The PVPC is the administrative and fiscal agent for the 19-community member, Hampden County Public Health Coalition (HCHC). s mission is, “to serve residents of Hampden County, MA planning for natural and man-made disasters.” The PVPC and the HCHC have organized local and regional efforts in planning for effective responses to public health emergencies such as the 2009 H1N1 “Swine” Flu Outbreak, the June 1^st Tornado in 2011, and the Historic 2011 October Snowstorm. Members of the Hampden County Public Health Coalition consist of local health directors, health agents, and public health nurses of the local health departments for the 19 cities and towns that make up the coalition. The coalition is funded primarily by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management.

Responsibilities Include:

• Developing All-Hazards Emergency Dispensing Plans for each of the 19 communities
• Updating Local Boards of Health Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)
• Collaborating with the Medical Reserve Corps and other response partners to support the recruitment and training of volunteers, while enhancing the county’s resilience to public health emergencies
• Reaching out to organizations that serve individuals with access and functional needs to provide education and resources around personal preparedness
• Working with other disciplines to raise awareness around public health and emergency preparedness   
• Implementing strategies to ensure that each community has the capacity to share basic epidemiological data with relevant healthcare organizations