Defining volunteers’ roles in preparation for disaster response
Abstract
National service participants are increasingly being asked to support disaster response and relief, a role that is separate from the positions they originally signed up for. Before being expected to handle these new responsibilities, participants must be prepared for situations that they would not regularly encounter in their non-disaster assignments. This effective practice, submitted by the Points of Light Foundation in December 2006, offers essential tips to fully engage participants in these new roles.Issue
Adequately preparing volunteers for assignments that will take them to disaster settings may require a completely different kind of preparation and training than program managers are accustomed to.Action
Utilize the following tips from the Points of Light Foundation:- Clearly define volunteers' roles and responsibilities in times of disaster and ensure participants receive the training they need to be successful.
National service participants will be more comfortable with their disaster response and relief assignments if they have been fully informed of the tasks associated with their regular and disaster response and relief roles, how these positions interact and under what circumstances they will switch responsibilities. Of course, training to be able to confidently fulfill these roles is vital for successfully executing them in times of disaster. - Communicate the relevance of the short-term disaster response and relief assignment to their primary assignment.
Possible disaster response and relief roles should be written into position descriptions prior to the beginning of service, and any change in position descriptions should be discussed clearly with each participant. - Provide the necessary tools—in advance—for participants to be able to perform their job adequately.
This applies to all necessary equipment, including appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, respirators, and so forth) for the assignment. If it is impossible to secure equipment prior to their service, training should be provided before the disaster response and relief assignment so that each participant has the necessary skills to carry out their part during the disaster response. - Provide assurance they are being taken care of—including safety and liability insurance.
Liability laws and worker's compensation coverage vary from state to state, so check out what is and is not covered in your particular state before any participants are assigned to disaster response. Information on each state's laws is available from the Risk Management Resource Center.Worker's Compensation insurance may not cover participants if they are injured while conducting a duty substantially different from their primary duties, so check on coverage before assigning any volunteers to new assignments.
- Provide ongoing training and communication.
Regular updates including when they will return to their primary assignments, general disaster information and the disaster work of other participants, should be made often so that the participants feel active in the overall disaster response and relief efforts. Ongoing training should be provided in a timely manner to allow participants to fulfill their roles effectively. Program managers may need to augment initial training as well as adding appropriate training that may be needed for new assignments. - Debrief after completing disaster assignments and provide training and support for re-entry to the regular position.
Service in disaster areas can be stressful, and the return to a primary assignment rocky. Support and training when making the transition and debriefing about the disaster assistance role should be provided to all disaster assistance workers. Check with local social workers and mental health professionals about resources or formal sessions for your participants. Some important resources include:Psychological First Aid Manual, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Critical Incident Stress Information Sheet, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
- Provide information on potential career development opportunities.
During the disaster response and relief assignments and as close of service nears, remember to include the disaster relief and response assignments when discussing post-service options for participants. Some volunteers may wish to pursue the field introduced to them through their disaster response and recovery assignment, so information on possible career development in that field should be provided.
Context
Responding to disasters is increasingly a priority for national service programs. Often these disaster response and relief roles have limited connection to the participant’s primary role and may be far from their host community.Outcome
The community benefits when national service members change their roles to address the changing needs of a community experiencing disaster.Evidence
By alleviating the concerns that national service participants may have about taking on a different role in times of disaster, both the member and the community benefit as disaster needs are met.Posted On
April 12, 2007For More Information
Liz Davnie
Points of Light Foundation
1400 I Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington,
DC
2005
Phone: (202) 729-8117
Email: ldavnie@pointsoflight.org
Resources
CNCS Disaster Services Online OrientationThe CNCS Disaster Services Online Orientation series will help you develop a better understanding of the role of national service and volunteers in disaster services. This series was developed by the Corporation for National and Community Service, along with Project TADS and ETR Associates, and is designed for anyone interested in disaster services.