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Youth in Disaster Services. presented by Pat West and Sandy Tesch. Welcome!. Introductions . Session Overview. History of youth in Disaster Services What youth can do Youth in Disaster Services Manual Roles and expectations Best practices Discussion and questions . Activity. History.
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Youth in Disaster Services presented by Pat West and Sandy Tesch
Welcome! • Introductions
Session Overview • History of youth in Disaster Services • What youth can do • Youth in Disaster Services Manual • Roles and expectations • Best practices • Discussion and questions
History • 1884 -- the Little Six fundraised for floods in Ohio and Mississippi • 1917 -- Woodrow Wilson established the Junior Red Cross to help war effort • Today -- almost one-third of American Red Cross volunteers are under age 25
What Youth Offer • Youth… • Work well with a diverse range of clients • Have more flexible schedules • Know languages other than English • Are fun, outgoing, friendly, and helpful!
Disaster Services • Disaster Action Teams (DAT) • Respond to local emergencies, usually fires • Help those displaced by incident • Money for immediate needs: food, clothing, shelter • Other assistance • Assess damage to home or apartment
Disaster Services • Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System • Database of volunteers who respond to big national-level disasters • Open to ages 18 and up
Disaster Services • If you are 16 or 17, you can enter the DSHR system as a “Local Only” volunteer • On your 18th birthday, your status can be switched to National • Take care of the paperwork now!
What Youth Can Do • Serve on Disaster Action Teams • Join the DSHR system • Work in a shelter • Staff a service center • Answer phones in a call center • Serve meals • Organize warehouse distribution
What Youth Cannot Do • You can do everything!
Youth in Disaster Services Manual • Recently updated! • Outlines how to integrate youth into Disaster Services • Who can manage youth • Common hesitations to involving youth • Show this to your chapter staff!
Common Hesitations • Liability • One youth (under 18) should never be alone with one adult (18 and over) • Two youth and one adult is okay • Two adults and one youth is okay • Youth Waiver Form • Labor laws
Youth in Disaster Services Manual Manuals Youth In Disaster Services (scroll down)
Best Practice: DIAL Hotline • Martin County Chapter in Stuart, FL • Youth service as call center operators during hurricane season • Provide information to residents before, during, and after storms • Trainings held twice a year
Best Practice: Youth Disaster College • Arlington County Chapter in Arlington, VA • Weekend training for youth and young adult volunteers in Disaster Services • Participants received all the training they needed in a faster, more youth-friendly format
What Else? • Planning • Preparedness • Community Disaster Education • Fundraising
Contact Us • Pat West Chair, National Youth Council WestPat@usa.redcross.org • Sandy Tesch Past Chair, National Youth Council TeschS@usa.redcross.org