During Blue Sky Periods, the AmeriCorps Member Disaster Case Manager helps to train affiliate volunteers in disaster case management to boost Sewa’s pool of case managers in the event of an emergency
In the aftermath of a disaster, the AmeriCorps Member Disaster Case Manager will serve alongside Sewa’s team of disaster relief professionals to deliver direct services and identify appropriate strategies to assist families in crisis. AmeriCorps Member Disaster Case Managers utilize their knowledge of the community to establish effective relationships with neighbors in need; provide case management, referral, and seamless coordination with other community and supportive services activities that promote recovery support.
Service Activities
Outreach to victims/survivors of disaster or emergency
Maintain a caseload of 15 cases at any given time after disaster
Assess unmet recovery needs with the client through interviews
Conduct home visits;
Explore all available options, and identify the clients’ own resources and access government and community resources that will address the disaster-caused need;
Work with Clients to develop a Recovery Plan;
Make appropriate referrals to fill gaps in assistance;
Stay current on available resources and services;
Have a comprehensive understanding of available programs;
Track referrals and services;
Keep a robust notes of the work done on the case on CiviCRM
Maintain case files and other paperwork as required;
Follow-up with clients until files are closed; and
Prepare and submit reports as required.
Provide translation and interpretation to clients as needed.
Community Need Addressed
RAND studies show a lack of agencies providing accessible and relevant Disaster Preparedness (DP) training to the public which impacts refugees and recent immigrants living at or below the poverty line who may not have the necessary tools, knowledge and language proficiency to access this information. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, this linguistic/cultural isolation, along with an absence of necessary documents, put immigrants at greater risk before, during and after disasters.
Houston has suffered the greatest number of natural disasters in the last 20 years and there is a constant need for adequately trained Disaster Case Managers to assist vulnerable communities in recovering from disaster. There is also lack of shelters with adequately trained personnel and facilities to accommodate specific cultural/religious sensibilities while simultaneously serving the public in times of emergencies.
Position Outcomes
Beneficiaries of the program are predominantly recent immigrants/refugees that reside in Sewa communities, and/or who have a connection to the temples/community centers where shelter programs have been established. Individuals who attend disaster preparedness trainings self-select to participate in the programs.
Essential to creating a resilient community with the knowledge, tools and skills to face a disaster is the availability of programs that help individuals to engage in networks that bolster their safety/survival, in addition to mitigating damages and enhancing recovery. Sewa expects to serve 520 individuals comprised of 100 Sewa core/affiliate volunteers; 40 shelter personnel and 380 community members. While we fully expect 100% of the participants to report heightened confidence in their preparedness knowledge/skills, we understand the subjectivity of the self-evaluation and estimate 75% of community members to report increased preparedness.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
In addition to robust position-related training at onboarding, Members also receive substantive professional and personal development training throughout the service year.
Education Benefits
College Degree
CERT
First Aid
DCM
Skills you will gain
Case management, community outreach, data collection, servant leadership, disaster preparedness
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment