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The following volunteer opportunities are concrete examples of
Homeland Security activities. This is a brief list that includes sample
activities of how NSSC programs can be, and already are, involved in
Homeland Security efforts. Slight variations can create additional
exciting opportunities.
Supporting Public Safety: Senior volunteers can support
community-based public safety efforts with police departments, fire
departments, and other local agencies such as parks, recreation
departments and schools. Examples of public safety activities can
include but are not limited to:
|
Program Type |
Volunteer Activity | |
RSVP |
Coordinating
and participating in community patrol activities such as Neighborhood
Watch, national park safety check-ins, and other "eyes and ears" patrol
activities. | |
RSVP |
Engaging
in community outreach through information dissemination, door to door
canvassing, coordinating community public safety meetings. | |
RSVP |
Providing public safety hotline support by answering telephones and providing accurate information to callers. | |
FGP/RSVP |
Supporting safe schools and safe havens for young people by participating in direct service activities with children and youth. | |
FGP/RSVP |
Serving
as communications liaisons with school administration, faculty and
parents, and helping to ensure school zones are safe places to learn
and grow. | |
SCP/RSVP |
Assisting with home security by identifying homebound seniors, and others, in need of home safety screening and repair projects. | |
RSVP |
Participate in conducting home safety screening and repair projects for homebound seniors and others. | |
FG/RSVP |
Helping to protect children by assisting with fingerprinting and photo identification cards. | |
FGP/SCP/RSVP |
Promoting
tolerance and respect among diverse community members by assisting with
relationship-building, community education, and outreach. |
Supporting Public Health: Senior volunteers can support
public health agencies through outreach, community education, and
targeted direct services. These services can be particularly beneficial
in low-income communities, where professional resources are often
stretched to the limit. Examples of public health activities can
include but are not limited to:
|
Program Type |
Volunteer Activity | |
FGP/SCP/RSVP |
Supporting
immunization for children, older adults and others, whether related to
childhood diseases, influenza, or potential bio-terrorism agents. | |
FGP/SCP/RSVP |
Engaging
in outreach activities such as community education about homeland
defense and public health, distributing materials and assisting with
community health hotlines established by health care professionals. | |
SCP/RSVP |
Providing
homebound seniors and others with contact information for community
health hotlines, and compiling contact information about at-risk
populations for emergency response teams. | |
RSVP |
Ensuring
emergency medical clinics and other facilities function smoothly by
helping to coordinate and oversee services of other community
volunteers. |
Supporting Disaster Preparedness: Senior volunteers can lend
assistance in disaster preparedness and mitigation activities by
serving in community-based relief agencies. Well-trained volunteers can
often be an important part of a community's first line of disaster
preparedness. Examples of disaster preparedness activities can include
but are not limited to:
|
Program Type |
Volunteer Activity | |
RSVP |
Helping to coordinate community inventories of vital medical, blood and food supplies. | |
FGP/SCP/RSVP
|
Serving
as outreach and community education links between agency professionals
and the community at large through materials distribution and directly
supporting hotlines and other means of communication. | |
FGP/SCP/RSVP |
Contributing
to the community's comprehensive emergency management plan by helping
to identify and include specific roles for volunteers in the event of
an emergency, and thus helping to assure rapid, efficient response. |
For additional examples of Homeland Security opportunities, refer to
the Corporation for National and Community Service T/TA Provider for
homeland security, Project TAHS. |
