It's official now~

It;

Got to know it to teach it

I co-instructed the G-289 "PIO Awareness" class for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency at the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. A one-day course, it introduces the participants to the public information function and the role of the PIO in the public safety/emergency management environment.

At the end of this course, participants are able to:

• Define emergency public information and the importance of being proactive.
• Describe the role and functions of the PIO.
• Describe the types of written products used in public information activities.
• Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview.
• List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications.
• Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign.
• Apply public information techniques to a 5% scenario.

The primary audience for this training is individuals who have public information responsibilities as their main job or as an auxiliary function at the federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial level of government, and in the private and nongovernmental sectors.

A secondary audience for this training includes individuals who would benefit from a general understanding of the emergency public information function. This audience would include elected and other officials (e.g., dispatchers, receptionists) who may work with PIOs or with the news media during an incident or have initial media contact outside an incident through the course of their job.

I'm now certified to instruct in Ohio

FEMA prohibits its employees from instructing FEMA courses.

The specific regulation states: "If you are a FEMA Disaster Assistance Employee you may not contract with FEMA to instruct." 

And individual states, including Ohio where I live, don't allow FEMA employees to be paid for instructing. 

In Ohio, the rule is: "Federal Employees - Not eligible for additional instructor compensation whether full or part time."

Since I retired from FEMA last November these rules doesn’t apply to me anymore. 

So, I am now a certified Ohio Emergency Management Agency instructor!

According to Ohio EMA, "The Certified Instructor Program is designed to encourage qualified individuals to become vetted instructors. In addition to receiving the title of an Ohio EMA Certified Instructor, it is an excellent testament to being a knowledgeable professional in the field of Emergency Management. Obtaining this status is an exceptional addition to a resume and you will have an opportunity to work with professionals from around the State of Ohio."

Since the inception of the current certification for instructors in October 2013 Ohio EMA now has 174 instructors certified in 46 courses. 

I'm certified to instruct three FEMA courses: Public Information Officer Awareness, Basic Public Information Officer, and Joint Information Center.