Friday, July 24, 2015

25 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And?

Twenty-five years under the Americans with Disabilities Act yet many communities are still coming to terms with inclusion for all members of the 'whole community' to be involved in all phases of the emergency management process (planning, preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation).  Individuals that fall under the ADA are just one special group within the whole community.

The homeless, displaced families, poor, and inclusion of all minority and disadvantaged groups, ex-offender, and the elderly.  Each must be involved in the process as stakeholders of the community.

The recent class action suit (http://www.cleanegroup.org/blog/court-finds-nyc-disabled-not-adequately-protected-after-sandy-disaster-planning-must-include-vulnerable-populations/#.VbKRC7NViko), and settlement have many jurisdictions scrambling to hire specialist in the field to address functional needs individuals and to interface with with 'grass roots' organizations.

Twenty-fives, what is your community gauge for whole community members?  With over 20,000 emergency managers certified by other associations, or certified by the State employed in the U.S. we can't wait another 25-years for full inclusion.

Sincerely,


Charles D. Sharp
CEO
Black Emergency Managers Association


july 24, 2015


Celebrating 25 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26, 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This milestone law prohibits discrimination and mandates equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications and guarantees the civil rights of more than 56 million Americans.  
The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and has shaped opportunities for people with disabilities in providing equal access to education, employment and to programs and services, including transportation, communications access, public accommodations, and more. 
Integrating the needs of people with disabilities into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery planning is essential to proper emergency management.  Under the authority of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides equal access throughout its services, including:
·        508-compliant FEMA.gov, Ready.gov, and America’s PrepareAthon! websites;
·        Public materials in alternative formats for people who are blind or have low vision; and
·        Ensuring all video materials are captioned.
Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the ADA, FEMA and the Ad Council launched a new public service advertisement (PSA) to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. While the PSA targets all communities, We Prepare Every Day is the first in a series of videos that aim to deliver a strong preparedness message by showing people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies. The PSA provides equal access to all viewers and includes open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision

Webinars: Upcoming Webinars for African American Mental Health, and Mental Health Challenges.

FYI..

How far back in an individuals past, in a individuals culture, in the genetic pool to determine the trauma (trauma compounds itself to some extent) to determine the root cause of an individuals mental health issues.    BEMA.


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SAMHSA


Upcoming Webinars for African American Mental Health
July is National Minority Mental Health Month. During the week of July 27–31, SAMHSA is spotlighting African American mental health. To support these observances, SAMHSA is collaborating with partners to discuss African American mental health issues in two upcoming webinars.
July 28, 2015 | 3–4 p.m. Eastern Time
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans in partnership with HHS and SAMHSA will host a webinar to foster an interactive discussion on how we may increase the knowledge of mental health challenges faced by African American youth.
David Johns, Executive Director for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, will lead the discussion. Guest panelists include:
  • Richard T. McKeon, Branch Chief, SAMHSA
  • Dr. Gregory A. Hudnall, Founder, HOPE4UTAH
  • Terrie M. Williams, Mental Health Advocate
  • Lynn Keane, Parent Advocate

July 30, 2015 | 2–3 p.m. Eastern Time
This webinar will feature definitions and examples of various types of trauma—including historical trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, race-based trauma, and community trauma—that can impact mental health, student achievement, performance, and retention. The webinar will present strategies for assessing and addressing trauma among student populations at historically black colleges and universities (HCBU), with approaches such as trauma-informed care.

Suicides are increasing among African American school-aged children. SAMHSA's Suicide Safe app helps health care providers address suicidal thoughts and behaviors, even in younger patients. Learn more and download the app today.

Like SAMHSA on Facebook  Follow SAMHSA on Twitter  Subscribe to SAMHSA's YouTube Channel  Visit the SAMHSA Dialogue Blog


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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Situation Awareness. IFRC. Malawi, Kenya. Global Health Report. Community Planning

IFRC


MALAWI
1.    22 July 2015
Malawi - Emergency Appeal Revision No.2


2.     Malawi.  Resiliency Building    

International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) in Malawi: a study on legal preparedness for regulatory issues in international disaster response International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 2015

This report examines the level of preparedness of the Government of Malawi for facilitating and regulating the entry and operation of international actors during disasters that require external support and to provide recommendations on how to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework pertaining to disaster risk management in light of the IDRL Guidelines.

The IFRC’s International Disaster Response Laws, Rules and Principles (IDRL) Programme seeks to reduce human vulnerability by promoting legal preparedness for disasters. It works in three areas:

(1) collaborating with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners to offer technical assistance to governments on disaster law issues;
(2) building the capacity of National Societies and other stakeholders on disaster law; and
(3) dissemination, advocacy and research.


KENYA
22 July 2015
Kenya - DREF Operation Final Report


ANNUAL GLOBAL HEALTH REPORT
22 July 2015
          - Global - - Health Department Annual Report 2014



Community Based-Participatory Planning.  WFP. 
WFP approach to operationalise resilience.
Community-based Participatory Planning (CBPP) is a practical and easy-to-use planning tool for vulnerable communities, government extension staff and cooperating partners. It is a two- to five-day field exercise used to develop a three-year programme plan.

Internship Opportunities. IFRC. International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC

Internships



The IFRC has a well-established and successful internship programme which provides students with valuable and relevant work experience within a lively and professional environment.

Top five reasons for an internship at the IFRC

Professional learning environment
As an intern at the IFRC, you will gain first-hand experience of what it is like to work for the world’s largest humanitarian organization.You will work alongside professionals who are experts in their field and from whom you will have ample opportunities to learn. At the same time, an internship at the IFRC will give you the chance to apply what you have learned in the course of your academic programme in a challenging, yet stimulating work setting.
Meaningful work
Opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to the work of your team will be offered, that is, if you recognize and are willing to grab them. Through your work, you could help bring about change in the lives of vulnerable people around the world.   
Networking
The IFRC is composed of a diverse network of individuals from all walks of life, who work across geographical boundaries to meet the needs of vulnerable people. Completing an internship at the IFRC will broaden your knowledge and may open the door to new opportunities as you gain access to the organization’s resources, foster new relationships, and widen your professional network. You will also be part of a dynamic intern and young professionals group composed of like-minded individuals with varying academic and cultural backgrounds. 
Internship allowance
The IFRC will offer a stipend to help cover expenses you will incur while completing the internship in return for your valuable contributions. The allowance is competitive relative to other humanitarian organizations. The amount of that allowance is established by the human resources department in Geneva or in the relevant zone office.
Personal/professional growth
In the course of your internship, you will have access to a myriad of learning opportunities that are made available. Many interns take part in workshops or enrol in online courses on ourLearning Platform either as part of their internship or for their own personal development.
More information on our Staff development page.
In addition to having access to the various learning opportunities that are available at the IFRC, you will meet with your supervisor to reflect on your experience at the conclusion of your internship. The evaluation will give you the opportunity to increase your level of self-awareness and plan your professional growth accordingly. It is our hope that with this new awareness you will reap the benefits of your internship experience long after it has ended.
Still contemplating whether to undertake an internship within the IFRC?

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