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pdfEngaging Faith-based and
Community Organizations
Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers
June 2018
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
Background ........................................................................................................................................... 2
The Benefits of this Approach to Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations ............ 4
Expanding Views of Faith-based and Community Partners Active in Disaster ..................... 5
Government Partners That May Help Reach Faith-based and Community Organizations.. 7
Steps for Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations ............................................. 8
Step 1: Engagement .............................................................................................................................. 8
Step 2: Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 10
Step 3: Self-Guided and Group Training ......................................................................................... 10
Step 4: Technical Assistance .............................................................................................................. 11
Step 5: Participation in Scenarios/Exercises .................................................................................... 11
Step 6: Affiliation................................................................................................................................ 12
Step 7: Integration .............................................................................................................................. 12
Sustainability ............................................................................................................................... 13
Appendix A:
Organizational Capabilities Assessment Form .......................................... A-1
Appendix B:
Individual Skills Survey ............................................................................... B-1
Appendix C:
Resources ....................................................................................................... C-1
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Introduction
This guide provides a foundation for emergency managers to engage with faith-based and
community organizations that can be partners in building a culture of preparedness and
enhancing the security and resiliency of our nation. Faith-based and community organizations
offer a wide variety of human and material resources that can prove invaluable during and after
an incident. Collaborating with these vital community members will allow emergency managers
to access a multitude of local resources and ensure members of the whole community can
contribute to the disaster resilience effort.
Following the whole community approach outlined in the National Preparedness System, this
guide builds upon the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) A Whole Community
Approach to Emergency Management. The whole community approach to emergency
management engages the full capacity of the private and nonprofit sectors, including businesses,
faith-based and community organizations, academia, and the public, in conjunction with the full
participation of state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal government partners. These
organizations build an effective pathway to security and resilience when they collectively
understand and assess their community needs, and then together determine how to organize and
strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests.
This guide explains a seven-step process for
effectively engaging faith-based and
community organizations (Figure 1) developed,
refined, and validated by the Department of
Homeland Security Center for Faith and
Opportunity Initiatives (the DHS Center) in
collaboration with emergency managers in
several jurisdictions, faith-based leaders,
community leaders, and subject-matter experts
in religious literacy and cultural competency.
The seven steps are:
1. Engagement;
2. Assessment;
3. Self-Guided and Group Training;
4. Technical Assistance;
5. Participation in Scenarios/Exercises;
Figure 1: The 7-Step Engagement Process
6. Affiliation; and
7. Integration.
Emergency managers can view this guide as a starting point for expanding existing engagement
practices with faith-based and community organizations as well as strategizing how to further
implement whole community principles into emergency management activities. All disasters are
local. Just as first responders from other areas defer to those in the impacted areas, faith and
grassroots communities are encouraged to be involved in the response and recovery of their own
communities.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Background
The Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith
and Opportunity Initiatives (the DHS Center) was
established in 2006 to build bridges across the whole
community and to help overcome coordination challenges
among faith-based and community groups, emergency
managers, and other stakeholders. The immediate
aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, in 2005,
identified coordination challenges. Since then, the DHS
Center has sought to engage a broader cross-section of
faith-based and community groups in all stages of the
disaster continuum.
Pensacola, FL, May 18, 2014 – A Spanish
speaking Disaster Survivor Assistance Team
(DSAT) member listens to a priest's concerns at
an event at St. John Church. FEMA's DSAT
disseminated incident information in Spanish
after Sunday service. Torrential rain from a pair
of thunderstorms triggered major flash flooding
in the area. Photo by Andrea Booher/FEMA
To address coordination challenges, the DHS Center
authored this guide in partnership with FEMA’s National
Integration Center, FEMA’s National Preparedness
Assessment Division, and with input from emergency
managers and members of the National Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD). The DHS
Center “embedded” in several jurisdictions for a time working alongside emergency managers to
develop and conduct this guidance process.
Some emergency managers look to external nonprofits to engage faith-based and community
organizations on their behalf. Emergency managers reported; however, that such an approach,
often implemented due to staffing constraints, can lead to a limited representation of the whole
community.
In contrast, respondents noted that sharing engagement responsibilities among multiple
organizations, including emergency management agencies, results in expansive, cross-sector
partnerships. The DHS Center tested this approach through the creation of a seven-step
engagement process.
Moore, OK, May 26, 2013 – Volunteers with the Missouri Lutheran
Church Disaster Response team help survivors clean up after a deadly
tornado. Volunteers provided much needed personal services and were
important FEMA partners in disaster recovery. Photo by George
Armstrong/FEMA
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The DHS Center developed the
seven-step engagement process in
conjunction with the DHS Science
and Technology Directorate to study
and promote best practices on
engaging faith-based and community
organizations in emergency
preparedness. The process can help
jurisdictions improve emergency
operations capabilities by helping
them effectively engage faith-based
and community groups. These
groups, in turn, become significant
force multipliers, connecting with
historically underserved populations.
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Through the seven-step process,
emergency managers can identify and
engage with faith-based and community
groups in underserved communities and
assess their capacity to participate in
emergency preparedness activities. Based
on that assessment, emergency managers
can build partnerships with these groups,
provide training and technical assistance to
strengthen their skills, connect them with
existing partners, and then integrate them
Houston, TX, September 6, 2017 – Faith Center of Houston’s
into emergency management plans and
First Baptist Church, a charitable donation center for
exercises. The DHS Center used this
Houston’s poor and disadvantaged, provides food, water,
clothing, cleaning and household supplies to Hurricane
process in a 2011 pilot in Miami-Dade
Harvey survivors. FEMA partners with federal agencies,
County, Florida, and in several
states, local communities, counties, Voluntary Organizations
jurisdictions since then: City of Los
Active in Disaster (VOAD), and tribal entities in providing
assistance to disaster survivors. Photo by Christopher
Angeles/Los Angeles County, California;
Lakewood Township/Ocean County, New Mardorf/FEMA
Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Orleans, Louisiana. The outcomes of these pilots
demonstrate that communities can effectively integrate faith-based and community groups into
emergency management plans and operations by using the customizable seven-step engagement
process.
In addition to this guide, FEMA and the DHS Center developed a self-paced online study course:
IS-505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster. The course was developed
in partnership with the University of Southern California Center for Risk and Economic Analysis
of Terrorist Events (CREATE). This course, and its companion tip sheet resources, were
developed with the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture
(CRCC) and the National Disaster Interfaith Network. In addition, FEMA personnel assisted the
development of the course by providing their relevant expertise responding to disasters. The
course provides emergency management professionals and faith and community leaders active in
disasters with the religious literacy and competency tools needed to learn how to engage
religious and cultural groups and their leaders effectively throughout the disaster lifecycle.
Access the course and more information at www.fema.gov/faith-resources.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
The Benefits of this Approach to Engaging
Faith-based and Community Organizations
Identified Outcomes from
Engaging Faith-based
and Community Organizations
The engagement process outlined in this guide
provides three important benefits to emergency
managers. Using this guide, emergency managers
will be able to:
Identify potential areas for strengthening existing
engagement strategies and begin to create new
partnerships with local organizations,
particularly those in racially, ethnically,
economically, and religiously diverse
communities.
Uncover numerous untapped community
resources that can help prepare for all hazards.
Incorporate resources from faith-based and
community organizations (e.g., mass
communications support, feeding,
counseling/emotional and spiritual care, health
care) into their emergency management plans
and operations.
Emergency managers using this
engagement approach uncovered
previously unknown assets within local
faith-based and community
organizations.
Faith-based and Community
Organizations can:
Serve as communication hubs to
distribute trusted messages
Host Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) classes
and other trainings
Be used as points of distribution for
emergency commodities and
supplies
Provide staging area and reception
sites for emergency services
Support mobile feeding and
transportation services
Provide housing assistance and
other social services
Join a Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disaster (VOAD) network
Members of these organizations can:
Provide psychological first aid
Provide emotional and spiritual care
Help conduct welfare checks in the
community
Pacific, MO, January 12, 2016 - Jay Grim and Sheri Mott talk to a Tzu
Chi volunteer about disaster aid at the Multi-Agency Resource Center.
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA is a faith-based and non-profit,
non-governmental humanitarian organization that helps survivors in
disasters. Catholic Charities of St. Louis and the American Red Cross of
Eastern Missouri are partnering with other local disaster assistance
organizations to open a "one-stop shop" for survivors of the flood in
Franklin and Jefferson Counties, Missouri that happened in late
December 2015. Photo by Steve Zumwalt/FEMA
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This guide contains tools that will make
engagement more effective. The expansive,
cross-sector partnerships resulting from this
process will help establish a stable platform
to enhance a wide array of community
resilience activities.
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Expanding Views of Faith-based and Community Partners Active
in Disaster
Emergency managers often reach out to faith-based and community organizations to provide
support during and after incidents. However, emergency managers are realizing that many of
these groups can also be partners in preparing their community for emergencies. Some of these
organizations may include:
Advocacy groups
Immigrant service organizations
Anti-human trafficking organizations
Burial societies and cemeteries
Interdenominational ministerial
alliances
Child care provider networks
Interfaith councils
Children and youth service agencies
Local park and recreation
departments
Civic and rotary clubs
Community action programs
Local public housing
agencies/facilities
Community organizations in
underserved communities
Mutual aid associations
Mental health professionals
Denominations and judicatories
Neighborhood councils
Domestic violence networks
Elder service organizations including
area agencies on aging
Organizations that serve people with
disabilities
Ethnic/community resource centers
Philanthropic organizations and
community foundations
Faith-based/community
hospitals/clinics
Professional associations,
federations, and networks
Faith-based disaster organizations
Schools, colleges, and seminaries
Faith-based nonprofits
Social service agencies/nonprofits
Food banks
Sorority organizations
Fraternity orders/organizations
Veterans organizations
Homeless service providers
Houses of worship
Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster/Community Organizations
Active in Disaster
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
These organizations routinely provide critical services and help prepare for, mitigate, respond to,
and recover from incidents in the community. However, partnerships between emergency
managers and faith-based and community organizations were not always defined in advance of
an incident; rather, they were the result of ad-hoc agreements based on emerging needs. A proactive engagement strategy helps emergency managers include what were once referred to as
non-traditional stakeholders (or spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers) into their network of
traditional stakeholders and incorporate them into emergency management plans and operations
in advance of an incident.
For example, houses of worship, both large and small,
including those in different faith-based, ethnic, and racial
communities, may be able to augment their jurisdiction’s
emergency preparedness. Emergency managers may
increase participation in all-hazards support among
congregants and other community members by promoting
preparedness education, Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) classes, and participation in Prepareathon.
Similarly, engaging with denominations can greatly
expand the partnership network.
Social service organizations and community groups serve
many segments of their community, including immigrant
populations, people with low literacy levels or limited
English proficiency, senior citizens, children and youth,
people with disabilities and others with access and
functional needs, homeless populations, and low-income
populations. These and other organizations can be
important partners in reaching, as well as engaging, the
strengths and resources of such populations in times of
crisis.
La Paloma, TX, August 2, 2008 – A FEMA
Disaster Survivor Assistance Team chats with a
local Catholic priest about FEMA and services
that may be available to members of his parish.
FEMA worked with state, local, and volunteer
organizations to provide services to residents
affected by Hurricane Dolly. Photo by Patsy
Lynch/FEMA
Traditional emergency management partners are natural
collaborators for this type of engagement. These
organizations may offer trainings, or other forms of support, to help build partnerships with
previously unreached faith-based and community organizations. For example, local chapters of
the American Red Cross may have previously engaged houses of worship and faith-based groups
regarding preparedness and shelter operations.
The faith-based and community sectors have a wide spectrum of resources that can help make
communities more resilient. By creating a broad set of partnerships, emergency managers can
gain access to this wide array of force multipliers and existing networks of community members
who can aid in building community resilience.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Government Partners That May Help Reach Faith-based and
Community Organizations
Other government offices may have existing networks with faith-based and community
organizations throughout the community. Emergency managers should collaborate with these
government offices to reach the broad set of organizations discussed above.
Government partners may include the following:
Faith and Community Liaisons: Elected officials
may assign a staff member to constituent services or,
in some cases, appoint an official liaison to faithbased, ethnic, and cultural organizations. This person
may help identify the full range of potential partnering
organizations in the jurisdiction.
Public Safety Officials: Police, fire, emergency
medical services, and health departments, etc. often
have relationships with partners throughout the
community. These officials may be willing to
collaborate with local emergency managers to
maximize engagements with influential community
activists, groups, and leaders.
Seaside Heights, NJ, November 24, 2012 – A
member of the Mormon Disaster Relief effort clears
drywall from a home in Seaside Heights, N.J. that
was damaged when Hurricane Sandy came ashore.
Volunteer organizations like the Mormon Church
and other faith-based programs provided free
assistance to survivors in the affected area. Photo by
Patsy Lynch/FEMA
Local, State, Tribal, Territorial, and Federal
Government Offices: Many government entities have
public engagement and outreach functions within their
agencies. Public health offices represent one example
of faith-based and community engagement. These
offices typically have well-established community
engagement platforms that may already include strong
networks with faith-based and community
organizations. Emergency managers may collaborate
with local public health officials, particularly
community health and public health preparedness
divisions.
“The collaborative piece, working with emergency management and the fire department, increased
the value of what we were doing. We’ve been able to engage with people who weren’t previously at
the table and with others who we weren’t reaching before in the community.”
- Shamika Ossey, Los Angeles County Public Health Department
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Steps for Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
This model establishes a seven-step process for effectively engaging faith-based and community
organizations. The seven steps are (1) Engagement, (2) Assessment, (3) Self-Guided and Group
Training, (4) Technical Assistance, (5) Participation in Scenarios/Exercises, (6) Affiliation, and
(7) Integration. The model is customizable for incorporation into existing engagement strategies.
Emergency managers can use and repeat aspect(s) of the model, as well as the tools and
resources in the appendices, to bolster their whole-community engagement efforts.
Step 1: Engagement
Identify as many of the faith and cultural traditions and community groups within the
community as possible. Emergency managers often identify the most common faith and cultural
traditions in the community, but may not regularly engage with members of lesser-known faithbased groups, cultural centers/associations, and community organizations. The organizational
capacity of these latter groups may seem small, but their reach into underserved communities can
be quite significant. Garnering support from the leadership of affiliated faith-based organizations
can be extremely beneficial and may save time. First, search online and use census data to
identify the key faith-based and cultural groups in the jurisdiction. Additional questions can
assist with further analysis:
‒
Based on the jurisdiction’s population demographics, what faith-based or community
groups are missing from the agency’s current engagement efforts?
‒
What governmental entities are already working with faith-based or community groups,
and how can other entities build upon this work?
‒
Who do potential engagement targets represent (that is, who are their trusted partners)?
‒
What services do the faith-based or community groups routinely provide?
‒
What services or roles do the faith-based or community groups currently provide, which
might be useful during local incidents?
‒
What gap(s) might they be able to fill during an emergency?
Consider whether there are people with language barriers, disabilities, access and
functional needs, or faith-based or cultural differences to accommodate. Before approaching
any given faith-based or community organization, think about how best to prepare, including
considering whether an interpreter may be required. Approaching these organizations in a
culturally or religiously sensitive manner may influence whether or not the engagement will be
successful. For example, engaging with a group for whom English is not the primary language
may hinder efforts without an interpreter, even if some members speak English. Failing to
remove one’s shoes before entering certain houses of worship could close off further engagement
with those particular community members. FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute course,
“Faith-based and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster,” provides insights about faithbased and cultural sensitivities to consider when engaging with diverse groups. Additionally, the
course, “Including People With Disabilities & Others With Access & Functional Needs in
Disaster Operations,” provides an overview of disabilities and access and functional needs and
explains how disaster staff can apply inclusive practices in their disaster assignments.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Reach out to them. Unengaged groups
may not understand the language,
resources, and infrastructure of
emergency management. Consider
scheduling time with the organizations
to meet with their leaders personally
and to explain these concepts as
needed. Emergency managers can also
assign a staff member to attend one of
the organizations’ regular meetings to
begin building relationships with
constituents.
Start the conversation with the
organization’s current priorities and
contributions to the community in
mind. Emergency operations can often
incorporate the service capabilities an
organization regularly uses.
Inglewood, CA, July, 2014 – The DHS Center partners with the Council on
Pakistani American Affairs, City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County
Office, and University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic
Culture (CRCC) to engage imams and leaders within the Islamic faith in
disaster preparedness during Ramadan. Photo by Jannah Scott/FEMA
For example, an organization that
already runs a soup kitchen likely has capabilities
to support feeding efforts during an incident.
Similarly, an organization that has a mobile
healthcare capability could deploy in an
emergency. Ask potential partners to share their
experiences and areas of expertise. Discuss how the
organization’s activities can be (1) enhanced
through partnership, technical assistance, and/or
training, and (2) incorporated into the larger
emergency operations framework to serve the
community.
Emergency managers should recognize that nonprofit organizations will likely need to check with
their funders to ensure they can add a response
mission, specifying the length of time and type of
response work, and considering insurance and
liability requirements.
“The ‘whole community’ concept is
changing the way emergency
management engages the faith-based
groups in the community. A lot of
emergency management agencies have
relied on partners to engage this
valuable sector of the community. We’ve
been waiting on these groups to come
to us, and that is unlikely to happen. We
started going to them directly. This
initiative is about more than sheltering,
feeding, and mass care; it’s about
responding to disasters as a community.
Now we plan and conduct exercises
with the faith-based groups as part of
Miami-Dade C.O.R.E. It’s really
changed how we think about community
planning.”
- Loubert Alexis, Miami-Dade County
Schedule periodic meetings with faith-based and
Office of Emergency Management
community partners. In many communities, it
may prove difficult for all of the partners to commit
to monthly meetings given their wide array of
responsibilities. However, the benefit of periodic
(even bi-monthly or quarterly) check-in meetings can be significant.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
“We’ve created ‘Disaster Intermediaries’
who are our faith-based partners in
preparedness, response, and recovery.
Within our EOC [Emergency Operations
Center], we have a Business
Operations Center [BOC] that deals
with public/private organizations, and
the faith sector has their own seat within
this center. We now have four faithbased members who are a part of the
leadership team for the faith sector of
the BOC. These faith-based sector
leaders are now part of the EOC
response team—we trained them to
function in that leadership position.”
- Joann Troncale, City of Los Angeles
Emergency Management Department
Work with partners to schedule regular meetings.
Consider convening meetings in houses of worship or
community centers, or integrating their engagement
sessions with existing community meetings. Hosting
meetings in community facilities, or co-leading with
existing gatherings, may help increase participation,
especially in communities where residents must travel
long distances to reach a government facility.
Finally, look for barriers that prevent community
members from participating in meetings (e.g., limited
access to transportation, inconvenient meeting times)
and provide solutions where feasible (e.g., arrange for
the meeting to be held in a location accessible by
public transportation, schedule meetings to be held
outside of work hours).
Build relationships with leadership and influential
individuals within the organizations. Influential
individuals are those whom others trust, who may
have a large knowledge base, and who have a
significant network. Building relationships with such influential individuals will lend credibility
to the emergency manager’s message.
Some emergency managers ask influential individuals to lead in the development of
preparedness initiatives. Share your perspectives of emergency management strengths and
limitations, and then allow partners to self-identify their strengths and limitations as well. Work
with them to help coordinate how their resources might deploy to serve unreached communities.
Step 2: Assessment
Capabilities assessments may be used to determine how new partners might assist in emergency
management operations. Appendices A and B include sample capabilities assessment forms for
both organizations and individuals.
Use self-assessments to measure the organization’s capabilities. Faith-based and community
organizations may have a wealth of previously unidentified capabilities and resources that can be
used after an incident. Self-assessments are successful tools in identifying these capabilities prior
to an incident. For example, in 2013, the Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management
used the self-assessment approach and identified several previously unreported community
assets, including nearly 2,500 previously unknown volunteers.
Track the capabilities, interests, and trainings of the faith-based and community
organizations. Record information from the organization assessments for future planning
purposes.
Step 3: Self-Guided and Group Training
Afford new partners access to fundamental self-guided and group training. See the links in
Appendix C for examples of basic training used throughout the emergency management field.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Coordinate trainings. Emergency managers can use the assessments to help groups identify
training to build their emergency management operations capacity. In addition, quarterly
meetings are a good opportunity for training, such as first aid, incident command, and volunteer
and donations management. The American Red Cross or other voluntary organizations active in
disaster may have existing specialized training courses as well.
Some organizations will want to take on a larger role in emergency management activities and
develop a plan to scale up their training and operations. Ask groups to keep an official record of
any trainings they complete, as well as any certifications or licenses they may acquire.
Step 4: Technical Assistance
Connect partners to technical assistance programs offered throughout the emergency
management sector. Some groups may request help to develop relevant skills. Emergency
managers can use Appendix C to point partners toward self-study courses and downloadable
resources.
Keep partners abreast of issues affecting local emergency management. As state, local,
tribal, territorial, and federal governments mandate changes, emergency management policies
and processes must also evolve. What was once an acceptable policy and/or process may become
inadequate and irrelevant. Keep groups updated on such matters to ensure a common
understanding of issues.
Step 5: Participation in
Scenarios/Exercises
With the help of the FEMA Individual
and Community Preparedness Division
and FEMA’s Office of External
Affairs, standardized exercises are
available for use with faith-based and
community groups. In addition, the
Homeland Security Exercise and
Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides
guidance for jurisdictions to develop
their own exercises. See the links in
Appendix C for sample exercises.
Los Angeles, CA, April 2014 – Los Angeles Fire Department and LA
County Public Health conduct CERT training with South Los Angeles
youth and young adults. Photo by Jannah Scott/FEMA
Incorporate faith-based and
community partners in exercises. Help organizations test their increased skills and capabilities
by making them a part of the jurisdiction’s exercises and scenario planning. The exercises can
greatly enhance familiarity and coordination between partner organizations and emergency
responders. In accordance with the standard exercise cycle, emergency managers may begin
incorporating partner organizations into tabletop exercises and then move toward incorporating
them into full-scale exercises. These activities may emphasize partner capabilities and the
communication protocols among organizations, emergency responders, and emergency
management.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Step 6: Affiliation
Affiliate with exemplary
organizations. Consider establishing
formal relationships with the
organizations that significantly increase
their capabilities in community
preparedness activities. An affiliation,
or more formal affiliate program status,
can (1) help fortify the groups’
involvement in emergency management
activities, and (2) help the public
identify organizations that have
demonstrated their capability and
willingness to help in times of crisis.
Pratt City, AL, January 17, 2012 – Habitat for Humanity and Jewish and
Muslim New York University student volunteers rebuilding homes after
deadly tornadoes struck the Southeast. Photo by Tim Burkitt/FEMA
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
can outline the role each organization
will play before, during, and after an incident, and explain the processes for coordination.
Common components of MOUs are organizational details, goals and objectives, operating
principles, expectations, roles and responsibilities, and accountability.
Recognize outstanding organizations. Recognizing faith-based and community organizations
and their members for their dedicated service is important. Recognition can convey to volunteers
that their commitment is valued and encourage them to maintain or increase their involvement.
For example, emergency managers in Georgia invited local elected officials to present
certificates to volunteer organizations that participated in the Georgia Praise and Preparedness
program. Similarly, in both Los Angeles, California, and Miami-Dade County, Florida,
numerous partner organizations received recognition for their continued involvement in
emergency management efforts.
Step 7: Integration
A significant part of institutionalizing the engagement of faith-based and community groups is
integrating them into plans, policies, and standard operating procedures. See the link in
Appendix C for a template developed by Miami-Dade Communities Organized to Respond in
Emergencies. Jurisdictions can customize the template to meet their needs and should work with
their legal counsel to ensure compliance with relevant data collection laws and policies.
Integrate affiliated groups into existing emergency operations plans. Writing affiliated
groups into existing emergency operations plans can support the full integration of these
engagement benefits into day-to-day emergency management practices. Furthermore, by
outlining the roles and responsibilities of these non-traditional partners within emergency
operations plans, subsequent emergency managers can both recognize and continue to build upon
the work already begun.
12
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Sustainability
To sustain engagement efforts with faithbased and community organizations,
consider how to support the effort from
an emergency management staffing
standpoint, and how to maintain the
groups’ interest during non-disaster
periods. Jurisdictions that participated in
the initiative took a number of steps to
accomplish these objectives, such as
those outlined below.
Keeping Emergency Management
Engaged
New Orleans, LA, December 10, 2015 - This word cloud represents key
words and themes from all of the participants at the 2015 PublicPrivate Partnerships Conference. Photo by FEMA News
1. Staffing: Using the seven-step
engagement process, some
emergency managers maintain financial support by repurposing existing sources. One
jurisdiction used a percentage of their discretionary funding to establish a Whole Community
Planner position responsible for sustaining engagement activities. Another jurisdiction
integrated this effort into its internship program, supporting certain functions such as geomapping, research, and periodic follow-up.
2. Seeking Additional Support through Partnership: Some emergency managers find
support from other government sectors and organizations (e.g., public health, police and fire
departments). In addition, private-sector partners bolster this type of community engagement
through in-kind and direct support.
3. Shared Engagement Responsibility: Some emergency managers share incident leadership
and coordination roles with local community leaders. By co-vesting community leaders with
these responsibilities, emergency managers can still function in a support role to the
community while redirecting some of their time to other agency initiatives.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Keeping the Faith-based and Community Organizations Engaged
1. Maintain Consensus: Seek consensus about the role of each member in the partnership;
encourage partner communication and joint problem solving.
2. Maintain Contact: Establish periodic
meetings and send regular emails and/or
newsletters to keep partners engaged; answer
any questions they may have.
3. Increase Contacts with Government
Partners: Invite government partners to
engage with disaster networks during nondisaster periods. For instance, FEMA’s
Voluntary Agency Liaisons use seasons with
low disaster activity as an opportunity to
deliver information, tools, and other guiding,
collaborative resources to educate and
empower internal and external partners.
4. Connect Activities to the Groups’ Inherent Fernley, NV, January 13, 2008 – A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance
Team (DSAT) member tells the Calvary Chapel congregation about
Missions: Help tailor group initiatives to their available
FEMA services for residents affected by flooding. DSAT
existing priorities and work in the
workers contact groups to explain FEMA programs and assistance.
Photo by George Armstrong/FEMA
community. If group members are able to
view their emergency management work as a
natural extension of their existing service to the community, they may be more inclined to
continue working with the emergency management office.
5. Practice Preparedness Actions: During steady state, keep groups engaged by participating
in preparedness events and activities such as Prepareathon, National Preparedness Month,
and You Are the Help Until Help Arrives.
6. Maintain Skills: Include groups in training and exercise plans and events to help maintain
their newly acquired skills. Go on FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/faith-resources for
some sample exercises to use.
By incorporating these sustainability tips focused on long-term and continuous partner
engagement, emergency managers can effectively build resilience across diverse communities.
Faith-based and community organizations offer a wide variety of human and material resources
that can prove invaluable during and after an incident. By following the seven-step process
outlined above and using the tools contained in the appendices, emergency managers can more
effectively engage with faith-based and community organizations and better prepare their
jurisdictions for all threats and hazards.
14
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Appendix A: Organizational Capabilities Assessment Form
Use this customizable self-assessment form to aid in determining how partner organizations
might assist in emergency management operations. Elements of this form were developed in
collaboration with partners in Miami-Dade County Communities Organized to Respond in
Emergencies (C.O.R.E.), the National Disaster Interfaith Network, and the University of
Southern California Center on Religion and Civic Culture.
Partnering Organization’s Information
Name of Organization: _______________________________ Date of Contact: _____________
Name of Contact: ___________________________ Position in Organization: ______________
Telephone Number: ____________________________ Email: __________________________
Organization Address: ___________________________________________________________
Organization Main Telephone Number: ______________________________________________
Organization Main Email: _______________________ Web URL: ________________________
Organization Type (e.g., Faith-Based Organization, Community Based Organization):
______________________________________________________________________________
Number of Members Total: _____ Number of Adult Members: _____
Does your organization have a Disaster or Emergency Plan in place? Yes____ No ____
What services/resources do you provide on a daily basis to your members or community?
To organization members
To broader community
Care for people with disabilities or
access and functional needs
Child Care
Clothes Distribution
Commercial Kitchen
Community Center
Counseling
Food/Commodities Pantry
Medical Services
Security
Shelter
Shelter Management
Transportation
Other _____________________
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Would your organization be willing to provide these services in an emergency? Yes ___ No ___
How is your facility/organization equipped to fulfill the services that you provide? (e.g., space,
kitchen, equipment) _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Is your facility equipped with a generator? Yes ___ No ___
Please provide information regarding the occupations and skills of members of your organization
who may be able to serve the community in a crisis (please note any training or certifications
obtained, as applicable/available):
Chaplain / Spiritual Care Providers: _____________________________________________
Crisis Counselors: ___________________________________________________________
Individuals Trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/First Aid:_________________
Interpreters (please include languages, to include American Sign Language): ____________
__________________________________________________________________________
Medical Doctors: ____________________________________________________________
Nurses / Licensed Vocational Nurses: ____________________________________________
Paramedics/ Emergency Medical Technicians: _____________________________________
Retired Public Safety Personnel: ________________________________________________
Teachers/Child Care: ________________________________________________________
Veterinarian or Animal Care Services: ___________________________________________
Other (e.g., amateur radio operators): ___________________________________________
Does your organization have the ability to distribute food or other commodities to the
community during a small or large-scale incident? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, how many meals can your organization prepare and serve each day? ______
Does your organization have the ability to deliver food? Yes ___ No ___
Does your organization have a shelter space available for use during a small or large-scale
incident? Yes ___ No ___
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If yes, what is the size (including square footage) and type of space that is available for
sheltering?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
How many people can be sheltered? ______
Can people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs use this facility?
Yes ___ No ___ (Please provide details) ____________________________________
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Are non-service animals permitted in or around the shelter space? (Please provide
details.)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Does your organization have a licensed or certified childcare facility? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, is your organization willing to serve community members and children who need
assistance following an incident? Yes ___ No ___
What is your maximum childcare capacity?
______________________________________________
Can your organization provide mental, emotional counseling during a small or large-scale
incident? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, what types of counseling (mental, emotional)?
_____________________________________________
If yes, how many licensed/certified/trained counselors will your organization be able to
provide?
___________________________________________________________________
Does your organization have a communication system to activate in response to a small or largescale incident? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, what type of system do you have (e.g., amateur radio, phone tree)?
________________________________________________________________________
Who does the system reach (e.g., community members, employees)?
________________________________________________________________________
Does your organization accept donations? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, what type (e.g., food, clothing, money)?
____________________________________
Does your organization distribute donations through case management? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, what type (e.g., food, clothing, money)?
____________________________________
Does your organization have the ability to mobilize volunteers to assist the community during a
small or large-scale incident? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, how many volunteers could your organization provide at one time?
____________________________________
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Are there additional services that your organization would be able to provide during a small or
large-scale incident? Yes ___ No ___
If yes, please explain:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What type of assistance do you believe your organization will need to prepare in advance for
organizational preparedness/continuity?
Communications
Developing Partnerships
Donations Management
Mass Care Feeding
Organizational Preparedness/Continuity
Service Coordination
Sheltering
Spiritual and Emotional Care/Counseling
What type of assistance do you believe your organization will need to respond to or recover from
a small or large-scale incident (e.g., debris removal, interpreters)? ________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Are you a part of, or aware of, other organizations/networks that provide similar community
services? Yes___ No ___
If yes, please provide their contact
information:______________________________________________________________
Is your organization interested in learning more about one or more of the following?
A-4
Disaster Response and Emergency Operations
Yes___ No ___
Emergency Preparedness Fairs
Yes___ No ___
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
Yes___ No ___
American Red Cross CPR / First Aid Training
Yes___ No ___
Communications
Yes___ No ___
Donations Management in Disasters
Yes___ No ___
Volunteer Management in Disasters
Yes___ No ___
Sheltering
Yes___ No ___
Mass Care Feeding
Yes___ No ___
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Spiritual and Emotional Care/Counseling
Yes___ No ___
Service Coordination
Yes___ No ___
Developing Partnerships
Yes___ No ___
Preparedness Activities
Yes___ No ___
Protecting Houses of Worship
Yes___ No ___
Continuity Planning and Operations
Yes___ No ___
Additional Comments or Notes: ___________________________________________________
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Appendix B: Individual Skills Survey
Partner organizations can use this customizable form to inventory the current emergency skills
of individuals within their organizations.
Name: _______________________________________
Over 18 years of age? Yes___ No___
Home Address (Street/City/Zip): ___________________________________________________
Home Phone: _____________ Work / Cell Phone: ______________ Email: _________________
Position or service activity with current organization, if any: ______________________________
Special Skills / Training / Work Experience (please check the boxes that apply to you):
Accounting
Community Emergency Response Team
Chainsaw Operator
Child Care Worker
Clergy (religious affiliation): ______________________
Clerical
Commercial Driver’s License
Construction (type): _____________________________
Counseling (type): _______________________________
CPR/AED Certification:
Child / Adult (please circle) Expiration: ________
Elderly/Access and Functional Needs Care Worker
First Aid Certification
Expiration: ________
Food Preparation
Forklift Operator
Amateur Radio Operator
Heavy Equipment Operator (type): ______________________
Medical/Nursing (list certifications): _________________
Mountain Climbing/Rappelling
Pilot License (type): ______________________________
Red Cross Volunteer
Shelter Management
Social Media: __________________________________
Specialized Search and Rescue Training
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Trucking/Hauling
Veterinarian or Animal Care Services
Volunteer Management
Warehouse/Inventory/Donations Sorting and Management
Access to and Trust of Underserved Communities
Other Special Skills and Licenses (list):__________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Transportation (please check the boxes that apply to you):
I have a valid driver’s license
I own a personal vehicle
I use public transportation only
I rely on friends/family for transportation
Available Equipment and Resources (please check the boxes that apply to you):
Chainsaw
Citizens Band (CB) Radios/Walkie-Talkies
Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle
Amateur Radio Call Sign: ________ Expiration: ________
Portable Generator or Solar Power
Trailer
Water Pump
Other (list): ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Language Skills (please indicate proficiency level – Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced):
Reading
Speaking
Writing
Arabic
American Sign Language
Armenian
Chinese
Dialect___________
French
French Creole
German
Haitian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Other (List): _________
Other (List): _________
Please provide additional details about the skills and resources selected above (use back of page
if necessary):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Appendix C: Resources
This appendix contains a list of resources available to both emergency managers and partner
organizations. Organizations are not expected to complete all trainings listed before becoming
involved in emergency preparedness. The following information and links to third party sites are
provided for reference. FEMA does not endorse any non-government website, company, or
application.
Agenda topics (examples) for group meetings with new faith-based and community
partners:
Ask the leaders to share their vision of what they think they can do to help in times of
crisis.
Encourage connection with the local emergency managers, American Red Cross chapters,
and first responders (e.g., police, fire, public health) to learn how they can contribute to
the community’s preparedness.
Consider sharing local resources and materials, as well as content from
https://www.ready.gov/ and http://www.disasterassistance.gov.
Share information about and encourage participation in Prepareathon:
www.ready.gov/prepare.
Ask for suggestions on the best way to stay in touch (e.g., periodic emails, conference
calls, visits to faith-based and community centers, visit the emergency operations center).
Leverage the resources of FEMA Independent Study Courses:
https://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx.
Complete IS-505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster.
Community Preparedness Resources:
Complete IS-909: Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for
Everyone.
Complete You Are the Help Until Help Arrives training.
Visit www.ready.gov and www.ready.gov/prepare.
Download the FEMA mobile app and/or local emergency management app on your cell
phone; instructions for the FEMA app can be found at www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
Complete a family communications plan: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Leverage FEMA continuity training, exercises, and planning resources:
https://www.fema.gov/continuity-resource-toolkit.
Disaster Assistance Resources:
Complete IS-403: Introduction to Individual Assistance (IA) (DF-103).
Complete IS-634: Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.
Visit www.dissasterassistance.gov.
‒
Download the Disaster Survivor Application Checklist.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Emergency Management Fundamentals Resources (found at www.training.fema.gov/is):
Complete IS-2000: National Preparedness Goal and System Overview.
Complete IS-100.b: Introduction to Incident Command System.
Complete IS-700.a: National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction.
Complete IS-366: Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters.
Complete IS-368: Including People with Disabilities & Others with Access & Functional
Needs in Disaster Operations.
Complete IS-650.A: Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments.
Exercise Resources:
Download Prepareathon Tabletop exercise materials from www.fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/documents/100098.
Take advantage of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Drills and Exercises
from https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/27997.
Download the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) from
www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/32326.
Financial Preparedness Resources:
Visit www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness.
‒
Download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK).
‒
Download Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit.
‒
Connect with Operation Hope (a member of the National Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disasters) at www.operationhope.org.
Hazard-specific Resources:
Download Prepareathon’s hazard-specific resources for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, wildfires, and winter storms from www.ready.gov/prepare.
Visit www.ready.gov/be-informed.
Increasing an Organization’s Role in Emergency Response and Recovery Training
Resources:
Complete IS-660: Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships.
Complete IS-244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers.
Complete IS-26: Guide to Points of Distribution.
Complete IS-800.b: National Response Framework, An Introduction.
Complete IS-2900: National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview.
Organizational Planning Resources:
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Complete IS-546.a: Continuity of Operations Awareness Course.
Complete IS-547.a: Introduction to Continuity of Operations.
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Download the Continuity Guidance Circular to assist in identifying strategies to build
and maintain organizational resiliency through the development of continuity plans:
https://www.fema.gov/continuity-guidance-circular-cgc.
Complete IS-360: Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher
Education, and Houses of Worship.
Complete IS-906: Workplace Security Awareness.
Complete IS-914: Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do.
Download House of Worship Guide Emergency Operations Planning tools from
www.fema.gov/faith-resources.
Download Prepareathon hazard-specific Prepare Your Organization Playbook from
www.ready.gov/prepare.
Visit www.Readyrating.org.
Social Media and Emergency Preparedness Resources:
Complete IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management.
Follow FEMA, state, and local emergency management Twitter accounts. For handles,
visit https://www.fema.gov/social-media.
Download Seasonal Preparedness Messaging Calendar from www.ready.gov/calendar.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Samples for Connecting Faith-based and
Community Organizations with Emergency Management Agencies:
Visit Miami-Dade Communities Organized to Respond in Emergencies:
http://www8.miamidade.gov/core/important-information.asp.
Resources for Youth in Preparedness:
Connect with FEMA Youth Preparedness Technical Assistance Center by emailing [email protected].
Download and share FEMA’s youth preparedness tools: www.ready.gov/youthpreparedness.
Become part of The National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education: Empowering,
Educating, and Building Resilience (www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness).
Encourage youth to apply to become a member FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council
(www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council).
Encourage youth to take IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response
Teams.
Start a Teen CERT program (www.ready.gov/cert).
Encourage youth to take You Are the Help Until Help Arrives training.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Religious Literacy and Cultural Competency Resources1:
Complete IS-505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster.
Download National Disaster Interfaith Network Disaster Tip Sheets for U.S. Religious
Leaders: http://www.n-din.org/.
Download National Disaster Interfaith Network Disaster Tip Sheets for Faith Community
Partners: http://crcc.usc.edu/report/tip-sheets-sheltering-and-mass-care-of-religiousminorities-in-a-disaster/.
Download Working with U.S. Faith Communities During Crises, Disasters and Public
Health Emergencies. A Field Guide for Engagement, Partnership and Religious
Competency: http://crcc.usc.edu/report/working-with-u-s-faith-communities-duringcrises-disasters-and-public-health-emergencies-a-field-guide-for-engagementpartnerships-and-religious-competency/.
Download Religious Literacy Primer: For Crises, Disasters, and Public Health
Emergencies: http://crcc.usc.edu/report/the-religious-literacy-primer-for-crises-disastersand-public-health-emergencies/.
Visit University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture Resources
and Tools for Religious Literacy and Competency Webpage: http://crcc.usc.edu/.
Visit Health and Human Services Think Cultural Health Webpage:
https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/.
Download Faith-based and Community Organizations’ Participation in Emergency
Preparedness and Response Activities: https://sites.duke.edu/ihss/files/2011/12/FaithBased_DeskStudyFinalReport_3-16-10.pdf.
Download Heralding Unheard Voices, The Role of Faith-Based Organizations and
Nongovernmental Organizations During Disasters:
http://www.homelanddefense.org/downloads/Herald_Unheard_Voices.pdf.
Download LLIS Innovative Practice: Community Resilience: Using a Religious Primer to
Improve Engagement with Faith Communities
https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=758942.
Staff Self-Care and Compassion Fatigue Resources:
Compassion fatigue and vicarious or secondary trauma can be a problem for those working with
disaster survivors in the field. The following contain stress management and self-care
techniques:
1
FEMA Coping with Disaster Webpage: https://www.fema.gov/coping-disaster.
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Resource Page:
https://www.nvoad.org/resource-center/member-resources/.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) Store – Free Disaster
Preparedness and Recovery Resources: https://store.samhsa.gov/term/DisasterPreparedness-Recovery.
This guide references engagement concepts and ideas covered more in-depth in these resources.
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Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations
Tips for Disaster Responders: Preventing and Managing Stress – This SAMHSA
tip sheet helps disaster response workers prevent and manage stress. It includes
strategies to help responders prepare for their assignment, use stress-reducing
precautions during the assignment, and manage stress in the recovery phase of the
assignment. http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA14-4873/SMA14-4873.pdf.
This tip sheet is available in Spanish at: http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA144873SPANISH/SMA14-4873SPANISH.pdf.
Tips for Disaster Responders: Understanding Compassion Fatigue – This
SAMHSA tip sheet defines and describes compassion fatigue, which is composed of
burnout and secondary traumatic stress. It identifies signs of compassion fatigue,
presents tips for coping with compassion fatigue and self-care techniques, and
highlights signs of the need for professional behavioral health assistance.
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Understanding-Compassion-Fatigue/SMA14-4869.
This tip sheet is available in Spanish at: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Tips-forDisaster-Responders-Understanding-Compassion-Fatigue-Spanish-Version-/SMA144869SPANISH.
Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for
Disaster Responders – This SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center podcast
can help disaster behavioral health professionals learn about the positive and negative
effects of helping disaster survivors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJ0Lk8MsIQ&list=PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxk
bieQ-pQslk-R6.
Coping With a Disaster or Traumatic Event: Emergency Responders – Tips for
Taking Care of Yourself – This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
webpage notes the positive and difficult aspects of responding to disasters, and it
offers tips for coping with stress and fostering personal resilience before, during, and
after disasters. https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/index.asp.
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers |
| Subject | FEMA, NIC, Whole Community |
| Author | FEMA |
| File Modified | 2020-07-01 |
| File Created | 2018-06-06 |