ECHO Minnesota
Emergency, Community and Health Outreach
BE HEALTHY. BE SAFE. BE READY.
ECHO Minnesota
c/o Association of MN Counties
125 Charles Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103
[p] 651.789.4342
www.echominnesota.org
WHAT IS ECHO?
A Trusted Community Resource
ECHO in TIME
2004
>> ECHO Minnesota founded
as a collaborative project
between local and state public
health agencies to address
the growing needs of
Minnesota’s Limited English
speaking communities.
>> ECHO launches ECHO TV,
the first and only series in
the country presenting monthly
health, safety and emergency
readiness programs in multiple
languages.
2005
>> ECHO Web created as
a multi-language resource
featuring information on over
50
ECHO works toward the day when no one is barred from life -saving
health and safety information due to language or cultural barriers.
Presenting One-of-a-Kind Programming
ECHO has established itself as the “go-to” resource for
educational health, safety and emergency preparedness materials
in multiple languages by collaborating with content-matter experts,
bilingual community leaders and talented ethnic spokespersons to craft
high-quality programming.
Using a Well-Stocked Communications Toolkit
ECHO’s educational productions, emergency preparedness services
and community outreach resources are available through a broad range
of
effective communication channels.
health and safety topics.
>> ECHO Phone established
as a toll-free info line providing
seasonal health and safety
tips in 10 languages.
ECHO TV (broadcast statewide on Twin Cities Public Television’s
Minnesota Channel, tptMN): A ground-breaking series, with
monthly health and safety programs presented on-camera by
community spokespersons and bilingual guest experts.
ECHO Phone (1.888.883.8831): A toll-free info line featuring
timely tips on health, safety and emergency readiness topics in 10
languages, updated monthly.
ECHO Web (www.echominnesota.org): An online library of
resources on over 50 health, safety and emergency readiness topics
in 7 languages.
ECHO Partner Relays: Information distributed through ECHO’s
community partners in local public health and safety agencies,
ethnic and nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions.
(over, please)
2
7
00
for Sustainable
>> ECHO incorporates as an
independent agency.
>> ECHO cited for best-
practices in the national
journal, Health Affairs.
2008
>> ECHO awarded 501(c)3
status and begins operating as a
nonprofit.
>> ECHO TV goes statewide.
>> 9,500 viewers in the
Twin Cities metro area tune-in
regularly to ECHO TV.
>> ECHO increases partnerships
to include 75 community
outreach and public health and
safety agencies as well as ethnic
and nonprofit organizations.
across the state.
2009
>> ECHO publishes their first
Emergency Operations
Plan, formalizing emergency
activation procedures.
>> ECHO activated by Clay
County Public health to provide
multi-language safety resources
in the wake of the Red River
Flood.
>> ECHO partners with MDH to
provide H1N1 flu resources in
12 languages.
In an Emergency and Everyday
ECHO has developed and distributed monthly health, safety and
emergency readiness materials for over 5 years. So, ECHO’s
communication tools are firmly established in the communities we
serve as reliable sources of health and safety information.
ECHO’s distribution channels also function as an emergency
infrastructure — so when a crisis occurs, ECHO has a proven
system in place to translate, produce and distribute critical information
rapidly and effectively.
Ensuring Everyone can Be Healthy, Be Safe, Be Ready
A critical communications void confronts over 500,000 limitedEnglish speaking Minnesotans, and those who serve them,
when it comes to reliable health and safety resources in non-English
languages.
The urgency of this situation comes into sharp focus in times of
crisis. All too often, limited English proficiency individuals are put
at-risk due to the lack of accurate emergency messaging and safety
information available in their native languages.
And this translates into a larger risk for all of us. In an emergency, no
one is safe unless everyone is fully-informed and empowered
with the tools they need to make the best decisions for themselves,
their families’ — and their community’s well-being.
ECHO fills this communications gap, everyday and during
a crisis, by providing high-quality health, safety and emergency
readiness information and materials in multiple languages.
This vital work is only possible through the dedication of our
community volunteers, the generosity of our public health, safety and
local media partners — and the support of friends like you.
To learn more about ECHO’s work, become a partner, or contribute
to ECHO’s mission, visit us online at www.echominnesota.org,
email us at [email protected] or call 651.789.4342.
Together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the information
they need to be healthy, be safe, be ready.
ECHO Minnesota • c/o Association of MN Counties • 125 Charles Avenue • St. Paul, MN 55103
[p] 651.789.4342 • www.echominnesota.org • [email protected]