Arizona Rapid Response Team Development

The Development and Maintenance of Human and Animal Food Rapid Response Teams Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA): RFA-FD-23-019 Arizona Rapid Response Team Development Project Summary There are 8 different objectives outlined in the FOA: RFA-FD-23-019 that the AZDA will focus on achieving throughout the next 3-years. Key milestones are indicated for each objective. Each

year the AZDA intends to achieve target goals to bring us closer to the overarching mission of developing a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team that will operate utilizing Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles and a Unified Command structure to respond to HAF emergencies. We expect to effectively minimize the time

between agency notification of HAF incident and implementation of effective control measures. During the next three years, the AZDA plans to develop a successful Rapid Response Team (RRT) by identifying current capabilities, identifying RRT partners, developing relationships, creating a structure, tracking progress and updates as well as developing improvement plans.

We will perform a capability assessment of our jurisdiction to help begin the development process in addition to creating a sustainability plan. Both will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure the objectives of the grant are met. In addition, the AZDA will provide the FDA with annual reports documenting progress, updates and improvement plans. Standard Operating

Procedures will be created and act as living documents, reviewed and edited annually or more frequently when necessary. These procedures will help lay the framework for Arizona's RRT. Document maintenance is important to ensure the objectives of the FOA are being met by identifying gaps and allowing the RRT partners to close those gaps.

The AZDA intends to quickly identify RRT partners to develop a strong structure. The AZDA intends to develop a plan which will provide detailed information about the RRT development process, key accomplishments and performance measures. During the next three-year period there will be an emphasis on the development of a food emergency management plan based on

the RRT Best Practices Manual. In order to ensure uniformity and consistency throughout the nation, it is important to ensure there is appropriate training and mentorship from other states who have a fully developed Rapid Response Team. This will also help with the development of our own food emergency management plan. Our goal is to ensure that our RRT partners are

fully trained and to plan for succession by ensuring that new members will be able to pick up exactly where the last person left off flawlessly. Necessary training will be identified for each partner. The structure will be built to help identify responsibilities of each position and agency. It will be a top priority to build and maintain interagency relationships and set up quarterly

meetings. We are aware that we need to coordinate with other agencies and often rely on these relationships to execute the goals of the FOA. It is highly important to maintain these relationships and build working relationships within Arizona as well as with other state and federal agencies. The overarching goal is to protect public health by minimizing the time between agency

notification of incidents and improving incident response by implementing effective control measures. The development of a sustainable Rapid Response Team (RRT) will allow the AZDA to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies within the state of Arizona. Minimizing the risks of pathogen contamination is key to preventing HAF emergencies but it is also important to

prepare to respond to emergencies effectively when they occur. As we strive to meet the goals in each of the 8 objectives, we are confident that we will achieve the overarching goal to successfully develop a working Rapid Response Team in Arizona. We will continue to leverage existing expertise, knowledge and resources in our state to create a sustainable structure and

program.