This course provides an overview across FEMA, including
emergency managers; their staff; State, Local, Tribal,
and Territorial (SLTT) partners; and non-governmental
partners about the role of the Voluntary Agency Liaison
(VAL) and provides a basic understanding of VAL
responsibilities and their importance in coordinating
with partners across the disaster spectrum in support of
survivor needs. The course will also help you understand
how to work with the VAL and what you can expect from
the VAL community.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able
to:
Define the Voluntary Agency Liaison.
Identify the VAL positions within government.
Outline the VAL relationships with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).
Define the VAL role in the four phases of emergency
management.
Outline the VAL Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
Identify ways to connect and learn with
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Recommended Prerequisites
It is recommended that you complete the following
courses before participating in this course:
IS288.a: The Role of Voluntary Organizations in
Emergency Management
IS244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers
IS405: Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Overview
IS505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency
in Disaster
Lesson 1: History of the VAL: Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able
to:
Recall the history of the VAL.
Recognize the VAL position within the emergency
management industry.
In this lesson, we will discuss the role of the
Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) and their functions
today, a history of the position, and their place within
the field of emergency management.
The VAL Mission Statement
The VAL mission is to establish, foster, and maintain
relationships among government, voluntary, faith-based,
and community partners to strengthen capabilities and
support the delivery of inclusive, equitable services by
empowering communities to address disaster-related unmet
needs.
History of the Voluntary Agency Liaison: Who are VALs?
The VALs we know today come from a variety of
backgrounds and disciplines: academia, all levels of
emergency management, national service, hospitality,
grants management, local and urban planning, trade
associations, the United States military, and even the
performing arts.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
History of the Voluntary Agency Liaison: What Do VALs Do?
We will explain the VAL responsibilities more in depth
in Lesson 2, but the primary role of the VAL staff,
with their varied skills, is to coordinate information
between FEMA, other government agencies, and Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) at the local,
state, and national levels. During disaster operations,
current and future, VALs strengthen the capability for
disaster recovery.
Source: FEMA. (2020, October 15). FEMA Voluntary Agency
Liaison.
https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-voluntary-agency-liaison
History of the Voluntary Agency Liaison: FEMA and the American Red
Cross
The Disaster Relief Act of 1974 established a
cooperative agreement with the American Red Cross, which
assigned a Special Representative to each of the ten
regions of the Federal Disaster Assistance
Administration, which predates the establishment of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency in 1979.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
FEMA Special Representatives (1 of 2)
Under FEMA, the Special Representatives were deployed in
the field as American Red Cross Liaisons or FEMA Special
Representatives. The FEMA Special Representatives were
highly trained and supported FEMA's mission as the
points of contact for voluntary organization, donations
management, and mass care engagement. They provided
response and recovery information to other voluntary
organizations, facilitated meetings with disaster
response agencies and organizations, provided technical
assistance for donations management, assisted impacted
communities in establishing long-term recovery groups,
and connected voluntary organizations with the right
American Red Cross functions.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
FEMA Special Representatives (2 of 2)
FEMA Special Representatives were frequently deployed to
non-federally declared disaster relief operations for
extended periods and provided technical assistance to
early iterations of county and state VOADs. The Special
Representatives worked to strengthen state VOADs and
communication efforts among Federal, state, and local
agencies and organizations. Their efforts to move
donations and establish partnerships with businesses
became the catalyst for what we know now as the DHS and
FEMA Private Sector Offices.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
VAL Transition to FEMA
In 2001, FEMA and the American Red Cross did not renew
their cooperative agreement. As a result, and in
response to concern from prominent VOAD members, FEMA
directly hired all former Special Representatives/VALs
and eventually added a VAL title to what is now the
Individual Assistance (IA) cadre.
Following Hurricane Katrina, FEMA Headquarters
established a unit under the IA branch, Voluntary Agency
Coordination and Donations Management. The FEMA
Headquarters VAL staff provided technical assistance and
subject matter expertise to VAL/Donations staff
throughout the Regions, States, National VOAD, voluntary
organizations, the private sector, and other FEMA
components.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
VALs Within Emergency Management
In the Emergency Management industry, VALs are the
central point of coordination between voluntary,
faith-based, and community organizations responding in
times of disaster and State, Local, Tribal, Territorial
(SLTT), and Federal governments. They support
coordinating volunteers, donations, and people/groups
providing disaster services and continue to be a source
of programmatic information and subject matter
expertise. VALs aid in addressing unmet needs for
individuals following a disaster, in both immediate and
long-term recovery efforts. VALs must know how to pull
in the right resources at the right time and how to
appropriately engage with organizations.
Source: FEMA. (n.d.).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons History.
[Internal Microsoft Word Document]
FEMA Qualification System (FQS) Titles for VAL
Within the FEMA organization, VALs operates within the
IA Branch of the Operations section. The position titles
and general chain of command for VAL are:
VAL Group Supervisors
VAL Task Force Lead
VAL Crew Lead
VAL Specialists
VAL in Your State
It's important to know that the role of the VAL may look
different from one locality or government body to the
next. Many states do employ VALs, but they may be
full-time or part-time or handled by other positions
such as within the state Emergency Management
Agency, the state Service Commission, or the state Human
Services Agency. You should contact the FEMA VAL in your
region or state Emergency Management Agency to find out
where VAL responsibilities are aligned in your area.
Lesson 1 Summary
In this lesson, you learned of the history of the VAL
and how to recognize the VAL position within the
emergency management industry.
In the next lesson, we will review FEMA and SLTT
coordination responsibilities with Federal and SLTT
agencies.
Lesson 2 Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able
to:
Identify FEMA VAL coordination responsibilities with
Federal agencies.
Identify State, Local, Tribal and Territorial
(SLTT) VAL coordination responsibilities with
SLTT agencies.
In this lesson, we'll discuss all levels of Federal VAL
coordination in response to disasters as well as the
location of the VAL within the Federal government. We
will also provide examples of how VALs maintain
relationships with other Federal agencies to aid in
disaster assistance coordination efforts. This lesson
will cover VAL coordination at the State, Local, Tribal,
and Territorial (SLTT) levels, their location at these
levels, and coordination efforts among government and
non-government partners, and Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disasters (VOADs) and Community Organizations
Active in Disasters (COADs).
FEMA VAL Locations
Each FEMA region has a team of VALs. There are locations
of each FEMA Regional Office throughout all ten FEMA
regions, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, and the Northern
Mariana Islands.
For Region II, there are VALs in both New York, NY and
San Juan, PR. In Region IX, there are VALs in both
Oakland, CA and Honolulu, HI.
FEMA VAL Roles and Responsibilities: Technical Assistance
In Lesson 1, you learned that throughout the history of
the VAL, they've provided subject matter expertise and
technical assistance to government and non-government
partners. Some examples of the technical assistance
provided by FEMA VALs include:
Providing streamlined, comprehensive and accessible
information regarding federal programs, policies,
public-private connections and situational awareness;
Providing referrals to disaster survivors with unmet
needs in coordination with Individual Assistance and
voluntary organizations;
Supporting navigation of the federal supply chain,
programmatic, information-sharing and other processes;
Elevating and addressing the needs of nongovernmental
and voluntary organizations and their clients for
better service delivery;
Supporting the coordination of donated resources;
Providing guidance to state, local, tribal and
territorial governments on spontaneous unaffiliated
volunteer management; and
Coordinating engagement in whole-of-government
response and recovery exercises and the development of
federal, state, tribal and territorial planning
documents.
(FEMA, 2020)
Source: FEMA. (2020, October 15).
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison.
https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-voluntary-agency-liaison
FEMA VAL Coordination: Emergency Support Function #6 (1 of 2)
In a disaster environment, VAL engagement is initiated
when the Individual Assistance Group is called upon in
support of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6. There
are four primary functions of ESF #6:
Mass Care. Coordinating sheltering,
feeding, emergency supplies distribution, and
reunification of children and adults with their
families.
Emergency Assistance. Coordinating
voluntary organizations, unsolicited donations and
management of unaffiliated volunteers; essential relief
services; transitional sheltering; support to
individuals with disabilities and others with access and
functional needs in congregate facilities; support to
children in disasters; support to mass evacuations; and
support for the rescue, transportation, care, shelter,
and essential needs of household pets and service
animals.
Source: FEMA. (2016, June). ESF #6 - Mass Care,
Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, and Human
Services Annex. [PDF]
FEMA VAL Coordination: Emergency Support Function #6 (2 of 2)
In addition to Mass Care and Emergency Assistance, the
remaining two functions of ESF #6 are:
Temporary Housing. Temporary housing
options include rental, repair, and loan assistance;
replacement; factory-built housing; semi-permanent
construction; referrals; identification and provision of
safe, secure, functional and physically-accessible
housing; and access to other sources of temporary
housing assistance.
Human Services. Disaster
assistance programs that help survivors address unmet
disaster-caused needs and/or non-housing losses through
loans and grants; also includes supplemental nutrition
assistance, crisis counseling, disaster case management,
disaster unemployment, disaster legal services, and
other state and Federal human services programs and
benefits to survivors.
Source: FEMA. (2016, June). ESF #6 - Mass Care,
Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, and Human
Services Annex. [PDF]
Volunteer and Donations Management
Among the four ESF #6 functions that VALs support, VALs
play a critical role within the emergency assistance
function by providing support for volunteer and donation
management.
VALs can provide:
Coaching/mentoring for Volunteer and
Donations Coordination
Task Force (VDCTF) and State VAL functions
to develop Volunteer Reception Centers, messaging for
volunteers and donations, and training resources.
Working knowledge of the Public Assistance programs,
policies, and teams; and GSA support to
locate warehouses.
Information sharing including liaison
support with Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and
VDCTFs as needed, information for organizations not
affiliated with VOAD, and guidance on recruiting
National VOAD members for assistance.
Knowledge and guidance fordonated resources policies, including
Public Assistance policies and teams, tools such as
independentsector.org, and templates and training.
VALs as Part of the Operations Section (1 of 3)
In the Incident Command System (ICS) organizational
structure, the Operations Section is responsible for
developing tactical organization and directing resources
to carry out the Incident Action Plan (IAP).
The organizational chart displayed onscreen shows the
hierarchy of groups and positions under the IA Branch.
VALs are part of the Operations Section's IA Branch. As
you learned in Lesson 1, VAL positions include VAL Group
Supervisors, VAL Task Force Leaders, VAL Crew Leaders,
and VAL Specialists.
The FEMA and State VALs work to identify resource
shortfalls and unmet needs in the area affected by the
disaster. Unmet needs and resource shortfalls may be
identified through government operations or partner
agency activities in the field. Once identified, FEMA
and State VALs communicate and coordinate with National
and State VOAD partners to identify solutions and
resources to address the shortfalls.
Coordination with Federal Agencies (1 of 2)
As the central coordination point between the Federal and
SLTT government and voluntary, faith-based, and community
organizations, VALs must get to know programs and
resources of other Federal/State Agencies to ensure the
communities they serve are informed of the holistic
resources the Federal/State Government can offer toward
disaster response and recovery operations. VALs may call
upon other Federal/State Agencies to provide additional
subject matter expertise, or even direct Federal
assistance in the form of a Mission Assignment.
Coordination with Federal Agencies (2 of 2)
VAL coordination with other government agencies at the
Federal and State levels is essential to ensure that
government resources are utilized to their greatest
capacity prior to utilizing NGO resources. Government
resources are prescribed by law, regulation, and policy.
Non-governmental resources are more flexible and fill
gaps that may not be addressed by government programs.
Over the following slides, we will provide examples of
collaboration and coordination between VALs and Federal
agencies.
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
The Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS) can deploy national AmeriCorps assets under
Mission Assignment into disaster declared states to
supplement response efforts. These efforts can include
volunteer and donations management, clean-up/debris
removal, bulk distribution of supplies, and other
missions as necessary.
When Hurricane Harvey struck in Texas in 2017, VAL
coordinated the partnership between CNCS and the Texas
Conservation Corps to assist in the management of a
donation warehouse and volunteer reception centers.
Recovery activities also included disaster survivor
assistance, operations and logistics, damage
assessments, muck and gut operations, and working
alongside a variety of response organizations.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
For communities and neighborhoods with limited resources
struck by disasters, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development can provide flexible grants to support
long-term recovery activities after initial involvement
from FEMA. The Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Program, with funds appropriated as Disaster
Recovery grants, can help rebuild impacted areas and
provide seed money for the recovery process.
Source: HUD Exchange. (n.d.).
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery
Program. https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-dr/
Small Business Administration
VALs partner with the Small Business Administration
(SBA) to promote them as a resource in the Sequence of
Delivery for Federal assistance. VALs work
alongside SBA to inform nongovernmental organizations
and survivors of available loans for individuals and
households, businesses, and non-profits, and the need -
especially for individuals - to apply for loans.
Individuals and households denied loans will be referred
to FEMA for review of potential additional assistance
under the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Program.
Because of this, it is imperative that partners
understand the Sequence of Delivery to best advocate for
survivors to ensure they receive the maximum amount of
Federal benefits available.
VALs are responsible for informing partners of available
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs,
grants, and resources, and connecting them with USDA
representatives for guidance and assistance. There are
various programs and grants available through USDA from
feeding to housing.
For example, the Farm Service Agency, an agency under
USDA, has grants and loans available to farmers
following a disaster. The Farm Service Agency can
support recovery of the farm itself, while FEMA can
support recovery efforts for the home maintained on the
farmland.
VALs are responsible for informing partners of the many
available programs under the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS). One such program includes a
Memorandum of Understanding that FEMA has with HHS
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to
implement the Immediate Disaster Case Management
Program. When authorized, FEMA funding can be provided
to HHS ACF to initiate the Immediate Disaster Case
Management Program, and additional partnerships and
resources to ensure program success.
In emergency and disaster declaration situations that
cause significant layoff events and job losses, VALs can
provide assistance to impacted states in promoting the
Dislocated Workers Grant (DWG) available under the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
DWGs are discretionary grants that provide resources to
states and other eligible applicants in response to
these large layoff events and job losses. When an area
impacted by a disaster is declared eligible for public
assistance by FEMA, disaster DWGs provide funding to
create temporary employment opportunities in recovery
and clean-up efforts.
State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal VAL Coordination
FEMA VALs work in concert with their counterpart at the
State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) level. SLTT
VALs are often positioned within the emergency
management agency or other state agency. For example,
Pennsylvania's VAL is housed within the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and coordinates
voluntary efforts with the PA VOAD following a disaster
declaration by the governor.
In the State of Vermont, the VAL position lies within
the Vermont Agency of Human Services. This individual
works closely with the VT Emergency Management Agency
and VT VOAD partners to coordinate disaster response and
recovery activities. In Illinois the state’s VAL is
positioned within the Serve Illinois Commission on
Volunteerism and Community Service and supports
activities of the IL VOAD.
These are state-specific examples, but many SLTT VALs
and VOADs are structured this way.
Sources: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
(n.d.).
PA Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.
PEMA.
https://www.pema.pa.gov/Recovery/VOAD/Pages/default.aspx
Coordination with State VOADs, COADs, and Government and
Non-Governmental Partners
As we learned in Lesson 1, the capabilities and
responsibilities of VALs can include technical support
and information sharing, supporting planning,
preparedness, and mitigation in disaster response, and
Mission Assignments. SLTT VALs also support
implementation of response and recovery efforts between
government and non-government partners, state VOADs, and
COADs.
State-level VAL coordination occurs with the State-level
counterpart of the Federal agency. For instance, FEMA
VALs coordinate with the U.S. Department of Labor; State
VALs coordinate with their State Department of Labor.
Many Federal and State programs are essentially the same
programs, as Federal funds flow down to State agencies.
The difference is the State has more responsibility for
program design and implementation to ensure that Federal
dollars are used to support residents in need in that
state.
State VAL Coordination Activities (1 of 2)
Some examples of VAL coordination activities at the
State level include:
Participating in, supporting, and organizing a Mass
Care Task Force
Developing and implementing volunteer and donations
management planning in coordination with other
organizations
Teaching volunteer and donations management
Supporting the development and review of recovery
plans
Assisting in the establishment of VOADs and COADs
Assisting counties and local communities with
developing Pre-Disaster Recovery Plans and Recovery
Tabletop Exercises
Assisting with the establishment of Disaster Case
Management for both declared and non-declared
disasters
Creating, supporting, and maintaining relationships
between the VOADs, COADs, long-term recovery groups
(LTRGs), and Emergency Managers at the local level
State VAL Coordination Activities (2 of 2)
Additional examples of VAL coordination activities at
the State level include:
Assisting VOADs, COADs, and LTRGs with locating and
securing additional funding streams for sustainability
of the organization long term
Assisting VOADs, COADs, and LTRGs with community asset
mapping
Facilitating dialogue between NGOs and Emergency
Managers at the local level
Facilitating the establishment of volunteer housing
pre-storm or disaster
Facilitating information sharing between FEMA and
local jurisdictions
Developing and maintaining relationships with State
Service Commissions and promoting National Service
Opportunities (e.g., Texas Conservation Corps, ADART,
NCCC, AmeriCorps, VISTA, etc.)
Assisting with establishing and selecting volunteers
for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs),
including Adult and Teen CERTs
Assisting with the development of Citizen Corps
Council
Lesson 2 Summary
In this lesson, you learned about FEMA VAL coordination
responsibilities with Federal agencies as well as SLTT
VAL coordination responsibilities with SLTT agencies.
In Lesson 3, we'll discuss VAL relationships with
non-governmental organizations.
Lesson 3 Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:
Describe the VAL responsibilities when working with
non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
List the potential non-governmental organizations with
which VALs may work.
In this lesson, we'll go over the definition of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Four Cs,
types of NGOs, and some VAL coordination activities with
NGOs.
What is a Non-Governmental Organization?
A non-governmental organization, or an NGO, as defined
by the United Nations, is:
A not-for-profit, voluntary citizens' group, which is
organized on a local, national, or international level
to address issues in support of the public good.
Source: American Psychological Association. (n.d.)
United Nations: Definitions and Terms.
https://www.apa.org/international/united-nations/acronyms.pdf
NGOs Maintain Their Autonomy
Before we describe the relationship between VALs and
non-governmental organizations, it is important to
remember that VALs can "ask, not task." VALs do not
specifically task other organizations. Organizations
maintain their own autonomy; VALs have a narrow scope of
influence and solely help these organizations support
their own communities. They provide the support needed
for persons and organizations to fulfill their missions
and secure resources to assist their communities in the
phases of disaster.
The Whole Community Approach
As a concept, Whole Community is a means by which
residents, emergency management practitioners,
organizational and community leaders, and government
officials can collectively understand and assess the
needs of their respective communities and determine the
best ways to organize and strengthen their assets,
capacities, and interests.
VALs embody this concept of the Whole Community in their
roles to connect different individuals and organizations
to collectively work together in disasters.
Source: FEMA. (2011, December)
A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management:
Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action.
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1813-25045-0649/whole_community_dec2011__2_.pdf
The Four Cs
Aligned with the founding principles of the National
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National
VOAD), VALs are committed to fostering the four Cs:
communication, coordination, collaboration, and
cooperation.
Communication is integral for
developing and maintaining effective channels for
sharing information. VALs promote and coordinate
continuous sharing of information among organizations,
as well as investigate for specific information when
necessary, including needs, capacities, limitations,
and commitments.
Coordination is the heart of VALs
role, and their coordination efforts allow for
resources to be most effectively used to help
communities prepare for and respond to disasters.
Cooperation is importantin working together with multiple partners,
whether they are government or non-government
entities, to overcome challenges and work towards
achieving the same goal to help those affected by
disasters. VALs recognize that no single organization
has all the answers for all the challenges that arise
during disasters, and they serve as experts in helping
multiple partners cooperate in the most effective
manner.
Collaboration allows VALs and
partnering organizations to identify common goals and
create shared solutions. VALs work with disaster
response and volunteer organizations to establish
shared goals and collaborate strategically throughout
the disaster cycle.
Source: Ready.gov. (2019, 17 September).
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
https://www.ready.gov/voluntary-organizations-active-disaster
New Jersey Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.
(2016, June).
VOAD/COAD Manual. http://www.njvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/New-Jersey-VOAD-COAD-Manual.pdf
Types of NGOs
"Non-governmental organization" covers a wide breadth of
agencies and organizations that support disaster
recovery efforts outside of the Federal government.
These NGOs include:
Faith-based and community organizations
Non-profit organizations
Colleges and universities
Private sector organizations
Others
National VOAD and member organizations
Emergent organizations
Working with Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Faith-based organizations are member groups who operate
together based on shared faith or beliefs. They can have
a national network or operate only on a local level.
They often work with other houses of worship who do not
have a direct disaster mission but have an audience.
Working with Non-profit Organizations
Non-profit organizations can be wide-ranging, from
organizations serving in disaster relief and those
targeted for specific communities or groups of people,
including faith-based organizations. Non-profit
organizations may help to identify the communities in
need, provide disaster relief capabilities, engage
volunteers, and more.
Working with Colleges and Universities
Local colleges and universities can provide important
support in disaster response and help to fill the gaps
in needs. These educational institutions can provide
emergency management and related courses to educate
people in the community, as well as provide expertise in
disaster response-related fields such as engineering and
healthcare. Colleges and universities also utilize
internship programs that add capacity building for
long-term recovery groups and act as a resource for data
analytics, research, and outreach.
Working with Private Sector Organizations
Private organizations such as businesses and private
companies can serve as FEMA partners in disaster
response, providing the resources including donations,
strategic knowledge, emergency management expertise, and
services. In every region during a disaster, there will
be a private sector liaison with which the VAL will
collaborate.
Focus on Diversity
As coordinators and facilitators, VALs should prioritize
engaging partners who reflect the diverse communities
they serve and groups they represent to ensure that
those communities always have a place at the table in
disaster recovery efforts. VALs aim to ensure an
equitable distribution of recovery resources for
all disaster survivors.
NGO Coordination Considerations
Resources supplied by or available to NGOs are more
flexible in nature than those coming from government
agencies and organizations. For philanthropic partners
(i.e., private charitable organizations), VALs can help
these groups or individuals understand the needs of
their community in a disaster and connect and engage
them with worthwhile investments that can help
households and community recovery. VALs can also
facilitate the collaboration between philanthropic
partners and recovery partners and other Federal agency
programs and resources.
Additional NGO Coordination Considerations
In collaborating with NGOs, VALs can work with them to
identify at-risk communities and establish partnerships
and enhance that community's ability to access
resources.
VALs can also provide technical assistance to NGOs as
they form long-term recovery groups and general training
on emergency management. We will discuss training
opportunities more in Lesson 6.
Lesson 3 Summary
In this lesson, you learned about FEMA VAL
responsibilities while working with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and the potential NGOs with which
VALs may work.
In Lesson 4, we'll discuss the role of the VAL in the
four phases of emergency management.
Lesson 4 Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify the role of the VAL in the Preparedness
phase.
Identify the role of the VAL in the Response phase.
Identify the role of the VAL in the Recovery phase.
Identify the role of the VAL in the Mitigation phase.
In this lesson, we'll review how VALs operate within and
support the four phases of Emergency Management:
Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation.
Introduction
As you learned, VAL roles and responsibilities are
varied. They coordinate with voluntary, faith-based, and
community organizations, VOADs and COADs, emergency
managers, long-term recovery groups, State and local
government, and FEMA and additional Federal partners.
VALs also play a vital role in supporting all four
phases of Emergency Management. Among these phases,
specific activities and involvement vary between
Federal, and State VALs. We will briefly describe the
role of the VAL in each phase.
Preparedness (1 of 2)
In disaster preparedness, VALs provide training and
information, contribute to policy and regulation
updates, participate in emergency management exercises,
and collaborate with voluntary agencies. You may be
familiar with Memorandums of Understanding, or MOUs,
which are statements of intention between collaborative
parties to achieve a common goal. Points of Consensus
(POCs) are similar to MOUs, which VALs contribute to
when partner agencies collaborate on a mission. National
VOAD maintains POCs on various topics in their
Resource Library.
In providing training and information in support of the
Preparedness phase, VALs will host and participate in
regional quarterly meetings with NVOAD and State VOADs.
They will also fulfill or support requests for speaking
engagements with voluntary agencies. VALs promote
preparedness training opportunities as well as
preparedness grants that can be leveraged by groups
including the VOAD community, faith-based organizations,
and state emergency management agencies.
Relationship-building with partner and voluntary
agencies is a priority in this phase, which can include
interactions as simple as exchanging business cards or
meeting partners and exchanging information.
Prior to active disaster situations, VALs work to ensure
that they and their partner groups are ready to serve in
an emergency capacity. VALs will work with VOADs to
provide technical assistance and planning support to
emergency managers, voluntary agencies, and the private
sector. VALs will support cross-training efforts between
VOADs and COADs with voluntary agencies like the
American Red Cross or State planning agencies.
VALs support community groups and individuals with
determining vulnerabilities in preparation for a
disaster, as well as identify potential resources to
utilize as needed. In partnership with VOADs, VALs
provide community education about preparedness measures
and mitigation techniques.
Working with non-profits and their recovery and/or
preparedness missions
Response
In the Response phase of emergency management, VALs are
an initial Federal point of contact for voluntary
agencies in a disaster situation. They provide briefings
on Federal disaster programs, agency-to-agency
directories and networks, facilitate access to other
Federal agencies, and contact with coordinating
organizations.
Main responsibilities of VALs during Response include
supporting State VALs working to implement volunteer
and/or donations management plans and providing
coordination among voluntary partners. When Emergency
Support Function (ESF) #6, Mass Care, is initiated
during disaster response efforts, VALs work to integrate
the major functions of this ESF, which include
sheltering, feeding, reunification, clean up, damage
assessments, and emergency financial assistance.
Read through the next two slides for specific, real-life
examples of the VAL role in Response.
Following response efforts, VALs will develop recovery
summaries. They are responsible for producing meaningful
reports to be submitted and reviewed by partner
organizations. These reports inform partner
organizations of tasks performed, issues identified and
resolved, and outcomes of the specific response mission
attended to by the VAL or voluntary agency.
Identifying Vulnerable Populations
VALs help identify vulnerable populations in the
community, and agencies that can provide assistance and
resources needed in response. This especially includes
children and youth in disaster as well as resources
specific to older adults who cannot navigate locating
supportive resources on their own. Similar to VALs,
there are additional FEMA entities that help to identify
and strategize support for vulnerable populations, such
as the Office of Disability Integration and
Coordination, the Office of External Affairs, and the
Office of Equal Rights.
Recovery (1 of 2)
The Recovery phase begins following or in conjunction
with the immediate Response phase of a disaster
situation. In Recovery, VALs contribute in many ways,
sometimes leading and other times supporting
pre-existing networks. VALs provide resources for
establishing long-term recovery groups (LRTGs) by
providing technical assistance, training, and models for
recovery structures. VALs give guidance on disaster case
management and coordination and perform analysis of
impact and unmet needs for program planning and
advocacy.
VALs are equipped with the knowledge and experience to
navigate information sharing policies to get specific
survivor information and registration information to
partner groups with a need-to-know in order to deliver
additional disaster assistance. They also provide
information on specific programs and assistance
available through FEMA and partners, including:
VALs support community recovery efforts and ensure that
they align with FEMA's Individual and Household Program
(IHP). IHP provides funds for temporary housing,
replacement or repair of owner-occupied homes, and other
disaster-caused needs and expenses including medical,
dental, and childcare, among many other needs.
If a federal disaster is not declared, state VALs
continue to coordinate with state-led disaster programs
to ensure community recovery efforts are fully
supported.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2020,
November 3).
Individuals and Households Program.
https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program?fbclid=IwAR38lqseP-iz1CKk_CSBn7p50vqtGdiUrjmCVfEXobypgyaan1s5a9uhPM0
Vulnerable Populations
Working to identify the unmet needs of vulnerable
populations carries over from the Response phase to the
Recovery phase as well. VALs can connect individuals to
childcare assistance through faith-based organizations
and provide access to resources for affected individuals
with disabilities or people in their households with
disabilities.
Mitigation
Preparedness and Mitigation in disaster often go
together. The role of the VAL in Mitigation is largely
to provide support and connect communities and programs
to resources that will encourage resiliency and prevent
significant damage and loss of life in the next
disaster.
VALs provide guidance to communities to raise their
awareness about mitigation efforts and connect them with
resources that can perform repetitive loss assessments
such as the National Flood Insurance Program.
Rebuilding Practices (1 of 2)
VALs will encourage their partners to incorporate the
highest mitigation standards into their rebuilding
practices. This can include recommendations to elevate
electrical wiring and appliances throughout a home to
mitigate risks in case of a flood.
Rebuilding Practices (2 of 2)
VALs can direct communities to resources from state
mitigation offices and advocate for additional funding
to support mitigation efforts like floodwalls, shelters,
and siren or alert systems.
Lesson 4 Summary
In this lesson, you learned about FEMA VAL roles and
responsibilities throughout all four phases of emergency
management.
In Lesson 5, we'll discuss the knowledge, skills, and
abilities (KSAs) needed for a successful VAL.
Lesson 5 Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:
Define the people skills required as a VAL.
Define the communication skills required as a VAL.
Define the organizational skills required as a VAL.
Define the program knowledge skills required as a VAL.
Define the critical thinking skills required as a VAL.
Define the leadership skills required as a VAL.
In this lesson, we'll present the knowledge, skills, and
abilities that are required for VALs to be successful in
their roles and responsibilities.
Introduction
VALs provide coordination support among local, state,
tribal, territorial, and Federal governments and
voluntary, faith-based, and community organizations to
help those in need during disasters. Because VALs work
with many organizations, people, programs, and policies,
it is important for VALs to possess various knowledge,
skills, and abilities, including:
People skills
Communication skills
Organizational skills
Program knowledge
Critical thinking skills
Leadership skills
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2020,
October).
Resource Typing Definition for Response Operational
Coordination - Voluntary Agency Liaison. [PDF]
People Skills (1 of 3)
As liaisons connecting resources among many
organizations and audiences, VALs are team players who
are skilled at working with people from various
backgrounds and environments in a respectful and fair
manner.
VALs embody FEMA's core values of compassion, fairness,
integrity, and respect in performing their missions and
working with people involved during all phases of
Emergency Management.
Compassion is the expression of FEMA's
care for others. VALs are understanding, empathetic, and
inclusive as they support partner organizations,
communities, and disaster survivors by providing
streamlined and relevant information and referrals to
address unmet needs.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.)
We Are FEMA. [PDF]
People Skills (2 of 3)
Fairness is treating everyone
impartially, offering unbiased and consistent
assistance. VALs use their people skills to contribute
to FEMA's mission in providing accessible and equal
access to information necessary for communities and
individuals in need during disasters. VALs exercise
neutrality when coordinating resources and tools for
disaster survivors. This also means that VALs must be
comfortable with diversity, as they often interface with
people of different ages, genders, races, cultures, and
socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds.
Integrity is an important part of VALs'
people skills as they serve as the bridge to various
resources, services, and programs for communities and
individuals in need. In addition, VALs are a trusted
resource for FEMA, its partner organizations, and
communities. Therefore, they apply a high standard of
honesty, ethics, and accountability when working with
others.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.)
We Are FEMA. [PDF]
People Skills (3 of 3)
Respect involves acknowledging the
value of the people involved in the coordination and
those VALs serve. VALs treat all partners and disaster
survivors with respect and positivity. For communities
and individuals in need during disasters, VALs ensure
that they are not only supported, but empowered to
maintain their autonomy and self-determination.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.)
We Are FEMA. [PDF]
People Skills - Example
Jacquelin is a FEMA VAL Group Supervisor who uses her
people skills in her daily VAL roles and
responsibilities.
"As a VAL Group Supervisor, I am truly fortunate to work
with the many FEMA Regions and staff. I want to ensure
their survivors and communities get the needed resources
and services for a full recovery. As a VAL, I make that
happen!"
Jacquelin works and interfaces closely with incident
organizations, voluntary agencies, and community
organizations involved in disaster response and recovery
efforts. Members and participants in these organizations
and agencies come from different places, have varying
passions and lifestyles, and offer different
capabilities. Regardless of the differences, Jacquelin
and other VAL Group Supervisors like her treat everyone
equally and with respect.
Communication Skills (1 of 3)
VALs are also skilled in their ability to communicate
effectively as they work with various partners and
individuals. Successful coordination requires the
ability to:
Communicate effectively with various
audiences
- VALs interact with different audiences ranging from
disaster survivors in the community to the staff at
the Office of the Governor. VALs understand the
different needs and preferences in communication
styles, platforms, and usage.
Capture and synthesize critical information
- VALs work with a lot of information. VALs are
required to process and synthesize the information
collected, extract the most pertinent information, and
connect that information to the right audience to
address any unmet needs.
Communication Skills (2 of 3)
VALs must also:
Articulate complex information - VALs
are not only synthesizing information, but they are
responsible for taking complex information and
articulating it in the most appropriate and concise
manner to various target audiences. VALs utilize
various forms of presenting information including
reports, mapping, pictograms, and verbal updates to
ensure the right information is distributed and
awareness regarding any unmet needs is elevated.
Communicate as the liaison - VALs do
not provide direct program support for partners and
individuals during disasters. However, they serve the
important role in facilitating the connection and
allocation of tools and resources among communities
and individuals in need. Keeping fairness and
neutrality in mind, VALs can clearly inform their
audiences about the available resources, specific
needs of communities and individuals, and how to
collaborate and engage with each other.
Communication Skills (3 of 3)
As skilled communicators, VALs:
Present information and ideas to large
audiences
- Public speaking is one of many skills required of
VALs. VALs often speak to large groups of people in
government agencies, partner organizations, and
communities to share information about resources.
Communicate professionally - VALs
need to present professionalism in all their
communication with their partner organizations,
communities, and individuals. This means that VALs
adhere to professional standards of language and
protocols when communicating verbally or through
written forms.
Communication Skills - Example
Felix is a VAL in his state's emergency management
agency. He uses his communication skills in his daily
VAL roles and responsibilities.
"I communicate often with applicants to discuss their
current case statuses. I make sure that they understand
the assistance programs and resources that are available
for them, and that they understand the processes
involved in the recovery.
I also work with multiple state organizations and
community groups who have different terminology used for
their organizational functions, incident facilities,
resource descriptions, or position titles. I serve to
interpret those different terminology into common
language that everyone can understand and process
information across multiple groups."
Organizational Skills
VALs work with a large amount of information from many
different sources. They need to be well-organized with
data, information, resources, and scheduling to be most
efficient in their coordination efforts. VALs are
skilled in:
Multi-tasking - VALs commonly serve
multiple roles and have multiple responsibilities at
the same time, such as supervising staff and helping
Long-Term Recovery Groups.
Organizing information and resources
- VALs collect resource and program information from
various partner organizations and need to identify
where specific information could be most valuable.
VALs provide organizational support for communities,
staff, task force groups, and other groups in need.
Organizational Skills - Example
Alicia is a FEMA VAL Task Force Leader who uses her
organizational skills in her daily VAL roles and
responsibilities.
"As the VAL Task Force Leader, I support the
implementation and management of the VAL program. I'm
constantly collecting information for resource sharing
and reporting, prioritizing immediate information to
share, and distributing to the right people including
JFO, field staff, VAL Specialists, and voluntary
organizations. We use various computer-based systems to
help us manage information, including Homeland Security
Information Network (HSIN) and National Emergency
Management Information System (NEMIS).
In deployment operations, I am responsible for regularly
updating information on transition duties and
transferring information to the appropriate replacement
or supervisor when needed."
Program Knowledge (1 of 2)
Using their expert and intimate knowledge of various
programs available to support communities and
individuals during disasters, VALs can efficiently
coordinate the right programs and resources for those in
need. VALs' roles and responsibilities in program
knowledge include:
Representing the government - VALs
often represent the Federal and/or SLTT governments as
liaisons, connecting the government with partner
organizations and communities. This means that VALs
need to be knowledgeable in the government's mission,
values, organizational structure, programs, and
resources.
Serving as the subject matter expert in FEMA
programs - VALs are required to have a comprehensive working
knowledge of Individual Assistance (IA) and Public
Assistance (PA) programs so they can offer the most
valuable and accurate programmatic information for
partner organizations and those in need during
disasters.
Program Knowledge (2 of 2)
Program knowledge for VALs also means:
Providing knowledge in policies and
regulations
- VALs need to be knowledgeable of the authorities
regulating disaster support work such as the Stafford
Act or state policies. This knowledge not only serves
as a background to disaster support missions, but it
also guides VALs' ability to coordinate support among
organizations, communities, and individuals in a
legally-sound manner.
Navigating partnering organizations' components,
resources, and technologies
- Because VALs work closely with other non-profit,
private, and government organizations, they need to be
knowledgeable in accessing resources within these
establishments. This may involve knowledge in an
organization's unique capabilities and resources,
mission, organizational structure, as well as using
technology or other tools provided by the
organization.
Program Knowledge - Example
Anne is a FEMA VAL Task Force Lead who uses her program
knowledge in her daily VAL roles and responsibilities.
"As a VAL, we move outside our comfort zone to being
'boots on the ground' with disaster survivors and
organizations who help them. We provide critical updates
around focal topics and help to ground communication and
teamwork early in the recovery process. It's amazing and
rewarding to see recovery in progress, and to supplement
it by finding resources through IA programs, supporting
the development of LTRGs [Long-term Recovery Groups],
and collaborating with FEMA IRC [Interagency Recovery
Coordination]."
Critical Thinking Skills
As you learned, VALs access and process a lot of
information regarding disaster support programs, task
forces, data from communities, and more. With the
information and data collected, VALs must assess the
needs, available resources, and apply critical thinking
skills to make the right connections among
organizations, programs, and people.
Using the information they collect and knowledge they
possess, VALs must be able to:
Assess and identify best ways to support communities
Synthesize information to identify the most critical
and relevant data
Develop strategies to address the identified needs
Inform national policy efforts, rules, tools, and
exercise plans
Leverage FEMA and/or State's authorities to address
emergent issues
Critical Thinking Skills - Example
Sarah is a FEMA VAL Crew Leader who uses her critical
thinking skills in her daily VAL roles and
responsibilities.
"My favorite part of serving as a VAL is working with a
wide variety of non-governmental and governmental
partners, that all come together to achieve a common
goal. Seeing disaster survivors and communities become
stronger through our collaboration efforts before,
during, and after disasters makes me proud of the work
that I do."
Part of her responsibilities as a VAL Crew Leader is to
examine and analyze any donations and volunteer
management issues, and any concerns expressed by
internal and external partners. Working with these
partners, she collects information and offers customized
strategies and resources to address these issues.
Leadership Skills
VALs are skilled leaders who strengthen partnerships,
facilitate cooperation, and build capacity among various
organizations. As leaders, VALs:
Take initiative to self-learn
Manage expectations
Improve team performance
Delegate roles and responsibilities
Develop positioning strategy
Provide mentoring and coaching
Set others up for success and lead from behind
Build capacity
Nurture networks
Facilitate partnerships and cooperation
Leadership Skills - Example
Shawn is a FEMA VAL Group Supervisor who uses his
leadership skills in his daily VAL roles and
responsibilities.
"I manage the VAL program, which involves setting
priorities and providing work assignments. All VALs
require a high level of leadership skills due to our
roles in interacting and building networks with partners
and other resources. We initiate conversations and
partnerships among our networks, coach and train them,
and empower communities and individuals to respond to
and recover from disasters."
Lesson 5 Summary
In this lesson, you learned about the knowledge, skills,
and abilities that are required for VALs to be
successful in their roles and responsibilities.
In Lesson 6, we'll identify the ways to engage with
non-government organizations.
Lesson 6 Objectives and Overview
At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify ways to connect and engage with
non-government organizations in emergency management.
Identify additional learning opportunities about
non-government organizations in emergency management.
In this lesson, we'll share ways to engage with NGOs
that support emergency management, training
opportunities for VALs, and additional emergency
management and VOAD resources.
Introduction
As you continue working with VALs or progress in your
career as a VAL, you may be wondering how you can
connect with emergency management and NGOs outside of
your professional roles and responsibilities. Read on
for recommendations and training opportunities through
FEMA and partner organizations.
How Can I Engage with Disaster NGOs?
First, it's important to understand that there are
different ways for you to engage with NGOs that support
disaster and emergency management efforts. Secondly,
find an organization that resonates with you on a
personal level and seek out ways to get involved. You
can join that organization as an individual, as part of
another organization, or with the support of your
community.
How Can I Get Involved on My Own?
If you're interested in joining an NGO individually, you
can find these organizations through your state VOAD,
local emergency management agency, or within your own
community.
Volunteer opportunities could include flood clean-up and
recovery efforts led by a faith-based organization or
local house of worship, conducting outreach for senior
care assistance offered through your state's Department
of Aging, or coordinating and distributing personal
protective equipment in cases of natural disasters or
biologic outbreak emergencies.
AmeriCorps.gov
also maintains a database of volunteer opportunities
offered locally and nationally.
How Can I Get My Organization Involved?
Perhaps you're already a member of an organization that
supports emergency management causes locally or
nationally and you want to expand your reach. As always,
contacting a representative at your state VOAD may help
you make connections in emergency management or disaster
recovery and mitigation efforts.
During active disaster situations, the FEMA or State VAL
team leading the coordination support can help guide
where your organization's skills and resources will be
best utilized.
How Can I Get My Community Involved?
Organizing your community to support NGOs in disaster
response and recovery starts with determining what
resources are available from your community to support
emergency management efforts.
Effective collaboration between local leadership or
governing bodies (city council, municipal leaders,
mayoral leaders) and NGOs is dependent on both parties
having a clear vision of both the unmet needs and the
mission as well as a shared understanding of the value
of their individual roles and partnership. This clear
understanding will produce opportunities and interest
and secure additional resources needed to support the
mission.
Donating Responsibly
As you become a more involved member of your community
or state efforts in emergency management and disaster
response, it's important to take mindful, informed
approach to how you donate your time and money to worthy
causes. Consider reading
5 Steps to Informed Giving
for simple tips on responsible donations to ethical
non-profit organizations and NGOs.
Responsible Volunteering
Understanding the potential long-term impact as a
volunteer domestically or abroad should also be a
consideration when researching opportunities to get
involved. Organizations should value positive impact
over profit and have security and safeguards in place
for the communities they serve as well as their
volunteers.
While your intent is to help and support relief efforts,
avoid the urge to "self-deploy." Disaster scenes are
chaotic and high-stress situations, even with agencies,
NGOs, and CERTs working to make order out of the chaos.
Volunteering with a registered organization ensures that
your efforts are meaningful, and you can help make the
greatest impact.
Raleigh International, an NGO based in the United
Kingdom, provides an overview on responsible volunteering
specific to community sustainability projects, but this
advice is worthwhile for volunteers in the United States
as well.
VAL Training Opportunities
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI), at FEMA's
National Emergency Training Center, offers several
independent study and resident courses that will enhance
your knowledge and skills working as or with VALs.
IS288.a: The Role of Voluntary Organizations in
Emergency Management
IS244.b: Developing and Managing Volunteers
IS405: Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Overview
IS505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency
in Disaster
E289: State Volunteer and Donations Management
E/G288: Local Volunteer and Donations Management
E/G489: Management of Spontaneous Volunteers in
Disasters
Other Training Opportunities
Outside of the EMI, you can find VAL training
opportunities through conferences, exercises, briefings,
and webinars supported by voluntary organizations. Visit
the specific organization's website for announcements on
these events.
Universities and community colleges throughout the
United States offer standalone or Emergency Management
programs with courses related to VAL roles. EMI
maintains
The College List, which organizes these courses by specialty and
educational level.
Volunteer and Donations Annex
Under the National Response Framework, the Volunteer and
Donations Annex "provides guidance on the Federal role
in supporting state governments in the management of
masses of unaffiliated volunteers and unsolicited
donated goods" (FEMA, n.d.).
The Volunteer and Donations Annex supports several
training courses available through EMI, including:
G108: Community Mass Care Management
IS203: Principles of Emergency Management
IS100: Introduction to the Incident Command System
IS700: National Incident Management System, an
Introduction
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA].
(n.d.).
Volunteer and Donations Management Support Annex. [PDF]
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. [n.d.].
Volunteer and Donations Management Informational
Overview. [PPT]
NVOAD Resources
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
(NVOAD) has a wealth of resources available to you,
including lists of voluntary organizations and points of
contact for State VOADs. Their Resources Center is where
you'll find their Points of Consensus.
You can also reach out to your own city's, county's, or
state's emergency management agency for additional
training opportunities or other ways to get involved.
Lesson 6 Summary
In this lesson, you learned of ways to engage with NGOs
that support emergency management, training
opportunities for VALs, and additional emergency
management and VOAD resources.
Throughout the course, we reviewed a brief history of
the VAL, responsibilities of the VAL within government,
VAL relationships with NGOs, VAL and the four phases of
emergency management, the knowledge, skills, and
abilities required for a successful VAL, and how to
connect with NGOs.
