NURS-FPX 4060 Practicing in the Community to Improve Population Health

Prof. Name

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Community resources encompass governmental or non-profit organizations dedicated to enhancing the welfare of communities by improving safety, health, and security. This paper focuses on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a vital community resource. FEMA, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. Since March 1, 2003, it has been incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA, 2021).

Mission and Vision of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The FEMA supports the public by assisting before, during, and after disasters. This mission is carried out by more than 20,000 employees nationwide who work together to help communities recover from disasters such as hurricanes, floods, windstorms, earthquakes, wildfires, and pandemics. FEMA’s vision is to save lives during disasters and enhance safety and health in catastrophic events, whether natural or man-made. This is achieved through a coordinated government operational response in areas affected by disasters with the goals of saving lives, reducing suffering, and quickly and effectively protecting property (FEMA, 2023). FEMA plays a crucial role in improving public health and safety, as disaster recovery requires prompt and continuous efforts. 

One example of an initiative that aligns with FEMA’s mission and vision is its Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA coordinated the entire government response to COVID-19 and initially served as the pandemic’s principal federal agency. It ensured the recruitment of personnel from various agencies to coordinate effective response and recovery efforts at both local and national levels. This included roles such as increasing hospital surge capacity, managing critical shortages of medical supplies like PPE, and distributing equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) (FEMA, 2021). Through these efforts, FEMA helped the U.S. government prepare for and respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting its mission and vision.

Provision of Equal Opportunity and Improved Quality of Life  

Social, Cultural, Economic, and Physical Barriers

Various factors impede health equity in disaster preparedness and recovery, including social, cultural, economic, and physical barriers. These barriers encompass poverty, discrimination, lack of education, poor socioeconomic conditions, limited access to healthcare, food and housing insecurity, diverse cultural customs, stigma around seeking medical and non-medical help, lack of transportation, and inadequate community infrastructure, all of which hinder access to assistance after disasters (Chang, 2019). These obstacles prevent FEMA from fully realizing its mission to support disaster-affected individuals and delay community recovery by prolonging the state of distress due to ineffective disaster management.

FEMA is actively working to overcome these barriers, ensuring that all community members are treated equally before, during, and after disasters in terms of saving lives and providing security. By offering equal opportunities for safety, shelter, healthcare, and non-medical services, FEMA aims to improve everyone’s quality of life. To achieve this, FEMA has developed an Equity Action Plan as part of the federal equity initiative. This plan seeks to use federal assistance to advance racial fairness and assist underprivileged areas, improving the quality of life for all disaster-affected individuals. The plan includes actions such as ensuring inclusiveness to maintain equity, embedding equity as a foundation for public health, achieving equitable outcomes for disaster survivors, and building resilience (FEMA, 2022).

Impact of Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation

For the effective functioning of any governmental or non-profit organization, funding sources, policy-making, and legislation implementation are essential. FEMA, a federal agency, receives its budget from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This funding allows FEMA to offer financial grants to disaster survivors, such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Public Assistance Grant Program (PA), based on their needs and eligibility (Congressional Budget Office, 2022).

Adequate funding ensures FEMA can deliver its services effectively, as disaster preparedness requires thorough planning and sufficient staffing. FEMA’s policies, such as the State Mitigation Planning Policy, Tribal Mitigation Planning Policy, and Local Mitigation Planning Policy, guide hazard mitigation planning tailored to specific geographical areas. These policies facilitate disaster mitigation services through hazard and risk assessments, mitigation strateg