Recruitment Email for Provider Focus Groups

Attachment Y. Recruitment Email for Provider Focus Groups

Dear Colleague,

I am working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and colleagues at Drexel University on a research project to understand the disaster communication needs of families who have children with special health care needs (INSERT: children with autism spectrum disorders) and the capacity of agencies and professionals to meet those needs. A major component of this project involves engaging health care and other professional providers (SUBSTITUTE: emergency management and public health response agencies OR experts in health information and communication technologies) to understand their perceptions of the communication needs of these highest risk families, and their capacity to address them. We are also interested in barriers and facilitators to communication during disasters and identifying solutions to address them, using technologies and leveraging partnerships with agencies or individuals who are already trusted sources of information for families with special health challenges. (Note, we also plan to survey and interview families and caregivers of children with special health care needs (INSERT: autism spectrum disorders) directly regarding their communication needs and preferences.)

I am emailing to ask if you would be willing to participate in a focus group with other providers (INSERT: representatives from Emergency Response Agencies/Health Information technology experts) in the coming weeks. The focus group will be scheduled at a time and location convenient for most participants. A light meal will be served. Calling in via telephone conference call will be an option, but we are also happy to schedule a meeting or telephone call with you individually if that would be preferable.

Your input into this project is critical. The findings will be used to propose communication frameworks, and to develop content that will be shared with CDC, health departments and emergency management agencies, health care and other professional providers, to improve information sharing during disasters with families who have special health care challenges (INSERT: autism spectrum disorders) .

Please let me know if you are interested and can participate in this focus group, or if there is another person in your organization who might join us if you are not able to do so.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you very much for your support. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

(INSERT: Esther Chernak, Renee Turchi; Jennifer Plumb)