Launching a-cert-program

NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Community
Emergency
Response Team
CERT
Launching a CERT

Launching a CERT –
5 Components
1. Define Program Goals
2. Identify Resources
3. Market the Program
4. Deliver the Training
5. Plan for Program Maintenance

1. Define Program Goals
Effective Disaster Response Teams?
Better Community Preparedness?
Support for Other Public Safety Efforts?
Enhanced Public Relations?

Effective Disaster Response
Teams
Individual disaster responder skills
Team organization
Linkage with professional responders

Linkage with Professional
Responders
When deployed, CERTs must be able
to function on their own
CERT operations also need to be linked
with other responders
Means and degree of linkage between
CERTs and other responders depend
on nature of the event

Better Community
Preparedness
CERT participants maintain high level of
home and workplace preparedness
Participants are more informed about
risks and vulnerabilities
Participants are already committed to
safety and well-being of their neighbors

Support Other Public Safety Efforts
Installing smoke detectors, providing safety
standby at community events, etc.
Benefits the community-at-large
Benefits the CERTs
Benefits the program (“value-added
volunteers”)

What will we need?
Where will we get it?

What Do We Need to Get
Started?
Course material and training
props
Support for the concept
Program Coordinator
Trainers
Program forms and flyer
Info management tool

Course Material and
Props
NYS CERT CD with IG, PM, PPT, etc. for
printing manuals and presentations
Internet sites (NYSEMO, FEMA, other
CERT programs)
Local emergency management offices
American Red Cross (video, pamphlets,
specialty training)
Local utilities (info pamphlets, props)

Support for the
Concept
“It’s a real resource!” vs. “It’s a new
program!”
Whenever possible, “Let your citizens do
the talking”
Always keep elected officials in the loop

Program Coordinator
Program development
– Link between CERTs and professional
responders
– Expanding role and responsibilities of CERTs
– Continuing education for program participants
Funding and budgeting
Educating the department and jurisdiction
Publicity and networking

Program Coordinator
Also responsible for program
administration
– Handle public inquiries about program
– Process registrations
– Maintain records (financial, inventory,
database of CERT members, etc.)
– Schedule basic training courses, follow-up
training, special events, etc.
– Coordinate newsletter and other mailings

Program Coordinator
Also responsible for course
management
– Regular contact with current students
– Recruit, train and schedule instructors
– Maintain consistent and up-to-date content
– Set up classrooms
– Provide orientation at beginning of new
course

Program Forms and Info
Material
Recruitment flyer or brochure (w/
mailer)
Registration form
Course confirmation letter
Liability waiver form
Class sign-in roster
Certificate of Completion
Course evaluation form

Info Management Tool
Collect and organize info on each
program participant as soon as you
start the training
– Contact information
– Team
– Classes completed / year of completion
– Continuing ed training completed
– Other, e.g., ham operator, CERT leader?
Consider building a database to
facilitate mailings, contact lists, etc.

First Responders as CERT
Trainers
ADVANTAGES
 1st response
experience
 Training experience
 Quality control
 Reliability
 Set schedules
CHALLENGES
 Uncertainty about
CERTs
 Training experience
 Cost

Bottom Line on
Resources
Staffing (coordinator and trainers) will
drive the cost per student

Reaching the Community
Maintaining the Political Support
Pitching to the Media
Pitching to Your Organization
Getting Corporate Support

Reaching the
Community
Defining “The Community”
Defining Citizen Roles
Working with Ready-Made
Partners
Effective Community Outreach

“The Community” Sees
Itself
Geographic Communities
Ethnic Communities
Businesses
Schools
Communities of Faith
Communities of Interest

“The Community” Seen by
Govt.
Taxpayers
Voters
Advocates
Victims
Customers
Partners

“Customer Opinion”
about Emergencies
It’s not going to happen to me.
It’s not going to be that bad.
There’s nothing I can do.
Government will do it.

The Partner
n. A person associated
with another or others in
some activity of common
interest. Synonyms:
partner, colleague, ally,
confederate, accomplice.
These all denote one
who cooperates in a
venture, occupation, or
challenge.

Examples of Ready-Made
Partners
Homeowner Associations
Neighborhood Associations
Church Groups
Business District Associations
Grange Associations
Schools/PTAs
Scouting Organizations
RACES/Amateur Radio

Basic Outreach to
Citizens
Regular meetings of established
groups
Mailers to membership lists
Articles in community newsletters
Community events
Print media and TV

Tips for Effective
Outreach
Explain the problem, then offer the
solution
Clarify processes and expectations up
front
Whenever possible, “Let your citizens
do the talking”
Identify special audiences that need to
know CERT training is available

Maintaining Political
Support
the talking”
Demonstrate numbers of citizens visibly
Invite direct involvement of elected officials,
agency head, their executive staff

Pitching to the Media
Give the media action involving citizens +
disasters
Publicize photo opportunities and “hands-
on” aspect of training
the talking”
Be prepared for the results of media
coverage

Pitching to Your
Organization
Convince them of the problem, then offer
the solution
Clarify program goals and expectations up
front
Describe CERT training and protocols in
agency terms

Getting Corporate
Support
Talk business to business
Emphasize potential employee
involvement
Feature enhanced community
preparedness

Getting Corporate
Support
Spell out exactly what you want
Present a complete plan
– Goals and objectives
– Respective roles of all partners
– Measurable timeline
– Evaluation process
End result must be tangible

Allow plenty of lead time –
Planning!!
Pilot course is most important

The Program Pilot
Test the CERT curriculum
Test delivery of training
Collect feedback
Assess results
Make revisions if needed

The Program Pilot
Select and target “test communities”
Conduct real-life version of the
training
Conduct a fearless debriefing
Seek an outsider to assess the
results

The Program Pilot
Debriefing and assessing the results:
What prompted the participants to enroll?
How did they find out about the training?
Their satisfaction with program length?
Their satisfaction with program intensity?

The Program Pilot
Debriefing and assessing the results (cont.):
Topics to be expanded, compressed,
added?
Effectiveness of instructional techniques?
Effectiveness of instructional materials?
Convenience of schedule and location(s)?
Ways to sustain their interest?

5. Plan for Program
Maintenance
Comprehensive program
maintenance
Examples of maintenance
successes

Volunteer Retention
Commitment to the community
Commitment to ongoing training
Commitment to building the team
A partnership in the program

Rescuer Skills
Maintain a range of basic response skills
Enhance current skills
Learn new skills

Program Administration
Manage information and data
Maintain and expand budget
Maintain and expand corps of
trainers
Evaluate program

External Program Support
Professional responders
Community-based organizations
City Hall
Business community
Corporate donors

Maintenance
Successes
Real-Life Activation of Teams
Refresher/Advanced Classes
Technical Assistance to Teams
Program Newsletter

More Maintenance
Successes
Citywide Exercises
Neighborhood Exercise Swaps
Acknowledgment Events
Expanded CERT Activities

Sample Expanded
Activities
CERT “Smoke Detector Squad”
Coordination and staffing at safety fairs
Fundraising partnerships
Management of CERT program
First aid stations at neighborhood events
Disaster Preparedness Speakers’ Bureau
Simulators in Fire Department exercises

Expanded CERT
Activities
Maintain individuals’ skills
Support individuals’ commitment
Maintain team cohesion
Build partnership with professionals
Build political support
Capitalize on initial investment

Unit Summary
Five critical steps to launch a CERT
program
1. Define CERT Program Goals
5. Develop a Maintenance Plan
Allow enough lead time
Be prepared for growth

Launching a-cert-program

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