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Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

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Who this course is for

Any public health worker who might be tasked with communication with the media.

What you’ll learn

Developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the curriculum is a proven, psychology-based system. Provides knowledge to talk to the community and media about emergencies affecting the community. Includes an overview of the role of Public Information Officer (PIO) related to working with the media.

  • Ability to communicate emergency messages to the community and the media effectively.
  • Ability to incorporate risk communications best practices.
  • Understand crisis communications planning and tools.

About Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

Every member of the public health workforce must learn how to communicate with the media, even if they are not the organization’s “official” spokesperson. The need for public trust of officials during crises and emergencies continues to rise.

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is a proven, psychology-based system that enables public spokespersons to communicate emergency messages to their community and the media effectively.

This course structure provides management and frontline personnel with the knowledge they need to talk to the media and community about emergencies affecting the community as well as the hospital/healthcare organization. The course also provides an overview of the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) related to understanding the media.

The attendees will have opportunities to write a news release, learn interview techniques, and conduct a press conference. A review of using social media during normal operations and public emergencies will be provided. This course is interactive and includes communication issues and appropriate strategies to increase trust and credibility in a crisis.

You will learn practical frameworks for approaching risk communications, public perception of risk, and fundamentals of media relations and crisis communications.

After this class, you will be able to:

  • Use emergency risk and crisis communication concepts, planning, and resources
  • Incorporate risk communications best practices
  • Work more effectively and comfortably with the media to educate and inform the public
  • Understand the psychology of a public health emergency and types of messages needed
  • Understand crisis communication planning and tools

We've worked with these and dozens of other partners across the U.S.