
	Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium Taps Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communications WASHINGTON, DC – The Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC) has tapped the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communication (which is comprised of Widmeyer Communications and the Center for Risk Communication) for upcoming work. Specifically, the Consortium will work with the NIPHC to develop a strategy that addresses the needs of NIPHC members, partners, communities and the media before, during and after a public health emergency. “We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with NIPHC,” said Dr. Tim Tinker, Senior Vice President at Widmeyer and a Consortium co-founder. “We know that when it comes to public health emergencies, one thing is very clear: the risk communication challenges are great and the resources few. But the NIPHC understands the need to develop a science-based risk communications plan that ensures consistent messages are shared with the public and media when an emergency strikes.” The Consortium will begin this work by assessing NIPHC’s communications challenges, including potential strategies and opportunities. Much of this first phase of work will involve conducting research via focus groups, interviews and surveys. Further work will involve conducting message mapping (a proprietary service offered by the Consortium) and creating materials for a variety of target audiences. NIPHC is a 501(c)(4) organization representing the public health departments of the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago Counties, and the City of Chicago. NIPHC is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of health departments in Northern Illinois to respond to public health threats and to promote and assure the health of people and communities. The Consortium works with a variety of public and private sector clients and helps them plan for unforeseen and potentially threatening circumstances and respond effectively to immediate crisis. In particular, the Consortium places a strong emphasis on the need to prepare internal and external communications activities so that they are in alignment with operations activities and capabilities. For more information about the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communication, contact Tim Tinker at tim.tinker@widmeyer.com or at 202-667-0901. ### Widmeyer Communications is an independent full-service firm with offices in Washington and New York. Widmeyer offers public affairs, media relations, corporate communications, research, crisis and risk communications, and advertising and design services to corporate, non-profit and government clients. For more information about Widmeyer, visit www.widmeyer.com.

Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium Taps Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communications

WASHINGTON, DC – The Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC) has tapped the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communication (which is comprised of Widmeyer Communications and the Center for Risk Communication) for upcoming work. Specifically, the Consortium will work with the NIPHC to develop a strategy that addresses the needs of NIPHC members, partners, communities and the media before, during and after a public health emergency.

“We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with NIPHC,” said Dr. Tim Tinker, Senior Vice President at Widmeyer and a Consortium co-founder. “We know that when it comes to public health emergencies, one thing is very clear: the risk communication challenges are great and the resources few. But the NIPHC understands the need to develop a science-based risk communications plan that ensures consistent messages are shared with the public and media when an emergency strikes.”

The Consortium will begin this work by assessing NIPHC’s communications challenges, including potential strategies and opportunities. Much of this first phase of work will involve conducting research via focus groups, interviews and surveys. Further work will involve conducting message mapping (a proprietary service offered by the Consortium) and creating materials for a variety of target audiences.

NIPHC is a 501(c)(4) organization representing the public health departments of the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will and Winnebago Counties, and the City of Chicago. NIPHC is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of health departments in Northern Illinois to respond to public health threats and to promote and assure the health of people and communities.

The Consortium works with a variety of public and private sector clients and helps them plan for unforeseen and potentially threatening circumstances and respond effectively to immediate crisis. In particular, the Consortium places a strong emphasis on the need to prepare internal and external communications activities so that they are in alignment with operations activities and capabilities.

For more information about the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communication, contact Tim Tinker at tim.tinker@widmeyer.com or at 202-667-0901.

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Widmeyer Communications is an independent full-service firm with offices in Washington and New York. Widmeyer offers public affairs, media relations, corporate communications, research, crisis and risk communications, and advertising and design services to corporate, non-profit and government clients. For more information about Widmeyer, visit www.widmeyer.com.