AmeriCorps NCCC: National Service’s Frontline Responders in Disaster NVOAD Conference Norfolk, Virginia Rich Smith, Deputy Region Director for Programming, AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region, Vicksburg, MS
Just Imagine… • 10 hard-working people • Dedicated to your organization • Doing the work you need to get done, under your direction • Freeing your staff and skilled volunteers to perform higher, supervisory duties • Doing MORE, FASTER for disaster-stricken communities • Very little cost or hassle to you
Next time, why should someone else have all the fun? UMCOR Nechama American Red Cross Lutheran Disaster Response Salvation Army Catholic Charities Habitat for Humanity Rebuilding Together FEMA
Overview • • • • • •
What is AmeriCorps NCCC? Who are NCCC Members? What can NCCC teams do? Speaker from NCCC sponsor, Nechama What does my organization have to provide? How can my organization become a sponsor (get a team)? • Questions
Administered by CNCS (federal agency)
The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
Corporation for National & Community Service
Senior Corps
National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
AmeriCorps
Learn & Serve
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps
VISTA
State & National
AmeriCorps NCCC
Mission To strengthen communities and develop leaders through team-based national and community service Combines the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service
NCCC Quick Facts (pronounced “N-triple-C”) • Federally funded and operated, residential, team-based service program • Teams composed of approximately 10 members and one Team Leader • Enrollment of 1,200 members annually (and counting!) based across five regional campuses • Campuses serve as bases where members are assembled into teams, receive initial training, and transition between projects
Regional Campuses Atlantic Region: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, USVI, VT Southern Region: AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV North Central Region: IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI Southwest Region: AR, AZ, CO, KS, MO, NM, OK, TX Pacific Region: AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
NCCC Quick Facts (pronounced “N-triple-C”) • During a 10-month term of service, teams perform a series of short-term projects at various locations throughout the region • Each project lasts no more than 8 weeks (4 weeks for disaster response) • Teams serve at the request, and under the supervision, of nonprofit and government organizations – YOU! • All projects follow a Service Learning model: enriching, meaningful projects that build the knowledge and skills of members to foster a lifetime of service to communities
Who are NCCC Members? • Age 18 to 24 – Team Leaders usually older • Come from across the country, diverse backgrounds, 50/50 split between men and women • Education ranges from high school to college graduate, some seeking GED • Must apply to be admitted to the program – process very competitive • Beginner skills, but results-driven and passionate about service
Priority Areas Natural and Other Disasters Infrastructure Improvement Environmental Stewardship and Conservation Energy Conservation Urban and Rural Development
NCCC Niche within CNCS Portfolio Disaster Response Flexibility/Relocation Strategic Support Multiplier Force
NCCC Disaster Accomplishments SINCE 2000 • • • • • • • • • • •
4.7 million service hours completed on disaster projects nationwide Service on disaster projects valued at over $100 million Assisted 10.1 million people Recruited and coordinated 660,000 volunteers Constructed over 4,100 new homes Refurbished over 17,000 homes Distributed 27,000 tons of food Distributed 2,700 tons of clothing Served 3.6 million meals Completed 184,000 damage assessments Fought fires on 788,000 acres of land
NCCC Availability for Disaster Teams are deployed in two ways: • Expedited disaster request (unplanned, immediate response for disaster that just occurred) • Regular application process (disaster preparation, mitigation, long-term recovery – nonemergency) Wildland Firefighting and Fire Mitigation (prescribed burns and fuel reduction)
Immediate Response (expedited request process) • • • • • • • •
Shelter management Food and water distribution Debris removal Warehouse and distribution center support Call center operations DRC support Volunteer & donations management Other
Response/Early Recovery (expedited request process) • Mucking & gutting structures • Volunteer Reception Centers/Emergency Volunteer Centers • Debris removal • Needs assessments • Volunteer and donations management • Tarping roofs • Case management client outreach and intake • Other
Immediate Response (expedited request process)
Your pain is our PLEASURE: Spontaneous, Unaffiliated volunteers! Truck loads of donations!
Immediate Response (expedited request process)
Dedicated. Reliable.
Service.
• Campus assigns teams to organizations (sponsors) for a specified period of time (usually up to four weeks), to perform approved tasks • Committed to working five or six days a week, eight or more hours per day • Teams want to work and go above and beyond, but don’t take our word for it…
Dan Hoeft, Nechama Jewish Response to Disaster
Who Can Apply to Sponsor an NCCC Team? • • • • • • •
Nonprofits—secular and faith-based Local municipalities and counties State governments Federal government National or state parks Indian tribes Public schools or universities
Sponsors Provide: • Well-devised plan for utilizing the team • Lodging, within 1 hour of work location(s) • Supervision • “Crash” training • Supplies/materials • Special tools and equipment • *Lodging sites may be churches, schools, recreation centers, camping (NCCC has camping gear), park cabins, apartments, hotel suites, summer camps, military barracks, armories, etc. • Must be secured facility with showers, full kitchen, at least two rooms where men and women can sleep separately, and parking for a 15-passenger van
NCCC Teams Come With: • • • • • • •
• •
Funds dedicated exclusively to purchasing the team’s food Transportation and fuel (15-passenger van) Personal safety gear (PPE) Cots, bedding and kitchen supplies (if needed and feasible) Hand tools (if needed and feasible) Team Leader to serve as the liaison between the disaster-response agency and the team (works and lives with the team) Training in First Aid/CPR, basic tool usage, general worksite safety, Red Cross shelter operation and mass care, chainsaw operation (some members), teamwork, diversity skills Liability coverage through Federal Tort Claims Act and Federal Employees Coverage Act Health insurance to cover sickness or injury (on or off work site)
Expedited Request Process Disaster Request Form submitted to Deputy Region Director for Programming at campus serving your state Campus may ask questions, need additional information before approval Request is approved, team may arrive 1-5 days later Only for unplanned, immediate response to disaster that just occurred
Mitigation & Preparedness (regular application process) • • • • • • • • •
• •
Community surveying Prescribed burns and forest fuel reduction Community education & outreach Warehouse support Shelter surveying Preparedness kits Recruiting community volunteers Disaster exercises & drills Planting coastline vegetation and other coastal buffer zone reinforcement Installing hurricane shutters and other building reinforcements Registering residents with disaster alert systems
Long-Term Recovery (regular application process) Home construction/repair Environmental restoration Volunteer management Volunteer housing support Community programming Youth programs School and other public facility repairs and support
Regular Application Process (Disaster mitigation, preparation, long-term recovery) 1) Initial contact with campus Assistant Program Director 2) Submission of Project Concept Form 3) NCCC Project Concept review 4) Application invitation and submission 5) NCCC Application review and selection 6) Project assigned to team Timeline varies by campus – process typically starts about 4-5 months ahead, with notification of selection/nonselection typically 6-7 weeks before project begins
And Now Introducing…
FEMA Corps
FEMA Corps • Adds 1,600 more members to NCCC – more than doubling NCCC’s size to 2,800! • Funded by FEMA, with teams devoted exclusively to FEMA to supplement reservist positions in logistics, community relations, individual assistance, public assistance and more • Intended to bring better service to disaster-stricken communities, and to foster an interest among NCCC members in joining the disaster services workforce! • Being phased in, beginning this summer at Vicksburg, MS, and Vinton, IA, campuses • Service activities and processes of traditional NCCC track (original 1,200 members) will not be affected
Questions & Discussion
Questions?
Regional Contact Information NCCC Atlantic Region CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, USVI, VT Robin Nixon, Deputy Region Director for Programming 410-642-2411 x6852 NCCC Southwest Region AR, AZ, CO, KS, MO, NM, OK, TX Crystal Harris, Deputy Region Director for Programming NCCC Pacific Region AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY Jennifer Szeliga, Deputy Region Director for Programming
303-844-7400
rnixon@cns.gov
charris@cns.gov
916-640-0311
jszeliga@cns.gov
NCCC Southern Region AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV Rich Smith, Deputy Region Director for Programming
601-630-4043
rsmith@cns.gov
NCCC North Central Region IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI Jody Burns, Deputy Region Director for Programming
202-409-6556
jburns@cns.gov
Thank You for Your Time!
Additional information is available in the packet If you are interested in speaking with any of us during the conference, please let us know!