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Breaking News at the Center

CBAP Joins the NEST, An Elite Group of Seven

During the summer of 2006, the Center for Bioterrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness took a national leap and received a grant to expand nationwide to meet the needs of health care professionals, health care workers, first responders, and students preparing for health careers across the United States. CBAP was not the only one to receive this recognition, however. Six other centers were also chosen and have joined together to form an elite group of seven known as the NEST or National Education Strategy Team.

In November 2006, NEST leaders and representatives met in Washington, D.C., to share training programs with each other. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about NEST.

What is the NEST?

The National Education Strategy Team (NEST) is a compilation of Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program (BTCDP) Supplemental Awardees, funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These institutions have been awarded funds to develop, pilot test, and evaluate training programs for all community-based health care providers in the nation to respond to large scale public health emergency or mass-casualty incidents.

Why was the NEST created?

NEST was created as a collaborative effort among all BTCDP supplemental awardees to link together by sharing resources. At the completion of the one-year project period, NEST will share the lessons learned, recommendations, and the results of the pilot tests.

How is NEST important to the public?

Each of the seven NEST centers is focused on training the health/medical community and workforce for the purposes of bioterrorism and all-hazards preparedness in the United States. Below is a listing to find the NEST center nearest you.

• Columbia University: New York Consortium for Emergency Preparedness Continuing Education
• Mather LifeWays: PREPARE
• Medical College of Georgia: National Disaster Support Life Foundation
• Nova Southeastern University: Center for Bioterrorism and All Hazards Preparedness (CBAP)
• The Medical University of South Carolina: Disaster Preparedness and Response Training Network
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness
• Yale University: Yale New Haven Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response

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