STEP_UP Manual on Social and Policy Interventions

The Social and Policy Interventions Manual of the STEP_UP project (Stop Epidemic Growth Through Learning) aims to offer EU countries targeted guidelines and insights on health and social care, policy and social measures that are suitable for prevention and containment of transmittable diseases in different contexts and pandemic phases, and to what extent communication is decisive for their successful implementation. It is meant for and co-created by (policy) advisors in municipalities, public health authorities, social and healthcare and volunteers organisations, providing easily accessible and useful examples, lessons learned and succcesses for the different stages of health emergencies. It offers target-group oriented guidelines and insights on early detection, preventive measures, health and social care interventions, policy measures and communication, as well as real-life oriented user stories, good practices and lessons learned. More in detail, the Manual goes through the following content: 1. Introduction on epidemic and pandemic virus outbreaks: short introduction on the main features and consequences of known virus outbreaks, with useful links. 2. Early detection: which systems are available in the partner countries and globally to detect a health emergency virus outbreak, how useful are these, what is the relevancy? Learning from early detection successes and failures, such as vaccines against Bird's Flu, the regional/national character of SARS and MERS and Ebola. As regards social and policy interventions the following questions arise: What can public authorities, healthcare providers and volunteers best do to evaluate outbreaks with the help of experts, how to communicate with professionals and the general public, which preparation measures are suitable and feasible? Are vaccines available and how to foster their rapid development? 3. Early outbreak of the health emergency: patient zero has been identified on the territory. Which measures should public authorities, health and social care providers and volunteers take to isolate the spreading of affections, contact research, technology (apps) to use, which privacy issues do measures contain, which preparation measures of social care facilities is needed? Is an immediate lockdown needed? Which are the effects on the economy? How to communicate with the other professionals involved in social and health care and the general public? More important, how to communicate with social care clients - older adults and their relatives, vulnerable people, children, parents and empovered families, troubled youngsters? 4. The outbreak is epidemic or pandemic: How to prepare social care organisations: medicines, personnel, equipment, beds. Which measures should be taken to stop the further spreading? How long should the measures stand? How to communicate with experts, professionals and the general public? What considerations should be considered in terms of: gender; inequalities; or ethics? 5. Exit strategy or open-up again: the epidemic or pandemic successfully has been stopped, but which measures are needed to return to 'back to normal'? Can we return to 'back to normal' or do we have to change our ways of living? https://stepupgame.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/STEP_UP_interventions_manual_AFTER-PROOFREAD_FINAL_EN_vf.pdf