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UMCOR to Assist FEMA in Case Management Training

NEW YORK, October 5, 2005—FEMA is inviting UMCOR to train 18 employees in case management to assist 1,500 Katrina evacuees living on the Carnival “Fun Ship”, Holiday. “FEMA recognizes UMCOR as the agency whose niche is case management,” says UMCOR executive Kristin Sachen. UMCOR is deploying Rick Hill, director, family assistance ministries, MERCI (Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiative) in North Carolina to conduct the training on board the ship later this month.

Case management is UMCOR’s “specialty” in the wake of a disaster. UMCOR has perfected its application of case management over hundreds of disasters. In each of the three phases of response—emergency, relief, and long-term recovery—case management connects the disaster responders with the survivors in positive, constructive ways. The gift of case management is structure—allowing teams to communicate, avoid duplicated effort, and identify the most vulnerable in a coordinated way. Each participant has a designated role to minimize competition for resources. Through the case management process, UMCOR works with survivors to involve them in their own recovery and stays for however long it takes for recovery to take place.

Residents at the Louisiana Methodist Children's home in Ruston learn computer skills.

Katrina evacuees board the Carnival "Fun Ship" Holiday. It is being used by FEMA to provide temporary housing to residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Courtesy of FEMA/Mark Wolfe.

How You Can Help

Give:

Your generous gift to UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 will help those affected by this year’s hurricanes. If you would like your donation to go to those affected by a specific hurricane or a specific region, please note that in the memo line of your check.

You can give online, at your church, over the phone at 1-800-554-8583, or by mailing a check directly to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Checks should be written to UMCOR with the Advance number and name written on the memo line of your check.

Send:

There is an urgent need for both health kits and school kits. These collections of everyday items will provide displaced families with some basic necessities. The health kits contain items such as a toothbrush, wash cloth, and soap. The school kits contain items like paper, pencils, and items to help children start school. For assembly and shipping instructions, call UMCOR Sager Brown at 1-800-814-8765 or visit the UMCOR website. You may also give a financial donation to to UMCOR's Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440 to purchase kit supplies that the Depot staff and volunteers will use to assemble health kits and school kits.

Go:

Volunteers will be needed in hurricane recovery. To find out how you can help with hurricane cleanup, contact your United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Jurisdictional Coordinator. A list of these coordinators is available on the web at http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/vimcoords.htm or write Mission Volunteers at voluntrs@gbgm-umc.org for contact information. They will provide details on creating and training a team as well as scheduling details. For information on what disaster sites are currently scheduling volunteers, call the Volunteer Hotline at 800-918-3100.

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