Developing and Managing Volunteers

The goal of this course is to strengthen abilities to prepare for and manage volunteers before, during, and after a severe emergency or major disaster. This course will:

• Provide strategies for identifying, recruiting, assigning, training, supervising, and motivating volunteers.
• Include discussion of spontaneous volunteers as well as those affiliated with community-based, faith-based, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

At the completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Identify situations in which volunteers can be a useful addition to response and recovery operations.
• Define skill and knowledge requirements for volunteers.
• Develop a volunteer program that includes strategies for recruiting and managing volunteers within the whole community.
• Develop a plan for setting up a Volunteer Reception Center.
• Identify special issues involving the use of volunteers.