Colorado Donations Coordination Team Receives FedEx Innovative Program of the Year 2012 Award

Award Received at the National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) Conference Colorado's Donations Coordination Team and Volunteer Coordination Team were awarded the FedEX Innovative Program Award at the National VOAD Conference on May 15, 2012 in Norfolk, VA.  This award was issued to the team for work on the Colorado Donations and Volunteer Management Network.  The Colorado Donations and Volunteer Management Network is a collection of partners, practical tools and initiatives that aim to provide enhanced services to disaster survivors as they relate to donation management, volunteer coordination and information and referral.  Jen Poitras, facilitator for the network, accepted the award on behalf of the team.   Core Agency Partners of the Colorado Donations and Volunteer Management Network: Adventist Community Services Disaster Response 2-1-1 Colorado Colorado Volunteer Center Network Supporting Agency Partners of the Colorado Donations and Volunteer Management Network: American Red Cross Colorado Division of Emergency Management Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters The Salvation Army   What is Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters? Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (COVOAD) is the Colorado state chapter of National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters (NVOAD).  It consists of organizations active in disaster response throughout the state of Colorado.  COVOAD's role is to bring organizations together, enable them to understand each other and work together in a cohesive manner.  To accomplish these goals, COVOAD meets with its member organizations several times each year to share information and training opportunities.  These meetings also provide the opportunity to conduct business, plan, network and provide updates on current disaster relief efforts. Information for this post obtained from the COVOAD website

Free Workshop: Managing Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers

Managing Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers:  Lessons Learned from Recent Disasters

Attend this free workshop on May 15 to hear from an incredible line up of presenters/panel members from Joplin, Missouri, North Dakota and Colorado.  Registration is being conducted through www.co.train.org with Course ID# 1031889.  Details regarding the workshop are included in the course flyer.

Seating is limited and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals Training

Animal Response Volunteers Eligible to Attend Free Training.

Where:  Law Enforcement Training Academy
              502 2nd Street, Alamosa, CO 81101

What:  Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals is designed to help communities of any size actively and formally prepare for disasters affecting both animals and humans. Natural or man made disasters can strike at any time, and depending on their scope and severity, the local community needs to be equipped to handle the resulting influx of dogs, cats and other small companion animals.


When:  December 10-11, 2011

Time:  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Key Areas of Focus:

• Identifying viable locations for emergency animal shelters
• Designing and setting an emergency shelter
• Animal identification and record keeping
• Daily routines
• Safety and security concerns
• Decontamination
• Legal issues and liability
• Disposition of animals 

Who should attend this training?

• CART and CERT
• CSU Extension
• Zoos and Wildlife agencies
• Public Heath
• Concerned individuals and volunteers
• Animal Shelters and Animal Rescue Groups
• Fairgrounds
• Kennels and Pet Groups
• Livestock associations and livestock producers
• Veterinarians, veterinary technicians and staff members

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!  Space is limited.  Deadline to register is November 22, 2011.

To Register contact Adeline Lee at adelinelee@cvmf.org or 719-480-5676.
For more information click here.

Volunteer and Donations Management Course - 10/6/2011 - Centennial - G288

This class is a combination of understanding the role of volunteers (especially spontaneous volunteers) in a disaster and those of good volunteer management practices.  The class spends time addressing the special motivations and attributes of volunteer personnel.

The role of donations management is explored at length with current donations strategies and tools discussed.  The donations management function is often staffed by volunteers, so the class will discuss some ideas on how to work with volunteer teams and spontaneous volunteers in the donations function.

Where:    Colorado Division of Emergency Management
                State Emergency Operations Center
                9195 E. Mineral Ave. #200
                Centennial, CO 80112

Register: Registration will be through COTRAIN
                Course #1026686
                This course is first come, first served.  No charge.
             
Recommended Prerequisites:  NIMS IS 100, NIMS IS 700, NIMS IS 800
For more information contact:  Robyn Knappe, 720-852-6617

2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards

Nominations for FEMA's 2011 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards is now open and will close on August 26.  There are 16 achievement categories for accomplishments from January 2010 through May 2011.  Winners will be announced in September, during National Preparedness Month, and will be honored guests at an event in D.C. with one winner being selected to attend the 2011 International Association of Emergency Mangers Conference in Las Vegas.

Throughout Colorado, success has been demonstrated in each of these categories, please take the few minutes needed to nominate individuals or entire programs from your jurisdiction that have increased the level of disaster preparedness.

All applications and supporting materials should be sent to citizencorps@fema.gov with "2011 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award Application" in the subject line.

Job Announcement - Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Member

This service position is funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Sponsoring Organization for this State-wide initiative is the Governor’s Commission on Community Service in partnership with the Colorado Volunteer Center Network (CVCN).

Assignment Description: Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Member

Position Title: AmeriCorps*VISTA Member – Colorado Volunteer Center Network

Position Type: AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer Position; 12-month term of service full-time without regard to a regular schedule

Term of Service: Late August 2011 – Late August 2012

Location: Westminster City Hall,

4800 West 92nd Avenue, Westminster, Colorado 80031

Stipend: $891/month - Per AmeriCorps*VISTA guidelines

Benefits: Medical health coverage; Federal holidays; ten sick/vacation days; travel paid to training; relocation allowance of up to $550; $5,550 education award upon completion, or $1,500 cash stipend upon completion; child care allowance. For benefit & VISTA program details, please visit http://vistacampus.org/mod/book/view.php?id=2093/chapter1.html

Reports To: Colorado Volunteer Center Network VISTA Program Supervisor

Position Overview:

The Colorado Volunteer Center Network (CVCN) VISTA member will work to strengthen CVCN’s Disaster Preparedness and Response efforts. Assignments will include outreach on behalf of CVCN, volunteer engagement, training coordination, and expanding previously designed programming, including the Disaster Volunteer Coordination System and Continuity of Operations Training Program. The VISTA member will also work in conjunction with CVCN leadership on special projects to strengthen the network.

Position duties consist of the following:

• Orient new CVCN members and partners on CVCN’s Volunteer Coordination System and Continuity of Operations Training Program.
• Raise awareness of CVCN in Colorado by reaching out to potential CVCN members, local emergency managers, and disaster response agencies.
• Recruit volunteers and coordinate CVCN task teams.
• Ensure CVCN programs have plans and resources in place to be sustainable after VISTA service has ended.
• Attend Emergency Planning Meetings as requested.
• Assist with the continued development of the Colorado Volunteer Center Network.
• Work as a team member, participating in group meetings, retreats, special events, staff development and training opportunities.
• Act as an ambassador for CVCN throughout Colorado and the national community of Volunteer Centers.
• Coordinate training opportunities for CVCN members, partners, and volunteers.
• Work on special projects to strengthen CVCN and its programming.

Requirements for the volunteer position include:

Bachelor’s degree is preferred; however, some college combined with work experience may substitute for a degree.

• Self-directed, highly motivated, reliable, with a results and solution oriented perspective, organized, flexible with strong time-management skills.
• Computer proficient, including experience with Windows and related MS computer software.
• Excellent written and oral communication, facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, team-oriented, enjoy working with others.
• Demonstration of the highest standards of professionalism, personal initiative and integrity.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
• Passion for and commitment to volunteerism.
• Demonstrated interest in emergency preparedness/response and knowledge of nonprofit dynamics.
• Background check, valid driver’s license, clean driving record, reliable transportation.
• Travel expected to Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver Metro Area, Fort Collins, Greeley, Routt County, and other areas of Colorado as necessary.

Application Deadline: Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm on June 30th.

Interviews will take place July 5th – July 7th.

The position start date will be August 22nd, 2011.

Please mail or email a resume, cover letter and three references to:

Nancy Schoemann 

Colorado Volunteer Center Network 

1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite C-601 

Denver, CO 80222 

nancys@metrovolunteers.org 

Please note that this is an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer position, with a living allowance stipend. VISTA is a unique national service program and not traditional employment. Please review the VISTA Handbook (link above) prior to applying.

Risk Management For Your Volunteer Forces

The following article, by our Senior Division Advisor, David Holm, was recently published in the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Bulletin.

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Risk Management For Your Volunteer Forces

Few things are as valuable to emergency managers as a cadre of trained, qualified, dedicated, capable volunteers, and few things will deplete those volunteers as quickly as failing to defend them and their agency from risk.  Yet typically little thought is given to risk management involving volunteers.  The risks involved with volunteers fall into several categories:

Physical risk of harm or death to the volunteer;

1. Risk of damage or loss to the volunteer’s personal property;
2. Risk of liability by the volunteer and their agency for harms based on the volunteer’s actions, or failure to act;
3. Risk of economic harm to the volunteer by loss of salary, employment, benefits or seniority due to their service.

Each of these categories can be addressed and minimized/eliminated by taking proper actions before an emergency.

Physical risk to the volunteer

The physical risk of injury to a worker is often the most obvious risk.  By the nature of disasters, our response forces are often placed in harm’s way.  Day to day emergency workers are protected from exposure by proper training, equipping, supervision, guidance and oversight, but failing that, almost all of them are also protected by worker’s compensation insurance.  Few government agencies would consider operating without their employees being covered by worker’s comp, and yet many have no such coverage for volunteers.  A worker’s compensation policy serves to assist the injured worker, but it may also serve to protect the agency from liability for the injury beyond the scope of the insurance.  (See Colorado Revised Statutes 24-332-2201 to 2221 http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll/cocode/1/3c208/3dc15/3e358/3e97d/3e97e?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0# for example legislation.)

If your jurisdiction has laws allowing such coverage, acquire a policy and fund the premiums to cover your volunteers.  It is amazing how inexpensive it can be and it may fund legal defense costs.

Risk of damage to volunteer’s property

Public responsibility for damage to a volunteer’s property is usually limited to personal property they would forseeably use in performing their duties, or which they have been requested to use by the agency.  Define and limit personal property used by the volunteer.  Wherever possible, provide agency property for them.  If they will be using personal motor vehicles, review their insurance to ensure their volunteer service will not disqualify their property damage, bodily injury nor liability insurance.  If they must use personal equipment, assure that the agency insurance policy will cover loss or damage or that the volunteer signs assumptions of risks/waivers of liability for personal equipment loss.

The risk of liability for harms based on the volunteer’s actions, or failure to act

Although courts tend to see if they can avoid holding volunteers and governments liable for actions taken in good faith during emergencies, judgments have been handed down in such events.  While proper training, equipping, supervision, guidance and oversight can go a long ways towards avoiding liability, many states and localities have enacted some form of sovereign immunity.  They then extended that immunity by making acts taken under color of disaster laws the responsibility of the state or other government entity, shielding the volunteer and placing any potential legal burden on an entity with access to government attorneys, i.e. Colorado Revised Statutes 24-32-2301 to 2304 [http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext.dll/cocode/1/3c208/3dc15/3e358/3ea3f/3ea4f?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#].  If your jurisdiction has such laws, utilize them.  If it doesn’t, get some enacted.

The risk of the volunteer to loss of salary, employment, employment benefits or seniority due to their volunteer service

The volunteers on a fire, flood, search and rescue mission, debris clearance, sheltering or any other emergency mission are protecting us, often at risk of their livelihood, health insurance, career position etc.  We owe them protection in return.  In 2008, Colorado passed (unanimously except one no vote) an act providing protections to those who volunteer their services in a large scale emergency (http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/volunteer/volunteer_leave.htm ).  The act provides for 15 days of leave when a volunteer is called to work by a qualified organization for a qualified emergency, paid leave for government workers and unpaid for the private sector.  It provides that no such volunteer can lose seniority, rank, benefits, retirement credits etc. so long as they follow certain procedures.  Any government entity can certify a volunteer organization they work with for such protection.  Volunteers we all depend on no longer risk their livelihood by volunteering.

Conclusion

In order to keep a vibrant, essential corps of volunteers in emergency management, we need to take steps to protect them (and their government agencies) from some of the harms inherent in a disaster emergency situation.

NOTE:  This article previously appeared in the IAEM Bulletin and is being reprinted with the permission of the International Association of Emergency Managers, www.iaem.com.

Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop - June 2011

Registration for the 3rd Annual Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop on June 3, 2011 in Breckenridge, CO is now open.  Advance Registration is required through CO.Train at https://www.co.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx.  The Course ID number is 1027034.

This FREE one day volunteer capacity building workshop is for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); Citizen Corps Council volunteers; VOAD's; Medical Reserve Corp (MRC); Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer (CVM); and Red Cross volunteers.  The day long workshop includes more than 25 one-hour training/educational sessions and an opportunity to participate in an exercise.  Breakfast and lunch are provided to volunteers participating in the workshop.

If you have any questions, contact Kristen Campos at kristen.c.campos@gmail.com or Koral O'Brien at koral.obrien@gmail.com.

This workshop is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Citizen Corps Program, and Denver Paramedics.

A special hotel rate is available for attendees (no direct funding is available) at the Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center.  Reservations can be made online at www.beaverrun.com and the password is VCW5SK.

Topics to be offered during the workshop include:

• Training on 800 MHz radios (like our law enforcement and some other emergency services use) 
• CPR and AED training 
• CERT Animal Response I 
• CERT Animal Response II 
• Lessons Learned - CSU Meningitis Outbreak 
• ICS 100 & 700 
• Information Sharing and Social Media 
• Citizen's terrorism awareness training 
• Lessons Learned - Grand County Hepatitis A Outbreak 
• Volunteer Affiliation 
• Psychological First Aid 
• Boulder County Public Health and Medical Reserve Corps Response to the Fourmile Fire 
• Public Information 
• Disaster Survival Skills 
• Incident Management Teams 
• Preparing for Workplace Disasters 
• Triage Training 
• How to Promote Your Organization
• and more 

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer Course

Don't just volunteer to help pitch in, help teach others "how to" by taking the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer Course.  In a large scale emergency or disaster, often those first on the scene to render aid and organize response efforts are friends, family and neighbors.  The foundation of a strong community ability to respond to a disaster in an organized and prepared way is via a Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training.  You can learn more about CERT online at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert.  To get in touch with your local CERT in Colorado, look their contact info online at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/CertIndex.do?reportsForState&cert=&state=CO.

To support CERT development at the local level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is hosting a CERT Train-the-Trainer Course to prepare participants to deliver FEMA's CERT Basic Training Course.

There are a number of dates available for the training in 2011 and 2012 and each class will be hosted at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD.  If you are interested in applying for the course, contact DEM's Training Officer, Robyn Knappe, at robyn.knappe@state.co.us or at (720) 852-6617.  Robyn can help walk you through the application process, will serve as your State contact to handle your application to EMI.

For more information on the course, dates for registration and application instructions see the CERT Train-the-Trainer Info Flyer.

2011 Governor's Service Awards

The Governor's Service Awards are presented in recognition and appreciation to individuals, community leaders, various organizations, and AmeriCorps Members, for their outstanding contribution to volunteerism and service throughout the State of Colorado.  Volunteers are a key partner in Colorado's emergency management network and the opportunity to source and identify those volunteers who have served above and beyond is important.  This year's ceremony will be held on May 20th, from 10:00 am - 3:00 p.m. on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol.  The nomination window is still open and for more information and to nominate key volunteers you serve with or know (several categories available), visit the Governor's Service Awards Site at http://www.colorado.gov/gccs.

National Weather Service Boulder - Skywarn Severe Weather Spotter Trainings

The National Weather Service in Boulder conducts 25 to 30 spotter training sessions each year mostly during March, April, and May.

These talks are free and open to the public. At each session, the NWS offers basic training followed by advanced training.  By taking the training, you can become a certified Skywarn severe weather spotter after 90 minutes of basic training or stay for the advanced portion of the training.  The National Weather Service will count on you to be their "eyes" out in the field, when trying to verify severe weather across northeast Colorado.   The National Weather Service in Boulder warns for 22 counties and these spotter reports are very helpful in making warning decisions on severe thunderstorms.

The NWS requests that you register with the contact point for the talk you plan to attend.  For more information on Skywarn training, contact Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov

Visit the NWS Boulder Spot Training Page for a schedule of upcoming Basic and Advanced Skywarn Severe Weather Spotter Trainings.

American Red Cross Mile High Chapter Town Hall Meeting - Strategy and Moving Forward - Mar 26 - Denver, CO

The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter is hosting a Town Hall Meeting to discuss Red Cross strategy and action plans moving forward on Saturday, March 26, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter (444 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203).  The Town Hall Meeting is open to all preparedness volunteers - past, present and future - and is being held because of the recent influx of volunteers, with so many things going on, the Red Cross feels "it's time to get everyone in the same room and share the big picture."  At the meeting, attendees will learn about jobs available for Red Cross preparedness volunteers, what kind of training is required and how volunteers can be more involved.  An RSVP is required since space will be limited in the Red Cross auditorium and for RSVPs and more information, contact George Sullivan, Preparedness Program Coordinator, American Red Cross Mile High Chapter at (303) 607-4758 or via email at gsullivan@denver-redcross.org.  For general information about the Colorado Chapters of the American Red Cross, follow them on Twitter at @redcrossdenver and @redcrossgs, follow the Colorado Chapters of the American Red Cross on Facebook or visit their website at http://www.coloradoredcross.org.

Colorado Conference on Volunteerism - 5/24-25 - Denver, CO

Hosted by the Denver Directors of Volunteers in Agencies and Johnson & Wales University, the Colorado Conference on Volunteerism is being held in Denver on May 24-25, 2011.  Registration is now open at http://www.coloradoCOV.org.  Conference topics include:

• Keynote address and interactive discussions by Paul Loeb
• Engaging skilled and pro-bono volunteers
• Best practices for online recruiting
• Social media as a volunteer engagement strategy
• Working with grieving volunteers
• Understanding coporate volunteer partnerships
• Appreciating generational differences in volunteers
• Engaging service learning and intern volunteers
• and more...

For more information, check out the Colorado Conference on Volunteerism website.

2011 Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop - June 3 - Breckenridge, CO

This workshop is a day-long series of informative sessions for all types of volunteers with a role in disasters - Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Red Cross volunteers, and also Fire Corps, and Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) participants, and others.

Advance registration will open April 15 on the COTrain site (http://www.co.train.org).  There is no cost to attend the workshop.  The workshop is being sponsored by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Citizen Corps Program and Denver Health Paramedics.

See the 2011 Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop "Save the Date" Flyer

Colorado Volunteer Workers Protection Process - Reg and Info

Leave & Job Protection for Volunteer Emergency Management, Emergency Services & Disaster Workers

On April 24, 2008, then Governor Bill Ritter signed House Bill 08-1097 - Colorado Revised Statutes §24-32-2202 et seq. into law. The bill provides leave and job protection for volunteer emergency management, emergency services, and disaster workers under certain circumstances.

The bill went into effect August 6, 2008. With the enactment of that law, Civil Air Patrol and other volunteer emergency workers working for qualified volunteer organizations, who are requested to respond to a disaster emergency, will be entitled to take leave for up to 15 working days each year. Private sector employees are  entitled to unpaid leave and government workers will be entitled to paid leave. All are protected against loss of job, seniority, retirement benefits, rank, etc., while on such leave.

In order to be qualified, volunteer organizations must be certified to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Emergency Management by a sheriff, local government, state agency, or by a local emergency planning committee (LEPC). The link to the certification request form may be found below. The certification attests that the organization and the sheriff or director of a local government, state agency, or LEPC have developed and signed a memorandum of understanding covering use of the organization and its volunteers during disaster emergencies.

Once the organization is listed, a volunteer member will be protected when he or she performs satisfactorily in a disaster emergency at the request of a sheriff, local or state agency, or LEPC and provides a certification of that from his or her own organization of the employing government.

Although they may be eligible under this law as well, volunteer firefighters are provided job protection for fire calls under another statute. Red Cross volunteers eligible for disaster leave as state employees will be provided with a maximum total of 15 working days leave under this law and the Red Cross leave provisions.

No employer will be required to grant leave to more than 20% of his employees at any one time, and employees deemed essential to the employer’s operations and income or disaster services may likewise be denied leave.

The bill also removes some limitations on sovereign immunity protections to governments and volunteers within the Disaster Emergency Act.

If you have questions regarding this bill or the required procedures, call the Department of Local Affairs, Division of Emergency Management at 720-852-6600 and, specifically, David Holm in the Division of Emergency Management.  David can also be reached via email at david.holm@state.co.us.

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House Bill 08-1097 - Colorado Revised Statutes §24-32-2202 et seq.

Application For Enrollment on the Qualified Volunteer Organization List

Certification of Volunteer Service in a Disaster Emergency

Qualified Volunteer Organization List

Course Announcement - Community Emergency Response Team "Train the Trainer" Course - 12/1-3 - Brighton, CO

Colorado State University's Brighton Learning Center and Resource Campus is hosting a Community Emergency Response Team "Train the Trainer" Course on December 1, 2, and 3, 2010.  Intended for members of emergency management, fire, police and emergency medical agencies or volunteers, the course will introduce participants to the CERT concept of preparing civilians to proactively organize and train for disaster.

The course will address administrative considerations for implementing CERT programs, and provide CERT curriculum to help students return to their communities and represent sponsoring agencies to develop and instruct CERT training(s).

If you are interested, you can register online at http://www.co.train.org (Course ID #1015851).  For questions, contact cathy.prudhomme@state.co.us or at (720) 852-6650.  You can also download a copy of the CERT "Train the Trainer" Course flyer online.

Course Announcement - Community Emergency Response Team "Train the Trainer" Course - 11/16-18 - Colorado Springs, CO

The Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management is hosting a Community Emergency Response Team "Train the Trainer" Course on November 16, 17 and 18, 2010.  Intended for members of emergency management, fire, police and emergency medical agencies or volunteers, the course will introduce participants to the CERT concept of preparing civilians to proactively organize and train for disaster.

The course will address administrative considerations for implementing CERT programs, and provide CERT curriculum to help students return to their communities and represent sponsoring agencies to develop and instruct CERT training(s).

If you are interested, you can register online at http://www.co.train.org (Course ID #1015851).  For questions, contact cathy.prudhomme@state.co.us or at (720) 852-6650.  You can also download a copy of the CERT "Train the Trainer" Course flyer online.

Colorado Volunteer Orgs Active in Disaster - How You Can Help Survivors of the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder

From the Colorado Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster

How to Help

• Financial gifts are the best way to help!
• Furthermore, financial support to voluntary agencies responding to this disaster is the most effective way to help
• Cash allows disaster agencies to purchase exactly what is needed.
• To make a financial gift relative to the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

More How to Help Tips....

      First.... DO NOT GO TO THE SCENE OF A DISASTER!

• The arrival of unexpected volunteers will interfere with response efforts. Stay safe by staying out of the way!
• Volunteers will be most needed during the recovery phase. Please be patient and WAIT until relief agencies are ready to use your help.
• If you want to volunteer, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

      Second... DO NOT DONATE ITEMS WITHOUT KNOWING NEEDS!

• DO NOT donate used clothing or used household items. These items will likely go to waste and get in the way.
• Bulk/palletized donations, requested by relief agencies, are best.
• If you want to make a donation or find out what the current needs in response to the Fourmile Canyon Fire are right now, call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489.

      Third... OTHER WAYS TO HELP

• Hold a yard sale, put on a fund-raising event, and donate money raised to a voluntary organization responding to this disaster.
• Have you already collected goods but can’t find an agency that needs them? Donate items to a local charitable agency.

DEM Training Registration and Tracking Moving to CO.TRAIN

Per Robyn Knappe, DEM Training Officer, to build partnerships make training participation and scheduling more accessible for students, the Division of Emergency Management is centralizing all its training registration, search and tracking activities to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's CO.TRAIN.org system.  There are some great opportunities ahead as many state agencies are moving in that same direction.

The biggest advantage will be the calendar function, which allows statewide visibility of training activities across Departments, agencies and subject matter criterion.  Rather than having to search for emergency management, health preparedness and homeland security classes on multiple websites, nearly all state emergency management-related agencies will be using CO.TRAIN. Another function is the ability for students to input information on previous classes and to start to consolidate their training records in one place.  Of course, all this will not happen overnight but we have begun the work.  If you have questions at any time during this transition phase, contact Robyn at robyn.knappe@state.co.us.

Starting with the class Incident Command System (ICS) class in Montrose, “Situation Unit Leader” Sept. 27, 2010, DEM is starting the registration for all future classes through CO.TRAIN.  We will continue to make training information, news and announcements available on COEmergency's Training Page, which includes the DEM Training News Feed.

What does this mean for me?
If you do not have a CO.TRAIN account, you will need to spend 10 minutes creating a profile and password.  The nice thing is that you only create the profile once.  And the password, is a self-regulating system, so if you forget your password, you can get on the site and change it without administrator assistance (most of the time, anyway).

What is CO.TRAIN system?
It is a training management system with easy to use features and efficient processes.  You sign up once at the co.train.org website and you can easily register for classes.  There is a super calendar and a course search function.

Where did it come from?
The TRAIN system is a free service of the Public Health Foundation, www.train.org is part of the newly expanded TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network (TRAIN).  CO stands for Colorado in the CO.TRAIN acronym. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has been using the system since 2004 and has offered it to other departments as a no fee service to state agencies.

Who else is using it?
Many other states have adopted the site for registering for public health classes and some have adopted it for all-hazards emergency/disaster training management.  For example: the State of Kansas (KS TRAIN)and Utah (UT TRAIN) utilize the all hazards approach and use the TRAIN system for most all emergency management, ICS and homeland security classes.

What are some enhancements in the CO.TRAIN features over the old DEM system?
For example, you can print past certificates for yourself if you lose a certificate. The biggest enhancement is the super calendar which will show all classes. There are also automated function for building class rosters and notifications. As a course administrator, all the students registered in a class can be sent an email with the click of a button. You can also make a training plan for yourself in the system.  In the future, DEM will highlight some of the features in future training activity updates on COEmergency.com.

What are the challenges?
DEM will have to hand key input for past student training records.  We are not certain how long this will take nor how far back our records will go.  We are trying to evaluate this now so stay tuned.

Future enhancements
The Governors Office of Homeland Security (GOHS) will be making some upgrades to the system some time in 2011 to upgrade to the calendar function so that courses may be classified by region and sponsor rather than by discipline code. GOHS courses cross so many disciplines that to use those codes no longer provides us with an accurate view of courses throughout the state. GOHS is already using the web based CO.TRAIN system.

Thank you for your patience as we move to the CO.TRAIN system.  For more information, please email robyn.knappe@state.co.us or call (720)852-6617. Or for more technical issues with the CO.TRAIN site, contact Greg Schlosser at cdphe.co.train@state.co.us or at (303)692-2683.

Second Annual Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop - 8/27 - Breckenridge, CO

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Colorado Volunteer Coordinator, Koral O'Brien, is hosting the Second Annual Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop (Course ID 1023540) on Friday, August 27, 2010 in Breckenridge, CO at the Beaver Run Conference Center.  This one day workshop targets the Medical Response Corps, Citizen Corps, Red Cross, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, and Citizen Emergency Response Teams to take part in a day of educational and training opportunities.  

You can register for the workshop online at CO.TRAIN (http://www.co.train.org).  You will find the workshop listed under Course ID 1023540.

There is a robust agenda being developed for the course, with specific instruction/discussion on topics such as Federal and Medical Health Response, Volunteer Legal Issues, 800MHz Radio Trainings, Social Media and Disasters, Psychological First Aid, ICS 100 and 700, Citizens Emergency Response Team Training and much, much more.  You can download a copy of the draft agenda on the CO.TRAIN Second Annual Volunteer Capacity Building Workshop Announcement (Course ID 1023540).

If you have any questions, just shoot an email to koral.obrien@gmail.com or give her a ring at (303) 692-2782