21st Century Essential NBC Reference Series: Developing and Managing Volunteers, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Independent Study Course Manual . Destruction WMD, First Responder Ringbound)

This is an up-to-date independent study course training manual produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on developing and managing volunteers during emergencies (IS-244). The course overview states:

"It is designed for emergency management professionals with current or potential responsibility for managing volunteers or volunteer programs. This course offers training in identifying volunteer resources and recruiting, assigning, training, supervising, evaluating, and motivating volunteers. The course also focuses on coordinating with voluntary agencies (VOLAGs), Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), community-based organizations (CBOs), such as church groups or food banks, professional groups, such as physicians and mental health counselors, and business and industry. It also addresses special issues, such as spontaneous volunteers, stress management for volunteers, and legal issues, such as workers’ compensation, insurance, safety and risk management, and liability." Contents include:

Unit 1: Course Introduction * Unit 2: Volunteers in Emergency Management – Volunteers or Voluntary Agencies? Creating a Volunteer Program; Coordinating with Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs) Involving Volunteers—Benefits and Challenges; Job Aid 2;1: Checklist for Determining Volunteer-Staff Climate; Volunteers? Or Voluntary Agencies? Activity: Benefits and Challenges of Using Volunteers; Unit Summary; For More Information; Knowledge Check

Unit 3: Developing a Volunteer Program – The Roles and Responsibilities of a Volunteer Program Director; Steps in Developing a Volunteer Program; Step 1: Needs Analysis; Job Aid 3;1: Basic Criteria for Developing a Volunteer Job; Activity: Volunteers and the Emergency Management Cycle; Step 2: Writing Volunteer Job Descriptions; Activity: Writing a Volunteer Job Description; Step 3: Recruiting Volunteers; Activity: Developing a Recruitment Strategy; Activity: Developing a Recruitment Plan; Activity: Writing a Recruitment Message; Step 4: Placing Volunteers

Unit 4: Working with VOLAGS, CBOs, and Other Groups – The Role of the VOLAG/CBO Coordinator; Coordinating with the VOAD; Job Aid 4;1: NVOAD National Membership

Unit 5: Special Issues – Dealing with Spontaneous Volunteers; Job Aid 5;1: Skills Survey; Addressing Legal Issues; Activity: Consulting with Legal Counsel; Managing Volunteer Stress

This is the complete course manual made available by FEMA as part of the Emergency Management Institute Independent Study program, described this way by FEMA:

FEMA’s Independent Study Program is one of the delivery channels that the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) uses to provide training to the general public and specific audiences. Within the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration, operates the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). EMI produces independent study courses to train the general public as well as specific target audiences. The EMI Independent Study program consists of self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. . .and college credit can be obtained through a for-fee service. Each Independent Study Course includes lessons with practice exercises and a final examination. Students who score 75 percent or better are issued a certificate of achievement from EMI. Course completion times vary from two to fourteen hours, depending on the course and the student’s background.