Examining the Use of Climate Change Health Indicators by Health Departments in Adaptation Planning

Form Approved

OMB No. 0990-0421

Exp. Date 07/31/2017

Attachment A: ASPE Climate Change Health Indicators Webinar Guide

Introductory Script

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) study. I, [moderator name], am a contractor of the Lewin Group (Lewin), a national health and human service consulting firm, moderating this webinar on behalf of ASPE. Because of your work and commitment to this field, I am going to ask you to share your thoughts about the use of health indicators related to climate change and the incorporation of these indicators and associated metrics into adaptation planning of state and local-level organizations.

Before we begin, do you have any questions about the consent form or the webinar?

[Answer respondent’s questions. If the respondent has no questions or once s/he’s questions are answered to their satisfaction, you may proceed.]

Questions

Objective: Identify and evaluate the data sources employed when health indicators are used in climate change planning (including the integrity of the data sources and any barriers to accessing these data), thereby enabling the Department to better understand the needs of local and state health departments in the planning and evaluation of their climate change adaptation planning.

1. Before we begin to inquire about data sources, we first like to know what your jurisdiction is doing in regard to adaptation planning.

   1. PROMPT: How many staff members are devoted to this initiative (by FTE)?

   2. PROMPT: Please describe the resources available to you for climate change initiatives at your organization.

   3. PROMPT: We understand that public health departments juggle a number of priorities with limited resources. In your jurisdiction, how would you rate the priority of climate change adaptation planning and evaluation among your other initiatives on a scale of 1-10?

   4. PROMPT: Have you experienced any challenges or barriers in the process? If so, how did you (or how do you plan to) mitigate those?

   5. PROMPT: Could you identify anything that facilitated the process? How so?

   6. PROMPT: Does your organization collaborate with any partners in climate adaptation planning? If so, whom?

2. What climate change indicators (e.g., temperatures, rainfall levels, sea levels, vector-borne disease incidence) are being used in your region?

   1. What factors determined the selection of these indicators?

3. What are some data sources currently in use or in development for evaluating climate change indicators in your jurisdiction?

   1. PROMPT: Of these data sources, which do you view as most reliable and why?

   2. PROMPT: Of these data sources, which do you view as least reliable and why?

4. Does your jurisdiction have a climate change adaptation plan?

   1. If so, how often is it updated?

   2. Are there any climate change or health indicators incorporated in this plan?

5. If there are any that differ from those previously discussed, what are some data sources currently in use or in development for assessing the effectiveness of adaptation plans?

   1. Prompt: Of these data sources, which do you view as most/least reliable and why?

6. What factors determined the selection of the data sources in use for climate change indicators and/or adaptation plans?

   1. PROMPT: Have you experienced any barriers/challenges in accessing these data sources?

7. Are there any data sources that do not exist, but should be developed in your opinion?

8. What methods if any, does your jurisdiction employ when analyzing climate change indicator data?

   1. Would you recommend any suggested or desired methods that would improve upon the current process or improve current analysis?

   2. What are some specific challenges faced when using these data sources and/or lessons learned after working with these types of sources?

9. What are some of the most useful resources you use for climate change adaptation planning?

   1. PROMPT: What are some resources you would like to see developed?

10. What is the best entity to develop climate change adaptation guidance information?

    1. What entity or entities should communicate this information?

    2. In what form(s) should the information be made available?

    3. How often should this information be updated?

11. What message would you send to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding your efforts surrounding climate change adaptation planning?

12. Do you have anything you would like to add prior to us concluding the webinar today?

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