ReadyZoneHQ (RZHQ) supported the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Family Health Services Division (FHSD) to strengthen its continuity and emergency preparedness efforts through a comprehensive division-wide Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning initiative and preparedness assessment.
RZHQ conducted a detailed literature review and gap analysis of FHSD’s existing continuity documents, operational workflows, and emergency response practices. Working closely with FHSD leadership and branch representatives, RZHQ identified essential functions, critical interdependencies, staffing considerations, and operational risks that could impact service continuity during an emergency. The team facilitated Collaborative Planning Team (CPT) meetings and leadership discussions to validate planning assumptions and integrate best practices, lessons learned from recent events, and guidance aligned with national continuity and public health preparedness standards.
Through this effort, RZHQ developed a consolidated FHSD COOP Plan that outlines procedures for sustaining critical public health services during disruptions, delegating authority, implementing alternate workflows, relocating operations when needed, and reconstituting services following an incident. RZHQ also produced a comprehensive Preparedness Report that evaluates FHSD’s current strengths and areas for improvement, documents best practices and lessons learned, and provides actionable recommendations aligned with Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) capabilities.
The FHSD COOP Plan and Preparedness Report together provide a clear, practical roadmap for improving resilience across the division. These deliverables help ensure FHSD can maintain essential maternal and child health programs, community services, and support for vulnerable populations during emergencies, while enhancing cross-branch coordination and strengthening the division’s overall preparedness posture.