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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