Greater Kansas City Chapter
Serving Missouri counties Platte, Clay, Jackson, Cass, Mercer, Grundy, Daviess, Livingston, Caldwell, Ray, Lafayette, Johnson, Bates, Henry and Benton and Johnson County, Kan.
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Disaster Volunteer Training
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Having trained volunteers who are ready to respond to disasters in the Kansas City area, the 16 counties we serve, and throughout the country is essential to Red Cross emergency efforts. Red Cross disaster classes prepare volunteers to handle any situation they may encounter with skill and expertise.
The various classes train volunteers in the areas of feeding large numbers of people, setting up shelters, assisting effected people with obtaining Red Cross emergency assistance, driving Red Cross vehicles, disaster mental health, and more.  

Please contact Sandy Perusich at (816) 841-5279 with questions. If classes are canceled due to low enrollment, registered participants will be notified.

Classes include:
  • Client Assistance System (CAS): The Client Assistance System expedites financial assistance and services to our clients, by enabling workers to deliver services from any computer with internet access meeting the minimum system requirements. It manages information about clients, their needs and the assistance we provide them following a disaster. This class prepares workers to be able to utilize the technology to provide appropriate assistance in a timely manner.

  • Client Casework: Providing Emergency Assistance: This course is designed to train Red Cross caseworkers to conduct effective client interviews and provide for appropriate assistance to help meet a client's immediate disaster caused needs.

  • Collaborating to Ensure Effective Service Delivery: This course is to prepare Red Cross employees and volunteers to establish collaborative relationships that contribute to coordinated disaster response and help to ensure effective service delivery. This course will also prepare participants to begin conducting liaison activities in a chapter and establish a foundation upon which they can build toward a career as a liaison in the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System.

  • Disaster Frontline Supervisor/Simulation: Disaster Frontline Supervisor: This 3.5-hour course is to prepare new supervisors to lead teams that deliver high quality service and to create a climate that promotes worker satisfaction. Applicants should have the training and experience equivalent to Service Associate in activity in which she or he expects to become a supervisor. Disaster Frontline Supervisor Simulation: This 3.5-hour simulation is to provide participants an opportunity to practice their supervisory knowledge and skills in leading teams that deliver high quality service and to create a climate that promotes worker satisfaction.

  • Disaster Instructor Specialty Training: This course is to prepare instructors of Basic and Intermediate Disaster Training courses for effective teaching, thereby ensuring uniform and quality disaster training consistent with Red Cross policies and procedures of Disaster Services.

  • Disaster Public Affairs: The Local Response: This one-day course prepares Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs employees and volunteers to initiate the public affairs activity at their local chapter. This class provides an overview of American Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs and the chapter role, the structure on the local level and prepares the Red Cross employee or volunteer to effectively respond to local medial inquiries and to proactively present the Red Cross message.

  • ERV: Ready Set Roll: This course is to prepare Red Cross paid and volunteer staff to safely and effectively use an ERV and its equipment to meet feeding and other service needs of the people affected by disaster. Video and workbook for this course must be viewed prior to class. Participants must provide AARP 55 Alive certification and Department of Motor Vehicle report at time of class. Call Sandy Perusich at 816-931-6662 ext 279 for video and workbook.

  • Foundations of Mental Health: This course is to prepare licensed mental health professionals to provide for and respond to the psychological needs of people across the continuum of disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

  • Fulfilling Our Mission Mass Care: An Overview: Fulfilling Our Mission: This course enables participants to translate their care and compassion into community action, through a uniform message. This course covers the Mission of the Red Cross, the Fundamental Principles and Values that support the mission and the expected behaviors of Red Cross volunteers and employees in the conduct of that mission. This course is a prerequisite to all Disaster Services courses. Mass Care: An Overview: This video-based Disaster Services training is to provide an overview of the activities performed in the Mass Care group in support of a disaster response operation. This course is offered in a classroom setting.

  • Fundamentals of Chapter Disaster Operations Management: This two day course trains leadership employees and volunteers to perform the fundamental roles and responsibilities of directing a disaster relief operation. The class is for those who share in the responsibility of planning for and managing a disaster response in their local communities and an interest in how Operations Management serves on a disaster relief operation. Please contact Sandy Perusich at perusichs@arckc.org for prerequisites and registration. There is no charge for this course.

  • Fundamentals of Disaster Assessment : This two part course consists of one online portion and one instructor led portion. Successful completion of both course components is required to receive a certificate of completion. Please contact Sandy Perusich at 816-841-5279 to acquire the information for signing up for the online course.

  • Health Services Response Workshop: This workshop is designed to orient licensed or certified health professional to the roles and responsibilities of a Health Services Associate when working on behalf of the American Red Cross to meet the disaster-related health needs of clients.

  • Humanity in the Midst of War - Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (IHL): The course is intended to raise awareness among American Red Cross representatives and general audiences about the Geneva Conventions, the basic rules of international humanitarian law, and the role of the Red Cross during armed conflict. Through a hands-on approach utilizing group activities, class discussion and multiple audiovisual aids, this newly-updated introductory course invites participants to reflect on their images and perceptions of armed conflict and explore the powerful and fundamental concept of human dignity even in the midst of the excesses of war.

  • Logistics: An Overview /Logistics: Simulation: Logistics overview training is to provide basic information about the activities and the processes of the Logistics function in support of a disaster relief operation. Participants will learn about the skills, abilities and knowledge needed by Logistics workers and how they can get started in their local chapter. The simulation provides participants an opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful logistical operation in their local chapter. These classes are on the same day.

  • On Scene Assistance: This training offers information responders need to meet the basic needs of clients at local recurrent disasters, such as single family fires. All local Disaster Action Team volunteers are required to complete this course.

  • Psychological First Aid: This four hour course consists of five separate segments and a self-review questionnaire which is completed at the end of the course. The course provides a framework for understanding the factors that affect stress responses in disaster relief workers and the clients they serve. This class is recommended for all Red Cross disaster workers.

  • Serving People with Disabilities Following a Disaster: This is a blended learning, basic level course consisting of two components, online and instructor-led, which outlines American Red Cross policies and practices as they pertain to providing services to people with disabilities following a disaster. A 45-minute online component provides general information for any employee or volunteer of the Red Cross who serves the public following a disaster. Additional classroom instruction, including a tabletop exercise, provides detailed training for disaster workers who are in direct and constant contact with people with disabilities. The instructor-led portion allows learners to practice skills obtained from the online portion of the course. The instructor-led component of this course qualifies for 0.7 CEU credit under the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) guidelines. Refer to the Continuing Education Units (CEU) pages on CrossNet for more information.

  • Shelter Operations/Shelter Simulation Shelter Operations training is designed to prepare the Red Cross worker and other agency staff to effectively and sensitively manage shelter operations as a team, and to meet the needs of people displaced as a result of a disaster. The desktop exercise provides participants with the hands-on experience necessary to operate a shelter. Shelter Operations and Shelter Simulation are offered on the same day.