WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONES LIFE?
Disaster volunteers assist people affected by disasters here in our community and across the country. The information in this packet will help you decide if disaster volunteering is right for you. Included you will find:
· Disaster Mental Health Services Brochure
· Mental Health Services Job Description
· Volunteer Application and Reference Forms
If you have questions, please contact the Volunteer Resources department at 614-253-2470, ext. 2533, or email at .
Disaster Mental Health Services
The Disaster Mental Health team works in conjunction with Emergency Services to assist when needed with clients and staff/volunteers affected by a disaster.
When are we called to a disaster scene?
· A death or serious injury has occurred
· Children are involved in the disaster
· Pet loss
· Clients are in deep distress or grief
· There is a major negative reaction to being displaced, such as refusal to leave a damaged home
· The incident involved multiple families
· Individuals seem confused, disoriented, or are not making sense.
And that’s not all…
In the course of your work as a volunteer with the American Red Cross, you may find that you want to talk to someone about your experiences helping others in disasters. You will have new experiences whether you are deployed to a large-scale national disaster or if you respond to a fire in a local neighborhood. You may experience a range of emotions (some that even seem to contradict) at different times, such as:
Arrival at the Scene / As Relief Activity Continues / Going Home· Excitement
· Exhilaration
· Anxiety / · Gratification about being able to help
· Stress
· Frustration
· Fatigue / · Sadness about leaving the disaster
· Challenges in transitioning to normal routine
· Feelings of accomplishment or lack of accomplishment
Trained professionals can talk with you about any of these concerns. All conversations are confidential.
Volunteer Position Description
American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
Position Title: Disaster Mental Health Team Member
Purpose
/ To support the Disaster Mental Health activity within Emergency ServicesKey Responsibilities / § Provides on-call Mental Health support to local Disaster Response Team (DRT) responses within Franklin, Madison, Fayette and Pickaway counties.
§ Conducts follow-up with disaster clients and/or American Red Cross of Greater Columbus (ARCGC) staff and volunteers, as requested
§ Refer the Emergency Spiritual Care Team as needed
§ Supports the Armed Forces Emergency Services program as needed
Reports To / Paid Staff Supervisor: Emergency Services Assistant Director
Volunteer Supervisor: Volunteer Mental Health Team Coordinator
Time Commitment / § Attend monthly team meetings
§ Minimum of two on-call shifts per month
Length of Appointment / 1 year
Qualifications / § Licensed or certified mental health professional
§ Must be approachable, flexible, and committed to serving others
§ Maintain confidentiality at all times
Training / Required:
§ Introduction to Disaster Services (Available online at http://www.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01/)
§ Fulfilling Our Mission: Translating Your Compassion into Community Action
§ Foundations of Disaster Mental Health
§ Psychological First Aid
Recommended:
§ Disaster Response Team Orientation
§ Client Casework: Providing Emergency Assistance
§ Must observe 2-3 Disaster Response Team runs
Relationships / Interacts with all Emergency Services employees and volunteer staff
Budget Support / All training, materials, workspaces and/or any other equipment deemed necessary to perform the duties of the position would be provided by the American Red Cross
Benefits/Development Opportunities / § Affiliation with one of the most well-respected, internationally known humanitarian organizations
§ Ability to network with other mental health professionals
§ Opportunity for training and development in disaster mental health
§ Hands-on experience helping people recover from disasters
In accordance with Chapter Policies:
§ Each Red Cross volunteer is required to provide written affirmation that he or she will perform Red Cross duties in compliance with the Red Cross Code of Conduct and the Red Cross Confidential Information and Intellectual Property Policy. All volunteers are expected to protect the Red Cross image and reputation by behaving ethically and appropriately.
§ The ARCGC may perform, or may request that third parties perform, background and reference checks at any time in the volunteer application process. All background and reference checks will be performed in accordance with applicable federal and/or state laws. This check includes a criminal history check for the past seven years and a social security number verification.
§ In addition volunteers whose job duties require regular, unsupervised access to clients who are youth, elderly, or disabled, or whose duties require the safeguarding/handling of Red Cross assets, must have a background free of conduct which may adversely impact their ability to perform their duties and must submit to a background check on an annual basis. It is the policy of the ARCGC require additional screening and require fingerprinting and a Criminal Record report from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and/or Federal Bureau of Investigation.
I understand the responsibilities and qualifications of this job description, and agree to fulfill them to the best of my ability.
Print Name
Signature Date
For office use only
Date: / /____
HCMS ID#:
Volunteer Application
Please type or print clearly. All information will be treated confidentially. Please answer all questions as completely as possible.
Personal Information
Last Name First Name MI
Address
City State Zip County
E-mail Address
Home Phone Business Phone Other Phone
Phone Preference: Home Business Other
Are you employed? Yes No If yes, Full time Part time
Retired (if retired, please list last place of employment)
Employer Occupation
Business Address City State Zip
Are you a student? Yes No If yes, Full time Part time
Name of School
Emergency Contact
Name Relationship
Complete Address City State Zip
Day Phone Evening Phone
Previous Experiences
(Employment, Volunteer or Educational experiences)
Organization Dates of Service Services Performed
Licenses
(Drivers and professional license)
Type State Number Expiration Date
Area(s) of Interest
Please check the area(s) in which you would like to volunteer.
Administrative/Special Project Support Disaster Response Health & Safety Instructor
Community Awareness Team Member Disaster Client Caseworker Military Briefer
Community Disaster Education Presenter First Aid Service Corps Member Transportation Driver
American Red Cross Training Certification
Course Description Date Instructor
______
Volunteer Availability
Days: Mon-Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Flexible
Times: Morning Afternoon Evening
Specific hours or time constraint?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony, or within the past 24 months of a misdemeanor that resulted in imprisonment? (a conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant) Yes No
For both references, please select someone not related to you (spouse, in-law, immediate family, fiancé, etc).
Reference (Personal) ______
Name Relationship to you Phone Number
Reference (Professional) ______
Name Relationship to you Phone Number
My signature denotes that I verify the information provided in this volunteer application is true, correct, and complete. I hereby give my consent to the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus to verify this information and regarding my character, including contacting references, and unconditionally release your company from all liability that might result from furnishing same. I understand that my acceptance as a Red Cross Volunteer is on a conditional basis, with the American Red Cross reserving the right to terminate the service of any volunteer whose conduct in any way reflects negatively upon the American Red Cross.
q (Optional – check if “yes”) I grant full permission to the sponsors, organizers and affiliates to use my name, photographs or any other record of participation in this volunteer service event for use in any broadcast, telecast, or any other written account of the event for publicity purposes, without compensation or remuneration.
Applicant’s Signature Date
American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
Volunteer Resources · 995 East Broad Street · Columbus, Ohio 43205
253-2740 ext. 2355 · Fax 253-4081
Professional Reference Form
Note: This form should be completed by someone best able to assess the applicant’s skills as experienced in a work setting. This can include an employer, teacher, coach, club advisor, or supervisor from another volunteer program. As with all Red Cross reference forms in the volunteer application process, it should not be completed by someone related to the applicant.
Today’s Date:____/____/____
Name of Applicant: ______
How long have you known the applicant?______
Relationship to the applicant?______
Reference Information:
Name of Reference: ______
Address: ______
______(please include zip code)
Telephone: ______Fax: ______E-mail: ______
Signature of Reference Person: ______
How does applicant rate on the following? Poor Good Exceptional
Attendance □ □ □
Quality of Work □ □ □
Ability to work under pressure □ □ □
Ability to work with others □ □ □
Initiative □ □ □
Ability to work independently □ □ □
Cooperation □ □ □
Communication (Written) □ □ □
Communication (Verbal) □ □ □
Attitude □ □ □
What area(s) could applicant improve upon?
Do you know of anything that might hinder applicant’s effectiveness as a volunteer?
Would you recommend this applicant for a volunteer position?
(Professional Reference Form - Page 1 of 2)
Please answer questions for the applicant’s area of interest.
Emergency Services positions:
Disaster Mental Health Services assist with client and staff/volunteers affected by a disaster
Disaster Action Team member On-call response to local disasters
Disaster Client Caseworker Interview disaster victims to determine needs
Dispatcher Receives incoming calls from first responders after business hours
Preparedness Team Member support to specific disaster functions in preparedness and response activities
r Does applicant have good written & verbal skills?
r Can applicant problem solve?
r How would you assess the applicant’s ability to respond quickly and work as part of a team?
r Does applicant have the ability to explain things clearly?
American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
Volunteer Resources · 995 East Broad Street · Columbus, Ohio 43205
Fax (614) 253-4081 s (614) 253-2740 ext. 2355
Personal Reference Form
Today’s Date____/____/____
Name of Volunteer Applicant ______
Name of Reference ______
Address of Reference ______
______(please include zip code!)
Telephone ______Email ______
Signature of person completing this form ______
The above named volunteer applicant has chosen you as a personal reference. Are you willing to share your experience of the applicant for the purpose of assisting our agency in making a sound volunteer selection and placement decision?
Yes No
If yes, please comment on the following:
What is your relationship to applicant?
How long have you known applicant?
Describe applicant’s attitude/personality.
How well does applicant interact with others?
In your opinion, is applicant suitable for humanitarian type work?
Please answer questions for the applicant’s area of interest.
Emergency Services positions:
Disaster Action Team member On-call response to local disasters
Disaster Client Caseworker Interview disaster victims to determine needs
Dispatcher Receives incoming calls from first responders after business hours
Preparedness Team Member support to specific disaster functions in preparedness and response activities
r Does applicant have good written & verbal skills?
r Can applicant problem solve?
r How would you assess the applicant’s ability to respond quickly and work as part of a team?
r Does applicant have the ability to explain things clearly?