Youth in Disaster ServicesYouth in Disaster Services

presented bypresented by

Pat West and Sandy TeschPat West and Sandy Tesch

Welcome!Welcome!

• Introductions Introductions

Session OverviewSession Overview

• History of youth in Disaster ServicesHistory of youth in Disaster Services

• What youth can doWhat youth can do

• Youth in Disaster Services ManualYouth in Disaster Services Manual

• Roles and expectationsRoles and expectations

• Best practicesBest practices

• Discussion and questions Discussion and questions

ActivityActivity

HistoryHistory

• 1884 -- the Little Six 1884 -- the Little Six fundraised for floods in fundraised for floods in Ohio and Mississippi Ohio and Mississippi

• 1917 -- Woodrow Wilson 1917 -- Woodrow Wilson established the Junior Red established the Junior Red Cross to help war effortCross to help war effort

• Today -- almost one-third Today -- almost one-third of American Red Cross of American Red Cross volunteers are under age volunteers are under age 2525

What Youth OfferWhat Youth Offer

• Youth…Youth…– Work well with a diverse range of clientsWork well with a diverse range of clients– Have more flexible schedulesHave more flexible schedules– Know languages other than EnglishKnow languages other than English– Are fun, outgoing, friendly, and helpful! Are fun, outgoing, friendly, and helpful!

Disaster ServicesDisaster Services• Disaster Action Disaster Action

Teams (DAT) Teams (DAT) – Respond to local Respond to local

emergencies, usually emergencies, usually firesfires

– Help those displaced Help those displaced by incident by incident • Money for immediate Money for immediate

needs: food, clothing, needs: food, clothing, shelter shelter

• Other assistanceOther assistance

– Assess damage to Assess damage to home or apartment home or apartment

Disaster ServicesDisaster Services

• Disaster Services Human Resources Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System(DSHR) System– Database of volunteers who respond to Database of volunteers who respond to

big national-level disasters big national-level disasters – Open to ages 18 and upOpen to ages 18 and up

Disaster ServicesDisaster Services

• If you are 16 or 17, you can If you are 16 or 17, you can enter the DSHR system as enter the DSHR system as a “Local Only” volunteera “Local Only” volunteer

• On your 18On your 18thth birthday, your birthday, your status can be switched to status can be switched to National National

• Take care of the paperwork Take care of the paperwork now! now!

What Youth Can DoWhat Youth Can Do

• Serve on Disaster Action TeamsServe on Disaster Action Teams

• Join the DSHR systemJoin the DSHR system

• Work in a shelterWork in a shelter

• Staff a service centerStaff a service center

• Answer phones in a call centerAnswer phones in a call center

• Serve meals Serve meals

• Organize warehouse distributionOrganize warehouse distribution

What Youth Cannot DoWhat Youth Cannot Do

• You can do You can do everything!everything!

Youth in Disaster Services Youth in Disaster Services ManualManual

• Recently updated!Recently updated!

• Outlines how to Outlines how to integrate youth into integrate youth into Disaster ServicesDisaster Services– Who can manage Who can manage

youthyouth– Common hesitations Common hesitations

to involving youthto involving youth

• Show this to your Show this to your chapter staff! chapter staff!

Common HesitationsCommon Hesitations

• LiabilityLiability– One youth (under 18) should never be One youth (under 18) should never be

alone with one adult (18 and over) alone with one adult (18 and over) •Two youth and one adult is okayTwo youth and one adult is okay

•Two adults and one youth is okay Two adults and one youth is okay

– Youth Waiver FormYouth Waiver Form

• Labor laws Labor laws

Youth in Disaster Services Youth in Disaster Services ManualManual

Manuals

Youth In Disaster Services

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Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities

Youth Youth VolunteerVolunteer

Disaster Disaster DirectorDirector

Youth AdvisorYouth Advisor

• Be there!Be there!

• Report any Report any problems or problems or concernsconcerns

• Contribute Contribute your time and your time and skillsskills

•Work together Work together to solve to solve problemsproblems

• Ensure Ensure youth are youth are trained trained properlyproperly

• Provide Provide resourcesresources

• Mentor Mentor youth youth

• Supervise Supervise and oversee and oversee youth youth volunteersvolunteers

• Address Address liability liability concernsconcerns

Debate!Debate!

Best Practice: DIAL HotlineBest Practice: DIAL Hotline

• Martin County Martin County Chapter in Stuart, FLChapter in Stuart, FL– Youth service as call Youth service as call

center operators center operators during hurricane during hurricane seasonseason

– Provide information Provide information to residents before, to residents before, during, and after during, and after stormsstorms

– Trainings held twice a Trainings held twice a year year

Best Practice: Youth Disaster Best Practice: Youth Disaster CollegeCollege

• Arlington County Chapter in Arlington County Chapter in Arlington, VAArlington, VA– Weekend training for youth and young Weekend training for youth and young

adult volunteers in Disaster Servicesadult volunteers in Disaster Services– Participants received all the training Participants received all the training

they needed in a faster, more youth-they needed in a faster, more youth-friendly format friendly format

What Else?What Else?

• Planning Planning

• PreparednessPreparedness

• Community Disaster Education Community Disaster Education

• FundraisingFundraising

Next StepsNext Steps

Brainstorm!!!!Brainstorm!!!!

Questions?Questions?

Contact UsContact Us

• Pat WestPat West

Chair, National Youth CouncilChair, National Youth Council

WestPat@usa.redcross.orgWestPat@usa.redcross.org

• Sandy TeschSandy Tesch

Past Chair, National Youth Council Past Chair, National Youth Council

TeschS@usa.redcross.orgTeschS@usa.redcross.org