The purpose of the research study, Early Warning, Investigation, and Surveillance: Epidemiology Networks in Action, is to examine all-hazards preparedness for conducting epidemiologic investigations and public health surveillance in California and Hawaii and provide research evidence for the development of future public health preparedness activities to strengthen these functions. We recognize that local jurisdictions throughout California and Hawaii may be operating with different capacities and capabilities to conduct epidemiologic investigations and public health surveillance, and that they are in various stages of public health preparedness given their personnel, funding constraints, physical/social environments, and politics.

Aim 1: Refine our framework for conceptualizing all-hazards preparedness for conducting epidemiologic investigations and public health surveillance.

Aim 2: Define, measure, and describe the necessary partnerships that local health departments need to have in place in order to perform epidemiologic investigations and public health surveillance.

Aim 3: Measure the effect of capacity, capabilities, and necessary networks of local health departments on public health system performance of epidemiologic investigations and public health surveillance using the California PREPARE Laboratory.