Monday, December 7, 2015

Situational Awareness. Mental Health, HIV\AIDS drugs during and trauma following disasters

     FYI...

         Individuals under mental healthcare treatment, and individuals prescribed 
         psychotropic medication must also consider an adequate supply 
         during times of disasters.

         Additional consideration for CDC Stockpile or 'Push Packs'

         BEMA

Emergencies and HIV/AIDS

People living with HIV need to plan to stay safe and healthy during a natural disaster or other emergency.  An emergency  may make it harder for you to take your HIV medications or have access to your health care providers or your pharmacy. To avoid interruptions in HIV treatment or access to medications, you should always have a 10–14 day supply of all your medications on hand and take other precautions.  Learn More >>
HIV/AIDS Ribbon

FDA approves vaccine for use after known or suspected anthrax exposure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new indication for Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed to prevent disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to anthrax bacteria. The vaccine’s new use is approved for people 18 through 65 years of age in conjunction with recommended antibiotic treatment. Anthrax disease, especially the inhalation form, is often fatal if not promptly treated. Learn More >>
Anthrax

Disaster Distress Helpline

If you are feeling distressed in the wake of a disaster or tragedy, like the violence in San Bernardino, having someone to talk to can help.  SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.  Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.  Learn More >>
Person talking on the phone

Planning for & responding to mass shootings: Resources for emergency medical professionals 

In the wake of a mass shooting, like this week's tragedy in San Bernardino, being ready to quickly and effectively get people the care they need saves lives.  If you are an emergency medical professional, check out these lessons learned, tools and promising practices that can help you plan for and respond to a mass shooting.  Learn More >>
Ambulance


Join the Conversation on Meeting Next-Generation Challenges in Medical Countermeasures

Safe and effective drugs, vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics help us tackle a wide range of public health threats from emerging infectious diseases to terrorist threats. If you are interested in helping the nation prepare for these threats, register today for the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Stakeholders Workshop on January 6-7, 2016. Learn More >>
Pill in hand

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

TimeBank. Start a New TimeBank

http://timebanks.org/get-started/start/

Start a New TimeBank

Here is a great introductory video to get you started:

Starting a TimeBank is an exciting process, but requires a lot of thought, planning, commitment, and solid hard work. TimeBanks share the same core principles and practices, and at the same time are each one is unique because they reflect the communities that create them.
Creating and maintaining a TimeBank is an on-going process. Needs lots of teamwork! Your members will create your TimeBank’s personality.
To help you and your community create a new TimeBank we have made a list of the typical steps that new TimeBanks find helpful. These steps will give you a good overview. For a start-up toolkit with detailed information relating to each of the specific steps, go to the TIMEBANK KNOWLEDGE COMMONS. This TB Knowledge Commons has been put together by a group of truly dedicated TimeBankers who spent months collecting the vast amount of how-to information created and used by TimeBanking pioneers and leaders. They have organized that information and posted it in a forum that allows people to comment on what they find particularly helpful.
Creating the TB Knowledge Commons — so that our site and others could access the wealth of materials that TimeBankers around the world have generated– was a labor of love and a great achievement. We hope that you will add your comments as you use it.

1. Beginning the journey:

  • What’s your passion? — How will your TimeBank relate to that?
  • Who will help and support you?
  • Who do you see joining when it’s up and running?
  • Who will you ask to join the start-up team?

2. Imagine the possibilities with your partner or team:

  • Learn more about TimeBanking
  • Contact existing TimeBanks through the TBUSA online directory,Facebook, etc.
  • Consult TBUSA how-to materials.
  • Brainstorm with friends and supporters.
  • Share the ideas and get feedback.
  • Enjoy the dreaming!  (This is a really important process.)

3. Create a “make it happen” group of champions:

  • Get buy-in from those who will help your TimeBank succeed.
  • Determine who will take on needed roles.
  • Create an action plan for first steps, including outreach for TB members.
  • Plan out possible costs and income sources (however small).
  • Write up policies and procedures (can be informal).
  • Learn what on-line software can do for you – Community Weaver Demo site.
  • Plan your use of traditional or online social media.
  • Decide when you’re ready for real time.

4. You’re in real time now: Making it happen:

  • Create a flyer or brochure for members.
  • Start the outreach (go to local meetings, knock on doors, talk to friends, neighbors — all of that.)
  • Prepare a members’ handbook and orientation materials.
    – > Here is a Member Orientation Training Guide on how to run an orientation based on the Arroyo S.E.C.O Network of Time Bank‘s guide.
  • You could make a web site and/or make a social media page of your choice.
  • Get access to a TimeBank software, and prepare it for your new TimeBank. To learn more about Community Weaver  the online TimeBank software and to request that we set it up for your TimeBank, please click here.
  • Set up your traditional and/or online social media.
  • Send out invitations to your first gathering.
  • Make sure that the finances and admin are sorted out and will be taken care of.
  • Perhaps start a newsletter.

5. Go public, hold your first meetings:

  • Start with a TimeBank launch event, hand out information, flyers, newsletters.
  • Sign up your first new members.
  • Hold an orientation for new members.
  • Are you good to go with handling the money and admin?
  • Begin exchanging at the orientations and other events.

6. As it begins:

  • Help members set up offers and requests.
  • Set up/celebrate the first exchanges.
  • Hold regular orientations for new members.
  • Plan for regular events for members (potlucks, group exchanges.)
  • Seek out opportunities for targeted group activities.
  • Watch that you’re TimeBank is good with handling the money and admin.
  • Celebrate as you go.

7. Keep Going and Growing:

  • Keep true to the core values: Assets, Redefining work, Reciprocity, Community, Respect.
  • Keep those core values ever in mind — we can’t stress this enough.
  • Find, nurture and support your champions inside and out.
  • Strive for your TimeBank to be leaderful, and truly owned by its members.
  • Take care of the money and admin. (Yes, it will always be there…..)
  • Remember that your TimeBank will become a source of hope, comfort and community in this challenging day and age.
So there you have it!  It’s a lot of work.  Start where you are.  Look for others who will join you on this journey. Build a team to spread the work load and to envision the future together.

TimeBank USA Affiliates

TimeBank USA  affiliated TimeBanks are members of the TimeBank USA network. While there is no formal membership, we do invite TimeBanks in the network to contribute to the learning of others. We provide an infrastructure to share resources and to work together. TimeBank USA holds regular calls for TimeBank leaders to share their knowledge, and works with TimeBank leaders nationwide and internationally to expand the practice of TimeBanking.
We provide Community Weaver, an open source software that TimeBanks can use to share their member’s offers and requests with each other and to track their exchanges and hours exchanged.
To learn more about Community Weaver the online TimeBank software and to request that we set it up for your TimeBank, please click here.
Do you have more questions?  See our Frequently Asked Questions for more help.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Urban Community Capacity Building. Needed in every city. Water & Food Security. Vertical Farming. Singapore and Newark, NJ

Jobs for the homeless, and future leaders.

Urban Agriculture


Singapore

Newark, NJ

AeroFarms will be running the show, they are a company that grows leafy greens in indoor, urban facilities.

The site is a 69,00 square foot converted steel factory, and once it’s completed it is estimated that the facility will be able to produce approximately two million pounds of green vegetables and herbs every year




Black Emergency Managers Association  
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA 
We Support the GC     







"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."        Sun Tzu


Andrew Williams, Jr.
President
Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc.
1820 West Florence Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90047
Office: +1-323-752-1180
Mobile: +1-424-222-1997
Skype: andrew.williams.jr
Twitter: AWilliamsJr
2015-2020 Caring for Climate Plan of Action        

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

2016 National Fire Administration Volunteer Incentive Program Courses


NFA’s Volunteer Incentive Program has vacancies for February 28 – March 4, 2016, classes.  Courses included are:

R0810 Leadership and Administration (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/56)

R0824 Management Strategies for Success (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/62)

R0827 Fire Protection Systems for Emergency Operations (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10270)

R0834 National Fire Incident Reporting System: Program Manager (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10646)

R0836 Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10648)

R0847 Emergency Medical Services Incident Operations (http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10432)  

View information on the VIP and courses at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/programs/vip.html


We are also in an open application period (ending December 15, 2015) for courses offered during the other VIP weeks in 2016--May 29 – June 3 and September 11-16.


If interested apply today as vacancies fill quickly! Don’t miss out on this FREE training at your National Fire Academy. Please share this information with your colleagues and local fire and EMS Departments!  

Effectiveness of Ring Vaccination as Control Strategy for Ebola Virus Disease

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC 24/7: Saving Lives. Protecting People.â„¢
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES®



-
EXPEDITED AHEAD-OF-PRINT ARTICLES — November 3, 2015
-
Adam J. Kucharski, Rosalind M. Eggo, Conall H. Watson, Anton Camacho, Sebastian Funk, and W. John Edmunds
Abstract
Using an Ebola virus disease transmission model, we found that addition of ring vaccination at the outset of the West Africa epidemic might not have led to containment of this disease. However, in later stages of the epidemic or outbreaks with less intense transmission or more effective control, this strategy could help eliminate the disease.
Volume 22, Number 1 - January 2016


Sunday, November 1, 2015

CSIS Event: Strengthening Collaboration on Humanitarian Emergency Response - Thursday, November 12

The CSIS Africa Program invites you to a conference on:
Strengthening Collaboration on 
Humanitarian Emergency Response 

Featuring:


Dr. Emmanuel Dolo
Head of Secretariat, Presidential Advisory Council on Ebola
Office of the President, Republic of Liberia

Hon. Gangalal Tuladhar
Member of Parliament, Government of Nepal
Coordinator, National Campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction, Nepal

Valerie Bemo

Senior Program Officer, Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Jeremy Konyndyk

Director, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAID

Ky Luu

Executive Director, Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy, Tulane University

Moderated by:

Jennifer Cooke
Director, CSIS Africa Program
Thursday, November 12, 2015
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
CSIS | 2nd Floor Conference Room
1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036


The West Africa Ebola crisis, the deadly April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, and ongoing crises in Syria, Central African Republic, and beyond have exposed weaknesses of global humanitarian emergency response efforts. Complex humanitarian emergencies require a constellation of actors from different sectors working collaboratively to save lives and provide critical services. A new report by the Disaster Resilience Group, A Networked Approach to Strengthening Emergency Response Capacity, draws lessons from international and local networks and offers recommendations for building capacity among first- and second-line responders and strengthening networks for emergency response. Panelists will present the report's findings and discuss how they might be implemented to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency response.

Click here to register or RSVP to africa@csis.org

This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.  No direct sponsorship contributed to this event.

Cyber Security Awareness Resource Available All Year

Every month is security awareness month at Securing the Human. We'll continue to have resources available at cyberaware.securingthehuman.org.

Here are three popular resources to bookmark or download now:

1.  Securing Your Kids Presentation & Handout - http://ow.ly/SWH6X

2.  3 Steps to Transform Your Security Awareness Program -

3.  Security Awareness Event Calendar - http://ow.ly/TTGjE


- The SANS Securing the Human Team

P.S. Remember to visit cyberaware.securingthehuman.org to access dozens of tools, videos, and articles all related to security awareness.

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