Office of Grants and Training Preparedness Directorate U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20531 G&T Information Bulletin No. 247 March 20, 2007 TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact All State Administrative Agency Grant Points of Contact All Core City/Core County and State Points of Contact All State Homeland Security Directors All State Emergency Management Agency Directors FROM: Corey D. Gruber Acting Assistant Secretary Office of Grants and Training (G&T) SUBJECT: Certified Course Available for Delivery The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Preparedness Directorate, G&T, Training Division is pleased to announce that a new certified G&T course is available for delivery in the 56 states and territories. This course is tailored toward emergency managers, emergency planners, and emergency responders. The University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security’s “Preparing the States: Implementing Continuity of Operations Planning” course is now available for delivery. Participants will be trained in the development and implementation of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP). The goal of this course is to use the successful Federal Preparedeness Circular model along with other best practices, as the foundation for teaching key State, local, and tribal emergency management officials nationwide to train governmental institutions within their jurisdictions to write effective COOP plans. These COOP plans support the governmental functions, programs, services, systems, and personnel that are essential to continual operations during and after a disabling catastrophoic event or terrorist attack. This course incorporates a discussion based exercise that engages the participants in a hands-on learning experience. This is an invaluable instructional tool that draws on the relative backgrounds of the participants to create a dynamic environment in which they must apply the principles of the course to a set of decisions that are likely to occur in a COOP activation scenario. You may view a complete version of the course description on the attached file. For further scheduling assistance or information requests on all G&T certified courses, please contact the G&T Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1-800-368-6498, staffed weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.