Disaster Case ManagementPresented by

Pam Garrison Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church

Gabe TischlerCatholic Charities of Florida, Inc.

Goal

• Common understanding and language for Disaster Case Management (DCM)

• Importance of DCM for whole community recovery

• Critical role of emergency management in facilitating and supporting DCM

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Agenda

• Overview of Disaster Case Management• When and How DCM comes together – the

crucial link to long term recovery• Who should be involved• Challenges and Opportunities• Partnering with Emergency Management

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Background• VOADS/COADs– Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster– Community Organizations Active in Disaster

• Local, state, national• 4 “C’s”– Cooperation– Communication – Coordination– Collaboration

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• Purpose: “…serves as the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources

throughout the disaster cycle — preparation, response, recovery and mitigation — to help disaster survivors and their communities.”

• Committees

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BACKGROUND

• Disaster Case Management Guidelines– Encourage best practices and mutual accountability– Engage in a coordinated, inclusive approach – Foster trust, mutual respect and equal partnerships– Provide a common language and shared

understanding– Promote quality case management services to clients

• Points of Consensus

• Disaster Casework• Disaster Case Management• Shared Language• Points of Consensus / Guidance

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• Voluntary Organizations play a unique role in the recovery of individuals and families– Complement services provided by governmental

agencies– Deliver DCM services in fulfillment of their

missions with respect for and knowledge of the local community

First Step: Disaster Case Work

• Collect basic information • Meet immediate,

emergency needs• Interim plan• Screen• Transition to

Case management?

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Process of DCM

• Outreach and screening• Intake for case management services• Assessment• Recovery planning• Advocacy • Monitoring progress• Closure

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Primary Distinctions

• Short-term relationship• Doesn’t require continuity of care from the

same caseworker• Often initiated in the relief phase• Typically focuses on immediate, urgent and/or

transitional needs

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What is DCM?

Traditionally Disaster Case Management has been defined as a service provided to assist a disaster-affected individual or family to develop and execute their personal plan for long term recovery

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What is DCM?

“Disaster Case Management is a partnership between the case manager and the client in the development of a Disaster Recovery Plan. The process involves assessing needs based on verified disaster damage, developing a goal-oriented plan that outlines all necessary steps to achieve recovery, organizing and coordinating the information on the available resources that match the disaster caused needs, monitoring the progress towards reaching the stated goals and, when necessary, acting as an advocate for the client.”

Florida Catastrophic Planning ProjectJuly 2009

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DCM is…

• Time-limited process – up to 1 year or longer

• Skilled helper• Partners with survivor• Plan for and achieve

realistic goals for recovery

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Why DCM?

• Psychology of disaster survivors– Confused– Traumatized – shock– Disillusioned– Depressed– Angry – Unrealistic expectations

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Why DCM?

• Challenges faced by disaster survivors– Survivors face a puzzling array of assistance

programs, acronyms, forms to complete– At the mercy of helpers – who may or may not

have their best interests in mind– Privacy and independence compromised– Long complicated forms to complete

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Hope

• Provide guidance, stability• Opportunity to take control of their recovery• Clarify information• Explain options• Assist with realistic expectations• Help survivor navigate the disaster world

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Goal

Move the survivor from where they are as a result of the disaster to where they want to be

Disaster Case Manager

• What are the needs of the survivor as a result of the disaster?

• Review and assess resources– What do they have– What do they need

• Serve as a primary point of contact • Rely on the client to play an active role in their

recovery

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Successful DCM

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• Needs a coordinating structure or organization

• Long term recovery group or committee – community stakeholders

• Unmet needs table• Leadership commitment to whole

community recovery

When does it begin?

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DCM Begins…

• When people are displaced and disaster-caused needs are evident

• Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) or Essential Services Center (ESC): opportunity to initiate Information and Referral (I&R) and case work

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Federally-Declared Sequence of Delivery

Undeclared Disaster Sequence of Delivery

Emergency Assistance

Private Insurance

FEMA Assistance

Other Federal/State Assistance

Unmet Needs:Faith-Based Organizations

Sequence of Service Delivery

Transition to Long-Term Recovery

• Long-Term Recovery (LTR) forms in response to those unmet needs

• LTR provides– Money– Muscle– Materials– Minds

• Needs Driven – NOT Resource Driven

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Timeline for LTR

• Needs driven– some unmet needs – Significant unmet needs

• Community driven– Relationships/politics of the community– Organization of volunteer groups– Community Resources

• Should never be resource driven!

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Timeline

• Begin case management as early as 3-6 months in a well-organized community

• 6-12 months to begin case management is not unusual

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Challenges

• Accurately identifying unmet needs– Assessments – FEMA registrations – if applicable– Sharing of information

• Convening community stakeholders• Identifying resources – including funding

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Challenges

• Recruiting & training Case Managers• Allowing the process to unfold without

losing the sense of urgency

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Emergency Management

• Mission of Florida DEMWorking together to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate against their impacts.

• Director’s Standing Orders1. Take care of the needs of survivors.2. Take care of the needs of responders.3. When in doubt, re-read number one

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Emergency Management Focus

• Day-to-day emergencies• Immediate, urgent needs • Disasters bring new responsibilities

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Emergency Management has a vital

role to play in initiating, facilitating

and encouraging long term recovery

in their community.

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Opportunities

• Engage with local VOAD/COAD– Participate to train, learn, support– Guide from experience– Build relationships– Represent government

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Opportunities

• Facilitate information sharing– Refer survivors to resources– Assist survivors in accessing resources

• Facilitate information sharing with VOAD organizations – Clarify and verify assessment data– Identify unmet needs– Assist in determining need for long term

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Opportunities

• Assist in establishing long term recovery– Encourage community participation– Help identify community stakeholders– Help identify and solicit resources – including

funding and leadership– Support efforts to raise awareness in the

community– Advocate to state EM and FEMA

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Opportunities

• Assist in removing barriers to recovery– Connecting the LTR to the appropriate agency – Brokering relationships when appropriate– Understanding building codes– Guidance in supporting the local mitigation

strategy

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“Take Aways”

• Disaster Case Management is vital to long term recovery

• Emergency Management is an essential partner in long term recovery

• Our resolve– Support EM – Partner with EM to complete recovery

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29th Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference®

May 10 – 15, 2015Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, Florida

TS 27 It’s a Case for Case ManagementTuesday, May 12, 8:30 – 5:00

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Contact Information

Pam GarrisonDisaster Recovery MinistryFlorida Conference of The United Methodist Church(800) 282-8011 Ext. 148pgarrison@flumc.org

Gabe TischlerEmergency Management SpecialistCatholic Charities of Florida, Inc.(850) 206-6821gtischler@flacathconf.org

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