Volunteer Engagement MA COAD – March 2014

1. Volunteer EngagementMA COAD – March 2014 Steve Ridini – Health Resources in Action Jennifer Frenette – Division of Civilian Medical Reserve Corps Jean Roma – Cape and Islands Medical Reserve Corps

2. Objectives for Workshop • Understand Effective Coalitions and Sustainability • Share National/Regional Best Practices, Partners, and Models • Implement Engaging Opportunities Locally

3. A Little Background about Us • Steve Ridini • Jennifer Frenette • Jean Roma

4. A Little Background about You

5. Building and Sustaining Effective Coalitions • COAD Summit • Steve Ridinisridini@hria.org • March 2014

6. Why Coalitions? • Address new and broader issues • Develop widespread support for issues • Encourage collaborative problem solving • Create culturally relevant solutions • Maximize the power of individuals • Provide more cost effective and coordinated services – minimize duplication of services • Leverage additional/new resources • Increase communication within community

7. Definition of a Coalition An organization of individuals representing diverse organizations, factions or constituencies who agree to work together in order to achieve a common goal. - Feighery & Rogers, 1989 An organization of diverse interest groups that combine their human and material resources to effect specific change that members are unable to bring about independently. - Brown, 1984

8. Coalition Functions • Communication - Members have a chance to share and learn from other members as well as become more familiar with the various organizations involved in the coalition. Communication needs to be honest and open. • Coordination - Planning tasks, setting objectives, and synchronizing services are key to successful coalition development. The identity of each organization is not lost in this process. • Collaboration - Members must work together to help achieve coalition goals and objectives set jointly by the members. The activities of the coalition are conducted on behalf of the coalition.

9. Characteristics of Effective Coalitions • Understanding of the “community” • Shared Vision • Clearly defined mission, goals, and objectives • Active community engagement • Organizational Competence • Effective leadership • Experienced staff/volunteers • Trust • Accountability

10. Characteristics of Effective Coalitions • Organizational Structure and Function • Task done and Team spirit • Communicating message/benefits to community • Linkages to other organizations • Time and persistence • Continually assessing progress • Source: P. Mattessich, B. Monsey, and C. Roy, Community Building: What Makes It Work, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation 2001; T.Wolff and D. Foster, Coalition Building: Basic Principles. Area Health Education Center, 1990.

11. Potential Obstacles • Poor communication • Limited experience • Resistant leaders • Over-committed leaders • Not enough time • Poor organization/unproductive meetings

12. Definition of Sustainability The process of maintaining an initiative by weaving a practice into the fabric of the community or making a permanent home for a practice within the community

13. Elements of Sustainability • Capacity/Backbone Organization(s) • Process for recruiting and engaging diverse stakeholders • Developing sound process and “organizational” structure • Strategic Planning, Implementation and Evaluation • Shared agenda/purpose • Using data to turn vision into reality  IMPACT • Implementing evidence-based/informed programs and policy/systems change approaches – mutually reinforcing activities • Shared measurement systems • Communication and Marketing: Building visibility and cultivating buy-in • Resource Diversity • Developing resource plan with diverse funding streams • Cultivating in-kind (material, human) resources • Integration of Efforts: Integrating efforts into other initiatives • Community Champions: Engaging formal/informal leaders

14. What Funders Want • Organizational history/Staff competence • Understanding of the issue • Readiness • Mission fit • Sound approach • Measurable and realistic outcomes  Impact • Accountability • Collaboration • Cost effectiveness

15. Resources • www.odh.ohio.gov • www.cdc.gov • www.census.gov • www.ctb.ku.edu • www.foundationcenter.org • www.fedgrants.gov • www.forumforfundraising.com • www.gih.org • www.hria.org • www.samhsa.gov

16. National/Regional Best Practices, Partners, and Models MA COAD – March 2014 Jennifer Frenette, DCVMRC

17. The Obvious • There are usually not very many disasters (usually a good thing) – however…we are in the “what if” business and need to be prepared • First Responders have a day-to-day mission – volunteers typically do not • Exercises are OK, but they are not really a good test of a group’s ability to respond • There is plenty of good work to do everyday! And many of it develops useful skills for volunteers

18. Do Important Work • Explore opportunities to solve problems for your team and other agencies • Do things that need to be done • Fight battles that need to be fought • Don’t engage in “Busy Work” or ask your members to • If you ask your members to do things they don’t feel are important, they will have no passion to do them. • Stimulate volunteer interest! • Make volunteers visible!

19. Think! Be Creative! • Keep the Team Engaged, Ready and Trained • Find worthwhile things for them to do • Expand the scope of the things you do • Public Health Projects • Mass Gathering Events • Training Classes • Find key community partners

20. Really Creative! It is important to find activities to keep your volunteers engaged in useful projects: • ·Brookline Department of Health MRC, Brookline, MA; Brookline Youth Wellness Project • ·Greater Taunton MRC, Taunton, MA; Psychological First Aid for Families Experiencing Homelessness • ·Norfolk County 7 MRC, Needham, MA; Clearing the Air: Empowering Nail Salon Owners and Workers for Better Health • ·Rhode Island MRC, West Greenwich, RI; Naloxen and Overdose Prevention Education Program

21. Examples Around the Country • New Mexico MRC taught Moulage techniques to elementary school kids • Southern Nevada MRC worked at Hepatitis C Outreach event • Mohave County (AZ) MRC demonstrated hand washing techniques at a Health Fair • Burlington County (NJ) participated in a Drive-Through flu clinic • Natrona County (WY) MRC helped with vital signs of firefighters at a fire

22. Examples Around the Country Continued • Gateway to Care (TX) MRC helped load trucks during hurricane response • MRC of Southern Nevada worked at EMS Day by assisting to “Micro Chip” pets • Bear River (UT) MRC volunteered during county exercises to refine their relationship with EMS Prior to the occurrence of mass casualty incidents • Southwest Idaho MRC participated in radio training event • Oak Park Illinois MRC participated in an “Operation Problem Child” exercise

23. Provide Genuine Value: Create Partner Agencies • You manage the most important asset of all, Organizations need PEOPLE! • Volunteers are highly motivated • They are willing to work tirelessly • They want to help, in fact, need to help • Find out what other agencies need, and try to fill those needs

24. Never Say No When Asked if You Can Help Someone • If you want to help, always say yes • There may be requests that you’re not sure you can do • Find a way • There may be other requests that you think are beneath your team • They’re not • Say Yes Anyway

25. Partner With Purpose • Citizen Corps Teams – MRC, CERT, Fire/Police Corps , Senior Volunteers • Federal Partners –OWH, OMH, HUD, SAMSHA, CDC • American Red Cross https://medicalreservecorps.gov/partnerFldr/JointMemoTemplate/ARCMRCJointMemo • Health Occupations Students of America, Girls and Boys Clubs and Scouts • National Ski Patrol • Americorps/Vista • United Way, COAD, VOAD Campaigns: • Let’s Move and Million Hearts Campaigns • Great American Smoke Out • America’s Preparathon Most Valuable – Connect with Each other!!!

26. Everyone is Valuable • People volunteer for a variety of reasons. • Serve their community • Camaraderie • Adrenalin • What they don’t come for is disrespect • Strive to be inclusive and welcome everyone. • Everyone has something to offer • Set a positive tone and demand that everyone do the same • The negative thought filter • As much as you can, don’t allow cliques to flourish • Thank Everyone for their effort if they give you a day or just an hour • If you really appreciate them, it will show.

27. Make it Fun • It’s serious business, but it should be fun too • You set the mood • Think Big – if you think small, you’ll stay small. • Look for and develop leadership from your members – Delegate! • Try to identify the new leaders of your group – Empower! • Make sure that everyone is included in things in which they can contribute • Get the group together to celebrate successes!!

28. “Local People Taking Care of Local People” Community Organizations Active in Disasters March 26, 2014 Jean M. Roma MSN, APRN-BC

29. Organ Story

30. Community Based

31. Cape Cod • Senior Health Challenges • Increased demand for health services • Seniors are living longer and facing chronic disease • More likely to require home care • Increased rates of neurological disease • Increased demands on care takers • Nearly 40% households include a resident over 65 yrs. (State average is 26%) • Increase in number of people living alone resulting in increased risk of isolation, depression, and injury • Community Needs Assessment Report and Implementation Plan 2014-2016

32. IMPACT on PLANNING Volunteers Type of Activities

33. Safe Sun Project

34. Junior MRC Garden

35. Choke Saving for Restaurants

36. First Aid at Road Races

37. First Aid for Special Populations

38. Additional Opportunities Safe Disposal of Medication to Community Groups Tick Education Parish Nurse Training in Emergency Preparedness Resilience Education with Faith Based Groups Adult Immunizations Health Fairs Hand Washing with Black Light Junior Medical Reserve Corps Winter Safety Red Cross Blood Drives Education of DPW/Beach Staff on Sun Safety Sun Safety and Tick Education at Camps Train AmeriCorps Volunteers Distribute KI Teach Preparedness and Build kits with Head Start Families Teach CPR to Food Pantries Starting to work on Bike Safety for Restaurant Workers Starting to work with the Coalition on Oral Health Excellence

39. The Treasure