CANCELLED 6/13 - Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Training for Public Health and Healthcare Partners

BACKGROUND: Collaboration and information sharing between public health and law enforcement partners can increase the situational awareness and preparedness efforts of public health partners and support the prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts of homeland security partners. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI) have developed online training to assist public health and healthcare professionals in recognizing and reporting suspicious behaviors associated with pre-incident terrorism activities. The NSI training program facilitates information sharing among state and local law enforcement, public safety professionals, and other frontline “Hometown Security Partners” to prevent acts of terrorism. Public health and healthcare professionals play a critical role in identifying and reporting suspicious activity and can support homeland security efforts through the timely sharing of relevant information, as identified in this new sector-specific training.

METHODS:  A focus group of state and local public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and hospital security professionals from across the country provided their expertise to develop the Public Health and Healthcare Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) training module. Other federal agency partners and national associations also contributed to the development and review process. Using the expertise of this focus group helped to ensure the training includes realistic scenarios and examples that are relevant to public health and healthcare partners.

RESULTS:  Public health and healthcare professionals will be able to access the free online training module via the NSI website. Upon successfully completion of the training and subsequent knowledge quiz, a certificate of completion can be printed. The availability of this new training module to a broad audience of public health and healthcare partners will contribute to the national capacity for gathering, analyzing, and sharing Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) information in order to prevent acts of terrorism.

CONCLUSIONS:  Public health and healthcare professionals play a critical role in homeland security efforts. This training will assist public health and healthcare professionals in recognizing what kinds of suspicious behaviors are associated with pre-incident terrorism activities, understanding how and where to report suspicious activity, and protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties when documenting information. Additionally, increased collaboration between law enforcement and public health partners through information sharing of emerging threats can enhance public health preparedness efforts, support first responder safety, and increase situational awareness for all partners.