Disaster Spiritual Care Volunteer

The role of the Disaster Spiritual Care (DSC) Service Associate is to serve as a member of a temporary work unit on a disaster relief operation to provide disaster spiritual care support to individuals and families who have been impacted by a disaster.

• Assist disaster clients to utilize their own spiritual resources, values and faith in the midst of crisis, regardless of one's faith tradition.
• Assist in developing partnerships with local faith-based organizations.
• Facilitate long-term recovery for clients by providing spiritual and emotional support, and connection to local resources.
• Be available for staff who request spiritual care support.

Qualifications:

• Willingness to comply with Red Cross COVID-19 policies for in-person volunteer activities.
• Meets one of the following criteria:
  • A disaster spiritual care provider in good standing in a National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) member organization
  • A Board-certified chaplain
  • A professional chaplain (paid or volunteer) and is endorsed by that organization
  • An endorsed leader of a local faith community or organization
• Has successfully completed the DSC Screening evaluation conducted by a DSC Regional Program Lead or DSC Division Advisor for new DSC Volunteers.
• Good organization skills, responsible and punctual.
• Demonstrated active listening skills.
• Demonstrated ability to implement Standards and Procedures and follow associated job tools including reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with community members in a clear, compassionate manner.
• Demonstrated ability to involve appropriate others in managing problems and conflict.
• Ability to acquire, evaluate, and report information accurately.
• Demonstrated ability to provide interfaith support while respecting the principles of neutrality and impartiality.
• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Ability to stand and sit for two-hours periods.
• Ability walk on uneven terrain up to 2 miles per shift.
• Ability bend, stoop or crawl on the floor or ground multiple times a shift.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather.
• Ability to spend hours writing, speak clearly on phone, read small print for extended periods and work for long periods on computer.
• Ability to climb two or more flights of stairs.
• Ability to drive in daytime and evenings.

Regional responses: Shift work determined by the scale of the relief operation; a minimum requirement of 8-12 hours per day during the disaster relief operation for multiple, consecutive days.

Beyond Regional responses: 12-14 hour days for extended periods depending on distance. Time and length of commitment will vary by operation.