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 important in 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