What can local health departments do to help schools?
Local health departments can identify schools in their areas, establish a point of contact at each school, and share information through the internet, by fax, or at school-based presentations. The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) is a nationwide program to establish the communications, information, distance-learning, and organizational infrastructure for a new level of defense against health threats, including the possibility of bioterrorism. The HAN will link local health departments to one another and to other organizations critical for preparedness and response: community first-responders, hospital and private laboratories, state health departments, CDC, and other federal agencies. Because schools cannot directly access the HAN, it is important for local health departments to share critical information. For additional background information on the HAN click here [http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/han/]. To link to state and local health departments click here [http://www.cdc.gov/other.htm#stat
