Friday, January 4, 2013

HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships January 2013 Webinars


The HHS Partnership Center continues to host a series of webinars for faith and community leaders. All webinars are open to the public and include a question and answer session where you can ask HHS staff any questions you may have. We also encourage you to submit questions you would like to have answered on the webinars to ACA101@hhs.gov.
To participate in one of the webinars, please select your preferred topic from the list below and submit the necessary information. After registering you will receive an e-mail confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact us at ACA101@hhs.gov if you have registration problems.

January 10th at 2:00 p.m. ET
A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the health care law, and how to access care in your community.

January 16 at 12:30 pm ET
Text4Baby is a free texting service that helps improve maternal and child health and reduce infant mortality. The presentation will highlight how Text4Baby works, why it is effective and how to share this resource with others.

January 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET
A presentation on the main provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the health care law, and how to access care in your community in Spanish. 

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation


International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.

A  Message from the ICISF Executive Director

January 4, 2013
It is our desire to continue to broaden our educational capabilities as well as offer new services available to ICISF Members, ICISF Registered Teams and all of those with an interest in Critical Incident Stress Management.

ICISF is excited to announce several new programs to be introduced during calendar year 2013. Click on the links below for additional information or to email ICISF staff. Throughout the coming months, more details will be posted on the ICISF website.
12TH WORLD CONGRESS ON STRESS TRAUMA & COPING
  • Be sure to register on or before January 27 to take advantage of Advance registration rates. Fees increase on January 28.
  • Just added: 2-Day Post-Congress Workshop, ICISF's "Managing School Crises: From Theory to Application", taught by Barbara J. Ertl, LPC, CTS. Scheduled for February 25 & 26, 8:00am-4:30pm, the Hilton Baltimore. Go to the Post-Congress Workshop page of the 12th World Congress website for full details and registration information.
  • The deadline to nominate a deserving individual or organization for an ICISF award is Monday, January 7. Award categories and nominating instructions are posted on the Award Nominations page of the 12th World Congress website.
NEW ICISF COURSES: 
Send questions to Terri Pazornick
  • "ICISF/NOVA Bridge Program" (2 days) - For those with NOVA training - This course meets curriculum requirements of ICISF's "Group Crisis Intervention" course and ICISF's "Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support" course.
  • "Delivering Bad News" (1 day)
  • "Suicide Awareness for Non- Mental Health Professionals" (1 day)
  • "Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support" 
  • "Resilience in Healthcare: Performance, Meaning and Connection"  (1day)
NEW APPROVED INSTRUCTOR (AI) CANDIDATE TRAINING PROGRAMS: 
Send questions to Kate Looram 
  • "Suicide Awareness for Non-Mental Health Professionals AI Program"  
  • "NOVA to ICISF Bridge AI Program"   
  • "Workplace Violence AI Program"
  • "Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support AI Program" 
  • "Psychological First Aid"
NEW CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM TRACK: 
Send questions to Michelle Parks 
  • Health Care Track
2013 REGIONAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
  • New courses to be scheduled
  • Core, Specialty & Elective courses at every location
  • Schedule will be posted on the ICISF website soon. 
CONTINIUNG EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: 
Send questions to Michelle Parks 
  • CEUs for Nursing pending
  • Does your profession have a national organization that offers CEUs? Please let Michelle Parks know. ICISF already offers CEUs for Psychologists (through APA), Social Workers & Marriage & Family Therapists (through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences), EAP Professionals (through EACC), and Addiction Counselors (through NAADAC).
ICISF WEB SITE NEW POSTINGS 
Send us information to post on our website, such as:
  • ICISF Partner Events: Training programs, awards programs that will be open for registration/attendance
  • Links to CISM team websites (send questions to George Grimm)
  • Posting of Crisis Management related articles
  • International participation
  • Send questions and/or items you'd like to have posted to Don Howell 
ICISF CISM TEAM MEMBERSHIP: 
Send questions to Michelle Parks 
Membership is now available to all active members of CISM teams.

QUARTERLY LIFENET NEWSLETTER: 
Send questions to Michelle Parks 
Looking for articles and team spotlights.

NEW SHINING STAR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PROGRAM: 
Send questions to Michelle Parks 
Quarterly acknowledgement of a "Shining Star" within the field of CISM.

ICISF FACEBOOK PAGE:
Send questions to Don Howell    
In our efforts to reach out to our ever-expanding community on every possible level, we're establishing a social media presence. We hope this will open up two-way communication, help to keep you better informed about our programs, and help you to reach out to us with questions, ideas and comments. 

2012-2014 STRATEGIC PLAN 
Visit the ICISF website to download and review this document. 
We look forward to hearing from you with any questions about the new initiatives we have planned for 2013, and to meeting your CISM training and education needs in the coming months. Happy New Year!

Sincerely, 

Donald R.  Howell
Executive Director
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
3290 Pine Orchard Ln, Ste 106
Ellicott City MD 21042-2272
Tel: 410/750-9600
Fax: 410/750-9601

                                                  

National Day of Service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration weekend, which coincides with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

National Service News (banner)
Dear National Service Communicators and CNCS Colleagues,
We skipped this message last week to spend a little time with our friends and family, and we hope you did the same. Of course, national service never takes a day off. We're happy to share that we're working with the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) to plan and host the National Day of Service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration weekend, which coincides with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.
As today's Washington Post reports, "The committee, whose inaugural theme is 'Our People, Our Future,' has teamed up with the Corporation for National and Community Service and hired staff around the country to help organize events for the National Day of Service." Stay tuned for more information about how you can get involved.
Below please find other recent media clips about our programs and initiatives.
Thanks and enjoy your weekend.
The External Affairs Team

AmeriCorps NCCC member Katherine Wiley discusses Hurricane Sandy response

Media Highlight

In an interview with a Fox affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri, AmeriCorps NCCC member Katherine Wiley shares her experiences on the front lines of the Hurricane Sandy relief effort in storm-ravaged New York. 

National Service in the News


Volunteering and Civic Life in America

Volunteering and civic life- the backbone of a better AmericaMcClatchy (Washington, DC), December 27, 2012
Overall, one in four adults volunteered almost 8 billion hours through an organization, providing an estimated economic value of $171 billion. In addition to volunteering through organizations, two out of three Americans serve informally by helping out their neighbors, an increase of 9.5 percentage points from last year. The findings come from Volunteering and Civic Life in America, a report issued last week by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship.

AmeriCorps

Your kids can warm up with a cool bookKNDO 25 (Washington), January 2, 2012
The Regional Service Corps-AmeriCorps this week is holding afternoon reading activities at the Mid-Columbia Libraries branches. Corp member Valery Tolle says children of all ages can play games and take part in arts and crafts all aimed at inspiring them to read.

AmeriCorps VISTA

Brooklyn ‘A’ kicks off new years with arrival of new staff
Brooklyn Daily Eagle (New York), January 3, 2012
Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, more commonly known as “Brooklyn A,” the long-term provider of free legal services to low-income residents and community organizations in the neighborhoods of North and East Brooklyn, is celebrating the new year with the arrival of an extraordinary group of nine VISTA volunteers and law graduate fellowship winners.


AmeriCorps NCCC

St. Louisan On The Front Lines Of Hurricane Sandy ReliefFox 2 Now (Missouri), December 23, 2012
It’s been quite a homecoming for Katherine Wiley, 21, a recent college graduate from St. Louis, who just returned from the front lines of the Hurricane Sandy relief effort in storm-ravaged New York. She shared her unforgettable experiences and pictures with Fox 2 Sunday. That tortured place where flood gave way to fire and all hope seemed lost became home to Wiley and her team of 10 fellow AmeriCorps volunteers.


Senior Corps

Making a Difference for kids: School literacy program: A win-win for volunteers and childrenTimes Standard (California), December 28, 2012
”The nickname doesn't really fit until I do the face that makes kindergartners laugh,” he said. “I tell them there’s no smiling in school, but can’t get them to do the grumpy face. All they can do is smile and laugh.” Davis is among the 96 volunteers placed with 280 kindergarten through second-grade students as part of the Early Literacy Partners Program coordinated by the Humboldt County Office of Education and United Way.


Social Innovation Fund 

Scaling Smarter, Scaling for KeepsStanford Social Innovation Review (California), December 28, 2012
In his first term, President Obama committed to “seeking out creative, results-oriented programs … and helping them replicate their efforts across America.” In 2011, the federal Social Innovation Fund (SIF) made one of its first awards to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national community development intermediary dedicated to the revitalization of low-income neighborhoods, to expand itsFinancial Opportunity Center (FOC) program.


Serve.gov Blog

National Mentoring Month Celebrates Adults Who Inspire
Serve.gov, January 3, 2013
Each new year draws millions to make resolutions designed to change their lives. And while the focus on self-improvement is fine, the arrival of National Mentoring Month gives us an opportunity to recognize men and women who channel their energy to helping and inspiring young people toward a brighter future.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

4 Powerful Words Employees Need to Hear


http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/4-powerful-words-employees-need-to-hear.html

There are lots of ways to make a positive impact on your staff. But the best involves four simple words.

 

Here's how.Four simple words, used correctly and with the right intent, can make a powerful impact on your business, your life, and other people.

When you need help, start by using these four--and only these four--words:

"Can you help me?"

And then, for a moment, stop there.

Here's why.

You're not a kid anymore. You're an adult. You're smart and experienced and savvy. You've accomplished things. You've earned your place in the world.

So when you ask for help you also tend to unconsciously add image enhancers. For example, if you need help with a presentation you might go to someone and say, "I'm meeting with investors next week and my slides need a few formatting tweaks."

The problem is that wording serves to frame and signal your importance and ensure your ego is protected. Okay, you may need a little assistance with some trivial matter like a PowerPoint layout, but still: You are the one presenting to investors. You do the heavy lifting around here. You are the big dog in this particular hunt.

Plus you haven't really asked--you've stated. (When you're in charge and accustomed to directing others, turning requests into directives is a really easy habit to fall into.)

Here's a better way.

When you need help--no matter the kind of help you need or the person you need it from--take the bass out of your voice and the stiffness out of your spine and the captain out of your industry and just say, with sincerity and humility, "Can you help me?"

I guarantee the other person will say, "Sure," or, "I can try," or, "What do you need?" No one will never say "no," even a stranger. "Can you help me?" speaks powerfully to our instinctive desire to help other people.

Then make sure not to frame your request. Don't imply that you place yourself above the other person. Don't make your request too specific. And don't say what you need.

Instead, say what you can't do. Say, "I'm awful at PowerPoint and my slides look terrible." Say, "We absolutely have to ship this order by Tuesday and I have no idea how to make that happen." Say, "I'm lost and I can't find my hotel."

When you ask that way several powerful things immediately occur--especially for the other person:

One, you instantly convey respect. Without actually saying it, you've said, "You know more than I do." You've said, "You can do what I can't." You've said, "You have experience (or talents or something) that I don't have."

You've said, "I respect you." That level of respect is incredibly powerful--and empowering.

Two, you instantly convey trust. You show vulnerability, you admit to weakness, and you implicitly show that you trust the other person with that knowledge.

You've said, "I trust you." That level of trust is incredibly powerful--and empowering.

Three, you instantly convey you're willing to listen. You haven't tried to say exactly how people should help you. You give them the freedom to decide.

You've said, "You don't have to tell me what you think I want to hear; tell me whatyou think I should do." That level of freedom is incredibly powerful--and empowering.

By showing you respect and trust other people, and by giving them the latitude to freely share their expertise or knowledge, you don't just get the help you think you want.

You might also get the help you really need.

You get more--a lot more.

And so do other people, because they gain a true sense of satisfaction and pride that comes from being shown the respect and trust they--and everyone--deserves. Plus you make it easier for them to ask you for help when they need it. You've shown it's okay to express vulnerability, to admit a weakness, and to know when you need help.

And then, best of all, you get to say two more incredibly powerful words:

"Thank you."

And you get to truly mean them.

The Roles of Fire and EMS Personnel in Armed Attacks

Posted on January 3, 2013 by U.S. Deputy Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines

More than two hundred and sixty five people have been killed in multiple death armed attacks since the Littleton, Colorado Columbine High School shootings in 1999 through the most recent armed attack at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

As members of the fire service we now know that no-notice events such as Aurora, Colorado; Portland, Oregon and Sandy Hook have and will occur anywhere, at any place, to anyone or demographic. There is not one among us who hasn't been touched by the more recent events in Webster, New York where firefighters became the target of a planned armed attack.

Accordingly, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is undertaking a study of these events in both this country and internationally to identify risk commonalities and best practices to successfully respond to these diverse incidents. The topical report will be released later this month and is currently undergoing extensive peer reviews. Extraordinary efforts on the part of local fire/rescue and EMS agencies have to be taken in order to protect fire and EMS personnel and experience maximum success in saving civilian lives. These events may play out over an extended period of time, requiring large EMS triage, treatment and transportation efforts, under dangerous and unfamiliar conditions to fire and EMS personnel.

In the interim, USFA offers these universal steps to ensure fire and EMS personnel are best prepared to meet this unique and challenging threat.

The most important action we can take is to determine the lead agency for these incidents. In the vast majority of cases, law enforcement will serve in this capacity. Regardless of lead agency declaration, make contact with local or state law enforcement officials and special operations team leadership to become familiar with their strategies and tactical operations.  Some possible subjects for discussion and planning follow:
  • Potential roles and equipment law enforcement expects from fire and EMS assets (e.g., forcible entry, lights, aerial devices, etc.).
  • Review command, control and communications operations.
  • Review of NIMS terminology along with any technical law enforcement terminology fire and EMS personnel may have a need to know.
  • A discussion of how survivor triage will occur and if law enforcement desires training in same.
  • How will injured law enforcement officers be managed? Early on in the incident a protected area should be declared and communicated to EMS leadership.
  • Casualty collection points for citizens, EMS triage and how transportation and communications with area hospitals occur.
  • What steps should be taken at high risk occupancies to mitigate the loss of life and coordinate with first response personnel.
  • Once the plan is developed, it should be exercised and updated annually.
There is much more valuable information to be learned from past events and the best practices created by those who have experienced one of these incidents. We encourage you to go to the following sources for more information.
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/chiefs-corner/010313.shtm

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

2012 in Review. Top Stories from Emergency Management.

 
 
Top 12 Stories of 2012
By: News Staff on December 26, 2012
 
 
Each year Emergency Management covers a wide range of topics that seek to highlight lessons learned and best practices. Here is a look back at the most popular articles from 2012.

The Preparedness Message Isn’t Reaching the Public
Americans have a false sense of security when it comes to disasters, and should they become victims, most haven’t taken steps to help themselves during the first few days after one strikes. Experts say either the preparedness message isn’t getting across, or the wrong message is being sent.

All-Hazards Type 3 Incident Management Teams Are Catching On
Having already proven their worth in various parts of the country, All-Hazard Type 3 Incident Management Teams (IMT) are now catching on in other areas — and their growth within the last five years is punctuated by the creation of the All-Hazards Incident Management Teams Association, incorporated in December 2010. The concept is to assemble a trained team that can immediately respond to a major, widespread emergency or catastrophic event anywhere in the nation, and help manage any incident that would extend to multiple days.

Professionals Debate the Need for Emergency Management Certification
Emergency management’s evolution as a profession has included the development of professional certifications like the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM). But professionals disagree about how useful the certification is to individuals and to the profession. Some say certification is a needed step toward emergency management becoming a more mature profession. Others say the work required to maintain the certification outweighs any benefits.

3 Emerging Technologies That Will Impact Emergency Management
Emergency Management sought out emerging technologies that will positively impact the field and possibly change how people think tech fits into preparedness, response and recovery.

Emergency Managers’ Best Practices for Evacuating Communities
With wildfires displacing tens of thousands in Colorado and other Western states, evacuation is on the minds of many in the emergency management community. In Colorado, what’s being called the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history forced the evacuation of more than 35,000 residents and destroyed nearly 350 homes. Emergency Management talked to four experts about the best practices and lessons learned from their experiences involving large evacuations.

The 10 Commandments of Emergency Management (Opinion)
It was Sunday morning and my wife and I had skipped church. I was in the backyard pruning a burning bush when a voice came into my head and suggested that I could do penance by writing about the ten commandments of emergency management. The woman’s voice said she would show me the way.

Space Weather: What Emergency Managers Need to Know
Extreme space weather is a low-probability but high-impact event. It has come onto emergency managers’ radar within the last few years and is now being added into planning efforts at federal and state agencies. And now is the time to work it into preparedness activities. Solar weather works in 11-year cycles, and a solar maximum is expected in May 2013, meaning there’s an increased chance for an extreme event.

4 Tips for Creating an Emergency Management Career
While there are benefits to both academic training and field experience, newcomers to the vocation don’t have to wait until they finish their degrees, or until they snag that coveted first job, to get involved. Here are a few ways for new and emergent emergency management professionals to establish themselves in this dynamic and diverse profession.

One Hospital’s Incredible Response to the Aurora, Colo., Shooting
The emergency response to the mass shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo., on July 20 follows a quick timeline — and one that probably saved lives.

FEMA Corps Develops the Next Generation of Emergency Managers
The federal government officially unveiled FEMA Corps in Vicksburg, Miss., on Sept. 19, inducting 240 enrollees into the emergency management program. FEMA Corps is a partnership between FEMA and the Corporation for National and Community Service that adds additional support for response and recovery of disasters by new FEMA Corps teams within AmeriCorps. Each team will consist of 10 FEMA Corps members, 18- to 24-year-olds who have signed up for the program. 

Sandy Hook School Probably Well Prepared as Heroes Emerge After Massacre
There are many more questions than answers about the shooting that took the lives of 20 kids and six administrators at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14. But in general schools and businesses can and should examine their emergency plans and how they would respond, not only during a shooting, but also during various potential hazards.

Disaster Dozen: 12 Myths of Disaster Preparedness
The biggest obstacles to comprehensive family emergency readiness education are the misconceptions surrounding the true nature of preparedness. So to set the stage for better education, and ultimately better public safety, let’s take a look at some of these myths.
 
http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Top-12-Stories-2012.html
 

National Community Service. Office of Grants Management Updatre

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CNCS banner

OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Dear CNCS grant recipients,
This is the first CNCS Office of Grants Management bulletin.  It highlights a few of many recent important events, announcements, and advice related to grant administration and financial management.  We hope to regularly bring these bulletins to you.
Here are a few items of note:
Criminal History Checks
In early October we started broadcasting criminal history check bulletins, with four issued so far.  If you would like to receive these important messages, be sure that you have signed up for them. As this message is being distributed through more than one list and/or to add others in your office please see item #4, below.   If you wish to obtain a copy of all of our releases, send an email with the subject line, “Bulletins To-Date Request” to CriminalHistoryCheckQuestions@cns.gov.
Recent NOFOs Released
Please remember that the 2013 AmeriCorps State and National Application Instructions have been published. Please be sure to get them in on time and if you have questions, feel free to contact the appropriate Program Officer for clarifying questions.
Reminder of the CHC (Criminal History Check) question and ASP (Alternative Search Protocol) email addresses 
Please remember that the Office of Grants Management (OGM) maintains two email addresses related to criminal history checks:  CriminalHistoryChecks@cns.gov for your questions, and ASPRequests@cns.gov for submitting your ASP requests. Please be sure to first discuss any questions with your CNCS assigned program officer and copy your program and grants officers on all correspondence related to this matter.
How to sign up for the CHC GovDelivery emails
If you, your staff or other colleagues wish to join this list, here’s a handy reference/how-to:
A. Visit our home page: http://www.nationalservice.gov/ and click next to the red envelope at the top of the page, in the middle, where it says: “Sign up for email updates”.
B. Enter your email address and click submit.
C. On the new page, re-enter your email address and click submit.
D. Click the box next to Criminal History Checks for National Service Programs under Subscription Topics and General CNCS Information. 
E. Consider joining other topics, as appropriate.
F. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Submit.
G. You should receive a subscription confirmation email.
Thank-you and keep up the good work!
Office of Grants Management

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