Vulnerable Population Segments
Vision: By working collaboratively with community partners, Public Health's VPAT initiative ensures that no one group is more impacted than another in an emergency. Vulnerable population planning activities will be integrated into all government, healthcare, community based organization and internal public health systems.
Aim: Public Health's VPAT will assure access to public health preparedness, response and recovery information and services for the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach residents in King County through mutually respectful relationships with vulnerable populations and the organizations that serve them.
The following are population segments identified to be especially at risk in an emergency.
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Physically Disabled
full-time attendant care required for activities of daily living and/or instrumental activities of daily living |
Immigrant Communities
persons who may have difficulty accessing information or services because of cultural differences |
Blind
range includes: low vision, night blindness, color blindness, impaired depth perception, etc. |
Undocumented Persons
persons distrusting authorities, political dissidents and others who will not use government or other traditional service providers |
Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing
latent deaf, situational loss of hearing, limited-range hearing |
Mentally Ill
serious and persistent illness; includes being a danger to themselves or others |
Seniors
frail elderly, people who have age-related limitations/needs, includes those in nursing home or assisted-living care or living alone and not connected socially or to service providers |
Developmentally Disabled
unable to safely survive independently, attend to personal care, etc. |
Limited English or Non-English Proficient
includes persons with limited ability to speak, read, write or fully understand English |
Medically Dependent, Medically Compromised
dependent on medications to sustain life or control conditions for quality of life -- i.e., diabetic; weakened immune systems, those who cannot be in/use public accommodations |
Children
anyone below age of majority separated from parents/guardians—child care, Head Start, before/after-school programs, latch-key kids, those in school, foster care, truancy, juvenile justice system |
Chemically Dependent
includes substance abusers, other who would experience withdrawal, sickness or other symptoms due to lack of access—i.e., methadone users |
Homeless and Shelter Dependent
includes persons in shelters, on the streets or temporarily housed -- transitional, safe houses for women and minors |
Clients of Criminal Justice System
ex-convicts, parolees, people under house arrest, registered sex offenders |
Impoverished
person with extremely low income, without resources or political voice, limited access to services, limited ability to address own needs |
Emerging or Transient Special Needs
needs/conditions due to emergency, temporary conditions—i.e., loss of glasses, broken leg, tourists/visitors needing care |
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