A presentation by Jonathan Glenn, Regional Program Dir, Services to the Armed Forces and International Services, Greater PA Region of the American Red Cross on its Support to the Armed Forces Program. Briefed to the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council on 17 November 2022.

1. Military & Veteran Support Programs
Presentation for the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council
17‐November‐2021

2. American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania

3. Military & Veteran Program Staff
Greater PA
Department Email: arc0906.saf@redcross.org
Department Phone: 866‐311‐3832, Extension #2
Option 1 to be connected to the Red Cross Emergency Message Call Center for 24/7 service
Option 2 to leave a voicemail for Pennsylvania staff. Return calls made during business hours.
Jonathan Glenn
Regional Program Director
Jon.Glenn@redcross.org
Work Cell 717‐368‐3154
Pauline Duncan
Regional Program Manager
Pauline.Duncan@redcross.org
Work Cell 412‐292‐2733

4. Military & Veteran Program Staff
Southeastern PA
(Philadelphia area)
Jaime Boris
Regional Program Manager
Jaime.Boris@redcross.org
Work Cell 267‐623‐6364

5. Our History
1859
Red Cross Movement is Born
on the Battlefield in Solferino,
Italy
1861
Volunteer Nurse Clara Barton
assist Union Soldiers in the
American Civil War
1881
Clara Barton creates the
American Red Cross
1898 ‐ Today
Red Cross deploys with US
Armed Forces starting with
Spanish American War
From the Spanish‐American War to the
recent conflicts in the Middle East, the Red
Cross has served alongside America’s
military personnel and cared for veterans
and families back home.

6. Historical Context for Emergency Messages
The American Red Cross maintains a Congressional Charter with the
United States Government to…
“…act in matters of voluntary relief and in accordance with the military
authorities as a medium of communication between the people of the
United States and the Armed Forces of the United States”.

7. Our Team
61 Counties, 8 Chapters
2 Full‐Time Staff
100+ Volunteers

8. Our Clients
50 PA
Counties
All
Branches
All
Service
Eras
Active
Duty &
Reserve
Veteran
National
Guard
Military
Families

9. Our Partners
PA National
Guard
MEPS,
Installations
VA Facilities
Corporations
& Community
Groups
Non‐Profits &
Service
Organizations

10. Our Mission in Action
Emergency & Critical Needs Casework
Skill Building Resiliency Workshops
Veteran Support Programs
Armed Forces Support Programs

11. Emergency & Critical Needs Casework
Emergency
Communication
Messages
• Support Emergency Leave Requests
• 24/7 Access to Military Aid Societies
Critical
Community
Needs
• Information & referral services to meet housing,
utility, food and other needs.

12. Red Cross Emergency Communication Message
Two Purposes of an Emergency Message:
1. Notify Service Member of an Emergency
2. Support Service Member’s Leave Request with their command
When to Initiate an Emergency Message:
Death or Life‐Threatening Illness or Injury for immediate family
members of the Service Member and Spouse.

13. 24/7 Access to Emergency Messages
Hero Care Network Call Center: 877‐272‐7337
Smart Phone App: Hero Care by American Red Cross
Online Request Submission: https://www.redcross.org/get‐
help/military‐families/emergency‐communication.html

14. Life Cycle on an Emergency Messages
Emergency Occurs
A sudden, generally unexpected, occurrence of a time‐critical and short‐term nature that disrupts or
threatens to disrupt the norm and that demands immediate action or attention.
Message is Initiated
Intake casework collects basin info on SM and emergency
Emergency is Verified
Patient or MPOA Consent to Red Cross and Medical Authority
Funeral Home or Medical Authority DIS
Message is Delivered
Typically done 4‐6 hours after initiation
Family Follow‐Up is Conducted
Volunteer Caseworkers in PA will contact message initiator to see if needs are met.

15. Skill Building Resiliency Workshops
Reconnection
Workshops
Coping with
Deployment
Mind Body
Workshops

16. Veteran Support Programs
VA Hospitals
& State
Homes
• Volunteers Support in Facilities
• Moral Activities
• Material Donations
Totes of
Hope
• Homeless and At‐Risk Veteran Support
Program
• Resiliency Backpacks & Move‐In Kits

17. Armed Forces Support Programs
Operation
Stronger
Together
•Connecting the generosity of PA’s
communities and Corporations to
deployed troops.
Outreach
& Support
•MEPS Education
•Military Installation Support
•Pre & Post Deployment Support

18. The Wrap‐Up
Thank You!
Ideas?
Questions?