Church World Service Emergency Response Program

Client Need:

Under the umbrella of the Church World Service Emergency Response Program (CWS ERP), eight faith-based disaster response organizations decided to collaborate in the development of a national curriculum focused on disaster ministry. Using this shared curriculum, faith organizations nationwide will be better prepared to train volunteers and staff and to assist communities responding to disasters. Moreover, the curriculum will deliver a consistent message; and, through readily accessible packaged modules, will widen the outreach capabilities of the organizations involved. Recent domestic disasters have highlighted the need for the Community Arise curriculum.

PerformTech Solution:

PerformTech is developing and piloting a variety of components for this blended curriculum, all of which will be distributed on the Community Arise website. Components include instructor guides, participant materials, and PowerPoint slides for eight courses totaling 73 hours, a Spanish version of Basic Disaster Ministry, a Flash presentation called Disasters and Their Impact, and a 1.5-hour Basic Disaster Ministry web-based course in both English and Spanish. The other courses are Disaster Case Management; Long-Term Recovery; Managing Volunteers in Disaster; Technology-Caused Disasters; Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters; Children, Youth, and Disaster; and Vulnerability to Disaster. The content reflects the organizations’ commitment to focus on the survivors, avoid bias (religious, cultural, racial, geographical, occupational, age, or income), and promote the concept of “Do No Harm.”