Volunteer Opportunities

Children’s Disaster Services is about nurturing children

Training

Since 1980, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has been meeting the needs of children by setting up child care centers in shelters and disaster assistance centers across the nation. Specially trained to respond to traumatized children, volunteers provide calm, safe and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos created by tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires any natural or human caused disasters.

Volunteers from across the country:

• Participate in specialized experiential training,
• undergo a rigorous screening process,
• learn to work with children after a disaster and
• are capable of mobilizing rapidly and responding both locally and nationally.

Volunteers arrive to a disaster location with a “Kit of Comfort” containing carefully selected toys that promote imaginative play. Volunteers give children individualized attention and encourage them to express themselves, thereby starting the healing process. Although many volunteers are motivated by faith, CDS’ training is open to anyone over 18 years old. CDS provides respite, education and individualized consultation for parents about their child’s unique emotional needs after a disaster. Through consultation or workshops specifically tailored to each situation, CDS also works with parents, community agencies, schools or others to help them understand and meet the special needs of children during or after a disaster.

Judy Bezon (jbezon@brethren.org) is Associate Director, Children’s Disaster Services, Church of the Brethren, 601 Main Street/P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776 or phone 410-635-8734 (office). View the program information on the CDS website. Read a story about volunteering through this avenue.

Children’s Disaster Services is one of the classes offered at the upcoming NCJ Disaster Response Academy in March to be held at the Koinonia Retreat Center near South Haven, Minnesota. Information on the whole Academy and registration can be found on here.

UMCOR Disaster Preparedness Academy

Training

We never know when the next round of disasters, whatever they may be and whenever they may hit our conferences. To be prepared, a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Disaster Preparedness Academy for the North Central Jurisdiction will be held March 14-17, 2012, at the Minnesota Conference Koinoina Retreat Center in North Haven, Minn. The event invitation and registration information is posted on the UMVIM-NCJ website at www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/NCVIM/Disaster_Response.html.

Preliminary plans call for novice, training and experienced class tracks. Besides courses open to ALL, there will be classes for Conference Disaster Response Coordinators, District Disaster Response Coordinators and Conference UMVIM Coordinators, plus a class where they all meet together to discuss their respective roles and how to interact during a disaster. A special course on working with Children in Disaster is being brought to the event by Children's Disaster Services, Church of the Brethren. If you have never thought your skills could be used during a disaster, this might be your special place.

Heather Klason, Minnesota Disaster Response coordinator, will host the event. A minimum of 30 people must attend in order to hold this event. UMCOR consultants lead most of the classes.

For more information, contact Lorna Jost at umvim-ncj@brookings.net or call her at 605-692-3390. This opportunity is provided in part through your Indiana Conference tithe. For more information, click here.

NCJ Rx Consultation to be held near Detroit May 4-6

Training

The North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission announces the 2012 Rx Consultation to be held at Highland United Methodist Church in the Detroit Conference. Dates are Friday to Sunday, May 4 to 6. Please include this event on your calendar. Information on speakers, workshops and registration will be available within a month. Thanks to Highland UMC, the staff and Karie Saunders, mission coordinator, for agreeing to host the event. Highland UMC is located at 680 W. Livingston Road in Highland, Mich. (45 miles northwest from downtown Detroit or 32 miles northeast of Ann Arbor, Mich.).