Training Opportunity: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on Campuses Wednesday, May 8

***Webinar Reminder***

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on Campuses 

Wednesday, May 8 

3:00 p.m. EDT 

Next week, on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division (ICPD) will host a free webinar entitled, “Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on College Campuses.” This event serves as the kick-off for ICPD’s nationwide Campus CERT promotion and implementation effort, which is designed to increase the number of CERTs at higher education institutions across America.

With presentations from current Campus CERT programs at the University of Southern California, Michigan State University and North Carolina Central University, the webinar will provide the opportunity to learn more about Campus CERT and ICPD’s plans to develop tools and resources to support the implementation of Campus CERT programs.

To register, please visit: http://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration.html 

If you have already registered for this webinar, have registered for a previous webinar or are already a registered HSIN user, you can login here: http://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration_login.html

Can’t make the date? Technical difficulties get in the way? All of our webinars are recorded and transcribed, so you can view past events in our webinar library. Please be sure to visit the webinar library for a recording of the event.  

Do Emergency Managers Have a Personality?

Do Emergency Managers Have a Personality?

April 23, 2013

by Adam Crowe: Practical and strategic application of social media for emergency managers

Of course we do, but we don't often show it.

That's why I was so happy to see the Emergency Management Magazine article last week that was profiling various public safety and emergency management agencies in Edmond (OK), Albany(NY), and Tampa (FL) who had made videos of their version of the "Harlem Shake" internet fad.  While I don't know exactly what happened, I imagine some ambitious public safety personnel went to their boss (who then went to their boss) to a ask permission to this make this video.  The conversation probably went something like this:

"Can we make a Harlem Shake style video where we all dress up in strange outfits and dance around for 30 seconds?"

"Why?"

"Because everybody is doing it and it's HOT on the internet."

"Uh huh."

"It will be great.  They'll love it."

"Uh huh."

But somewhere in there, somebody realized that it's okay to have some fun and show a little personality.  It's important to maintain professionalism and purpose, but it's also okay (especially in an ever changing social media world) to relax and enjoy the ride.  While some members of your community (possibly including your boss or elected official) may object to fun imitation videos (see Gangham Style and Call Me Maybe as well) the community will greatly enjoy it because you show that you are human just like them.  You are more likable, more approachable, and far more apart of the community which is critically important before, during, and after emergency events.

I don't emergency managers will ever start an internet fad, but we can always ride the wave with our community and have a little fun while we do it!

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/disasters20/can-emergency-managers-have-personality-042313.html

USDA Food and Nutrition Service: FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR CHILDREN

Free summer meals (breakfast, lunch, or snacks) will be served to children in low-income areas at sites such as neighborhood parks, libraries, schools, places of worship, mobile buses, and recreation centers. To find free summer meals near you, call the toll-free National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or visit www.whyhunger.org/findfood. If you work for an organization that serves low-income children, you can learn more about addressing childhood hunger when school is out by watching the Summer Food training videos. Learn more about the summer meals program. You can also get childhood nutrition e-mail updates from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

Application Deadline Extended for New Youth in Custody Certificate Program

Application Deadline Extended for New Youth in Custody Certificate Program The Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) and the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute have extended the application period for CJJR’s inaugural Youth in Custody Certificate Program. CJJR is partnering with the CSG Justice Center, the Missouri Department of Social Services' Division of Youth Services, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Center for Youth in Custody to offer this professional development opportunity, which is designed to help juvenile justice system leaders improve outcomes for youth in custody. Advances in research have revealed much about how to best serve youth in the juvenile justice system. For example, research shows that low- and moderate-risk youth are best served in the community in non-residential placements, which produce better outcomes at lower costs. For higher-risk youth who require residential placements, facilities should be safe and operate according to best practices that include family engagement, use a treatment-oriented approach, promote non-residential program options, and engage other youth agencies. To ensure youth are served in a manner that promotes positive outcomes, jurisdictions must develop a strong assessment system, a robust continuum of effective services, and aftercare processes. This is particularly necessary for the highest-risk population of juvenile offenders. Most efforts to date have focused on ensuring that low- and moderate-risk youth are not placed in juvenile justice facilities. Less attention has been paid to best practices for serving high-risk youth who are in the custody of the juvenile justice system. And while research has shown the juvenile justice field “what works” for this population, it is often difficult for juvenile justice systems to reform accordingly. Although the Youth in Custody Certificate Program stresses the need for a continuum of services and placements throughout the juvenile justice system, the curriculum focuses on youth in post-adjudication custody. The program offers leaders the opportunity to develop capacity, effectuate change, and sustain and build on system improvements over time. Upon completing the coursework, participants will design a capstone project —a plan of action to be implemented within their organization or community that fosters collaboration among stakeholders and improves outcomes for youth in the custody of the juvenile justice system. Once faculty evaluates and approves the capstone projects, Georgetown University awards participants an Executive Certificate and offers technical assistance to implement the projects. In addition, alumni of the program become part of the CJJR Fellows Network. The Youth in Custody Certificate Program will be held from Monday, August 19, to Friday, August 23, 2013, at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Applications were originally due by April 23, 2013; however, the deadline has been extended. The new deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. (in the applicant's local time zone) on Friday, May 17, 2013. For more information about the Youth in Custody Certificate Program, click here.

Keeping your Disability Benefits While you work.

ESRO - Benefits! How to Keep Disability Benefits While You Work When Thursday May 16, 2013 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM EDT    Where Eastern Shore Regional Office Eastern Shore Regional Office Driving Directions Most people with disabilities want to work, but worry they'll lose cash and medical benefits they depend on for survival. Fear of losing benefits is the greatest obstacle to employment for people with disabilities. Believe it or not, people really CAN work and keep essential benefits, using special rules known as "work incentives." The Eastern Regional Office welcomes Michael Dalto!!!! May 16, 2013 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Shore Regional Office (926 Snow Hill Road, Bldg. #100, Salisbury, MD) Get more information Register Now! I can't make it Please contact me with any questions or special requests: andrea.jones@maryland.gov    Sincerely,    Andrea Jones Andrea Jones

Haiti: We have not forgotten. A place to come together

A community coming together. Something as simple as a park, a place to enjoy nature, a place to enjoy family, and place to enjoy life can make a difference in a community.

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The 'B' in BEMA is non-negotiable

Dear Friends, Imagine being stopped and searched by the police because of the color of your skin. Then imagine it happening to you again and again. This is the reality for law-abiding people like Paul, an educator and father. And Anthony, a video editor and father. And even Nick, who is himself a police officer. They’re not alone. Black people in the United Kingdom are stopped and searched by police at seven times the rate of white people. Asians are stopped at twice the rate of whites. People of color in France, the Netherlands, and other countries are also stopped disproportionately. If you think those numbers are staggering, what do you think ethnic profiling is doing to those who are subjected to it? What is it doing to our communities? Please take a moment to watch this video about the devastating human cost of stop and search in the UK. Ethnic profiling is not just ineffective. It fosters a more damaged, divided, and dangerous society. Let’s end the denial about the real cost of this practice. Thank you for your support, James A. Goldston Executive Director, Open Society Justice Initiative