grant from the New York CIty Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
About
The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has engaged with the NYC home care sector to enhance emergency preparedness capabilities, including situational awareness, education, and training.
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, several gaps related to emergency preparedness were identified within the home care sector:
The home care sector did not have a formal opportunity for inclusion in the New York City Health Care Coalition (NYCHCC).
The sector has decentralized staff and patients, which requires additional planning and technical assistance for preparedness and response.
The sector lacks guidance and resources related to emergency preparedness and response.
The sector has less access to respiratory protection resources than other parts of long-term care (LTC) and health care overall in NYC.
Grant Funding and Activity
Home Care Association Education & Research, Inc. has received grant funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), administered by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR). This funding has supported a range of activities to address gaps in emergency preparedness for the home and community based services sector.
During Budget Period 1 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025) and Budget Period 2 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026), HCA Education and Research carried out a range of activities and projects to strengthen sector-wide capabilities and deepen sector engagement with the New York City Health Care Coalition (NYCHCC) in the area of Capability and Capacity Development, including:
Budget Period 2 Deliverables:
Participated in the NYCHCC BP2 kickoff meeting
Participated in NYCHCC Leadership Council
Participated in NYCHCC Governance Task Force meetings
Participated in the annual Emergency Management (EM) Conference
Facilitated two Emergency Preparedness Forums with HCP and HPCANYS
Conducted two webinars addressing emergency preparedness topics: Emergency Health Preparedness Communication, Coordination and Collaboration for NYC Home Care and Hospice Providers
Conducted an Emergency Preparedness Tabletop Exercise, "Nor'easter Quinn," focused on responding to a powerful nor'easter striking New York City.
Designed a deliverable focusing on home care integration
Budget Period 1 Deliverables:
Participated in NYCHCC Leadership Council (LC) meetings
Participated in Emergency Preparedness Symposia (EPS)
Participated in the City's Annual Emergency Preparedness (EP) Conference
Participated in the Long Term Care Emergency Management Training/Technical Assistance Program
Participated in the Long Term Care Exercise Program
Participated in three Long Term Care Disaster Preparedness Council (LTC-DPC) meetings
Facilitated two Emergency Preparedness Forums with HCP and HPCANYS
Conducted two webinars addressing emergency preparedness topics: Enhancing Emergency Preparedness: Communication & Coordination Strategies for NYC Home Care and Hospice Providers
Conducted a tabletop exercise
Designed a deliverable focusing on home care integration
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness: Communication & Coordination Strategies for NYC Home Care and Hospice Providers
Webinar I: Best Practices for Emergency Health Preparedness Communication, Coordination and Collaboration by Homecare and Health Plan Partners (June 25, 2026)
This webinar examines the critical partnership between health plans and home care/hospice providers in coordinating care during emergencies, including service authorization, shared priority rosters, and real-time communication, featuring presenters from HCA and CenterLight PACE.
Webinar II: Enhancing Emergency Health Preparedness Communication, Coordination and Collaboration in Homecare - Best Practices in Provider-Patient-Family Partnership for Individualized EP Planning (February 19, 2026)
This webinar focused on individualized emergency disaster planning for home care patients, including patient classification systems, transportation assistance levels, social determinants of health, and strategies for engaging patients and families directly in their own preparedness.
For more information on HCANYS' NYC Emergency Preparedness activities, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Executive Vice President for Clinical and Program Affairs
