Heritage Partners with AmeriCorps on Disaster Preparedness
Preparing for an emergency can seem overwhelming, but a free program called Disaster PrepWise guides older adults through the steps of creating a disaster plan to handle any type of emergency. Heritage Area Agency on Agency has partnered with Disaster PrepWise to bring a Public Health AmeriCorps member onto the team to help older adults in eastern Iowa build personalized disaster plans.
Developed by researchers at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Disaster PrepWise consists of five modules and two additional sections on special topics. Participants develop a personalized disaster management plan that they can share with their family, friends and neighbors.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have joined forces through Public Health AmeriCorps to strengthen public health infrastructure. Together, they are supporting the recruitment, training and development of the next generation of public health leaders who will be ready to respond to the nation’s public health needs.
Public Health AmeriCorps has two main goals:
Address public health needs of local communities by providing support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for underserved communities.
Create pathways to good quality public health-related careers through onsite experience and training, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.
Anyone interested in creating a personalized plan for themselves or who would like a Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps member to present for an audience about disaster preparedness, please contact DeLaney Frater at delaney-frater@uiowa.edu.
Visit https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/prepwise/ for more information.