National Council of Nonprofit Associations

Welcome to the National Council’s Toolkit on H1N1 Flu Preparedness for Nonprofits (2009) (updated January 15, 2010)

• It’s not too late to get vaccinated!  The National Council encourages all nonprofit board members, volunteers and employees to spread the word about the importance of continuing to be vigilant in encouraging everyone to get vaccinated – for seasonal and H1N1 flu – even after the holiday season, into January, and beyond. 

President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu to be a national emergency. By itself this declaration does not signal any reason to panic. But it does underscore the serious approach needed by all nonprofits to address the health challenges the flu presents for communities. Despite reports in late November that the first "wave" of the H1N1 virus may have receded, a future wave(s) may occur because the vaccine is just now reaching those at high-risk for contracting the virus. Nonprofits need to continue to be leaders in the community to help slow the progression of the flu, while also keeping in mind that they themselves can be seriously impacted when staff or volunteers contract the flu.

This toolkit is designed to help board and staff leaders recognize that they are responsible to ensure the continuity of the nonprofit's business operations and that increasing flu activity as we have seen in recent weeks can have a serious impact on mission fulfillment. We hope this Flu Toolkit will be a helpful resource for your nonprofit, for your employees, and for your volunteers. Stay well!

This toolkit will provide you with:

1. NEW! Guidance on common questions relating to wages and payment of workers who may be affected by the flu, such as: "How are wages impacted when the office is closed because of the flu?" and "Can a worker be asked to conduct duties that are beyond the job description because of a shortage of other workers?"
2. NEW! Guidance on whether the being out of work to care for someone with the flu, or because you have the flu yourself, counts as Family Leave.
3. NEW! Flu.gov's self-evaluation tool - Think you or a loved one has the flu? Use this tool.
4. The LATEST news from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on seasonal influenza and the H1N1 pandemic.
5. Flu Vaccine locator, state by state.
6. NEW! The Zen of Handwashing, brought to you by Blue Avocado.
7. Flu essentials in various languages.
8. Flier: Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Guide for Parents.
9. Factsheet and flier for employees: What you should know about antiviral drugs.
10. Podcast: "Take 3 Actions to Fight Flu."
11. Suggested action steps to help your association and your members be prepared for and cope with an outbreak of the flu.
12. Tips for preparedness.
13. Sample policies for the nonprofit workplace.
14. Ideas for educating your employees.
15. Customize a letter to your employees.
16. Send a letter to your members telling them about how serious the flu outbreak is and sharing the resources developed by the National Council with them.
17. Business Planning/Continuity Planning.
18. Articles and Other Resources.
19. More information on vaccinations: Updates on vaccinations, medications and masks
    - More about the Flu Vaccine, Why one dose of H1N1 vaccine may be sufficient for infants and children
20. -How the flu vaccine impacts seniors
    -Understanding your treatment options
21. Free Stuff from the CDC – Videos, podcasts, brochures to download, e-badges and buttons to add to emails and other communications.