Help your community by responding to local disasters.

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Recruiting Organization: American Red Cross of Louisiana

On average, the American Red Cross responds to approximately 64,000 disasters a year. Of these, about 50,000 are single and multi-family fires and other localized events to which the Red Cross Disaster Action Teams (DAT) respond. These volunteers respond to the needs of victims of local disasters (mainly house fires) and provide them with compassion and the resources needed to meet their immediate needs (such as shelter, food, and clothing). We need you to join our Disaster Action Team in Louisiana. Requirements to be a Disaster Action Team Member:

· Willingness to train and learn new skills while assisting clients.

· Commitment to responding to client’s needs.

· Flexible schedule based on volunteers’ availability.

· Pass background and Motor vehicle record check.

· Basic computer skills.

To apply, please go to RedCross.org/Louisiana or e-mail LouisianaVolServices@redcross.org

Positions needed:

· Shelter Worker: Work at a Red Cross emergency shelter during a local disaster. Depending on interest and training, may be eligible to deploy to statewide incidents or larger disasters. National and sometimes Local Volunteer positions.

o Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIfYYH7_iBA

· Disaster Action Team (DAT): The Disaster Action Team are our "boots on the ground", the second responders to support clients impacted by disaster after the first responders confirm the scene is safe. This compassionate team of responders collectively ensures we have 24/7 coverage to ensure we can maintain our commitment to respond to all residential disasters* within two hours of notification. DAT members do this by signing up for "on-call" shifts wherein they continue their daily lives like normal but when the call comes, they spring into action to meet with clients, assess the situation, and open a case to provide immediate assistance ensuring they have a safe place to go, food to eat, and comfort items.

· DAT Duty Officer (Dispatcher): For our Disaster Action Team to be successful, we need organized volunteers to support them. Our Duty Officers serve as the dispatching center that helps evaluate the numerous calls for assistance that come into the Red Cross. Duty Officers serve on-call shifts awaiting calls for assistance from the community (e.g., Clients, fire departments, and other agencies) anywhere in Louisiana. Duty Officers gather essential elements of information to ensure calls qualify for our assistance and set a response up for success for the Disaster Action Team in the field.

· Recovery Worker: Recovery Group Members help clients and communities impacted by disaster identify their new normal and achieve their path to recovery through compassionate recovery planning. Opportunities for involvement exist at local, regional, and national levels. The Recovery Team are compassionate volunteers who pick up the baton after the Response volunteers (DAT or Mass Care) provide the initial support. Through consistent follow-up phone calls and conversations, Recovery workers help empower clients to establish their own plans on how to move forward by identifying their existing resources, resources available in the community, and methods to overcome any existing gaps. Due to the close bond of trust caseworkers establish with clients, volunteers in this role need to have a consistent weekly volunteer commitment.

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring