Engaging Skilled Volunteers in Disaster Response

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 InternationalDisasterCorps@habitat.orgwww.habitat.org/disaster

Rick TurnerPresbyterian Disaster AssistanceRick.Turner@pcusa.orgwww.pcusa.org/pda

Beth BootzSouthern Baptist Disaster Reliefbbootz@namb.netwww.namb.net/dr

Lindy KirklandThe Air Care Alliancelindy.kirkland1.ctr@usmc.milwww.aircareall.org

Kellie BentzHandsOn Network & Points of Lightkbentz@handsonnetwork.orgwww.pointsoflight.org