engaging skilled volunteers in disaster response
DESCRIPTION
Objective Analyze 5 volunteer program case studies for best practices and challenges when integrating skilled volunteers into disaster-affected communities – what works, what doesn’t? Presenters Giovanni Taylor-Peace – Habitat for Humanity International, Disaster Corps Rick Turner – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Lindy Kirkland – The Air Care Alliance Beth Bootz – Southern Baptist Convention Kellie Bentz – Points of LightTRANSCRIPT
Engaging Skilled Volunteers in Disaster Response: What Works,
What Doesn't?
Introduction
ObjectiveAnalyze 5 volunteer program case studies for best practices and challenges when integrating skilled volunteers into disaster-affected communities – what works, what doesn’t?
Presenters Giovanni Taylor-Peace – Habitat for Humanity International, Disaster Corps Rick Turner – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Lindy Kirkland – The Air Care Alliance Beth Bootz – Southern Baptist Convention Kellie Bentz – Points of Light
Disaster Corps
Giovanni Taylor-PeaceManager, Disaster Response
Field Operations
Disaster Corps
Disaster assessment Preparedness planning Capacity building Volunteer coordination
Fundraising Logistics Community development Construction site management
Overview Founded in 2005 Volunteer leaders trained to work in disaster settings
while providing affiliates with field and technical support
Mobilize pre-and post-disaster Projects vary, but could include:
Disaster Corps
Aid affiliates in all phases of a disaster Preparing for future disasters Reducing the impact of disasters Aiding in long-term recovery
Internal capacity building Recovery for small affiliates Ramping up operations
Purpose & Scale of Skilled Volunteers
Disaster Corps
Small cadre of volunteers Proper training and continued education Community based development, partnerships Active listener approach Peer to peer assistance
What works?
Disaster Corps
Leading without listening Everything will change – flexibility, adaptability a
must Time restrictions
What doesn’t work?
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Rick TurnerAssociate – Disaster Hospitality
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
National Response Team National Volunteers Volunteer Work Teams
Overview
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
National Response Team (90 +/-) Early Response / Assessment Emotional & Spiritual Care
National Volunteers (20) Training / Specialists Hosting / Village Managers
Volunteer Work Teams (1,000’s) Clean-up Repair / Rebuild
Purpose & Scale of Skilled Volunteers
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Specialize Decide basic training / skills Commit to Train Allow time Get the best trainers Provide materials Support while in the field
What Works?
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Doing everything for everyone Relying on others to train Assuming knowledge Too few trained Volunteers Forgetting to be flexible
What Doesn’t WorkBe Flexible
Google Free Images
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Beth BootzVolunteer Mobilization Center
Coordinator
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers: Established in the Southern Baptist Convention in 1966. Have 65,000 trained volunteers in 42 conventions. 16,000 mobile units available.Provides: Physical needs Spiritual needs Work in teamsWork within the Incident Command System.
Overview
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Baptist conventions host the Disaster Relief trainings for their disaster relief volunteers.
Specific training might include: Child Care Communication Chaplaincy Feeding Public Information Officer Recovery (chainsaw, mud-out, fire
clean-up and/or repair) Shower/Laundry Water Purification
Disaster Relief volunteers are encouraged to get further training from:
Introduction to American Red Cross Module
Introduction to The Salvation Army Module
Introduction to The Federal Emergency Management Module
FEMA/ICS Training Module Spiritual Preparation for Disaster Relief “Hope in Crisis” tract Standard first aid/CPR OSFA (Operational Stress First Aid)
Purpose & Scale of Skilled Volunteers
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Standardized training Flexibility Working on teams
What works?
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
Untrained volunteers Self-deployment Top down management of affected state in charge Lone ranger
What doesn’t work?
Virginia Volunteer Pilot’s Group
Lindy KirklandPresident
The Air Care Alliance
Virginia Volunteer Pilot Group
Government and Volunteer Cooperative Effort VA Dept. of Aviation VA Dept. of Emergency Management The Air Care Alliance Numerous Volunteer Pilot Groups
Leverages Existing Infrastructure Integrates Volunteer General Aviation Into Official
Emergency Management Planning, Exercise, and Actions
Overview
Virginia Volunteer Pilot Group
Leverages More Than a Dozen Volunteer Pilot Organizations Operating In and Around Virginia
More Than 2500 Volunteer Pilots Potentially Involved
Potentially More Than 500 General Aviation Aircraft Available to Respond
Purpose & Scale of Skilled Volunteers
Virginia Volunteer Pilot Group
Governmental Organization, Support and Emergency Management Assets (VDEM)
Not “Re-Inventing the Wheel” – Utilizing Existing Volunteer Organizational Structures
What works?
Virginia Volunteer Pilot Group
Unstructured Volunteer Involvement
Not Integrating General Aviation Into Existing Emergency Management Planning and Exercises
What doesn’t work?
HandsOn Network & Points of Light
Kellie BentzDirector, Disaster Services
HandsOn Network & Points of Light
POL Disaster Services HandsOn Network SUV management in times of
disaster + additional training Technology-Skill based module being developed-
connecting skill with opportunity/need Billion + Change
Overview
HandsOn Network & Points of Light
Trained Volunteer Leaders - more informed and able to plug in without getting in the way
Staying informed Understand the nature of the work Connecting skill with need Probono Services + Hard Skills International/National/State/Local
Purpose & Scale of Skilled Volunteers
HandsOn Network & Points of Light
Training Current tool applicable to non-times of disaster
http://interactive.apollogrp.edu/sites/HandsOnNetwork/Skills-basedVolunteering/Training/index.html
Creating disaster skill based volunteering module Technology-how to make the connection-local +
nationally
What works?
HandsOn Network & Points of Light
Self deployment (creating a disaster within the disaster)
Languages
What Doesn’t Work?
Shared Challenges
Funding! Training – ensuring volunteers have
knowledge/experience needed, implementing online credentials
Practice runs – how to interject simulations, exercises, trial runs before an actual disaster
Recruitment – strategically including spontaneous volunteers so they have a good experience and want to go a step further for training
Trends – staying on top
Small Group Work
5 min. groups, 10 min. discussion Take a look at the shared challenges between each
volunteer program Can you identify possible solutions?
Final Questions?
Thank you!
Kristin WrightDisaster CorpsHabitat for Humanity [email protected]/disaster
Rick TurnerPresbyterian Disaster [email protected]/pda
Beth BootzSouthern Baptist Disaster [email protected]/dr
Lindy KirklandThe Air Care [email protected]
Kellie BentzHandsOn Network & Points of [email protected]