UMVIM WJ DISASTER ACADEMY - FROM DESPAIR TO CARE
The Disaster Academy will be March 3-6, 2014 in Federal Way, WA, at the beautiful Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center at 4700 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA, 98023. The classes are for anyone interested in putting their faith into action by helping respond to natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes.
Class offerings include beginning through advanced levels for various types of volunteers, response leaders, church leaders and clergy.
Featured speakers are Bishop Hagiya, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Disaster Response for the US, Gregg Forrester, and UMCOR Director of Communications, Jim Rollins.
Instructors are key UMCOR consultants and experienced disaster responders.
Course Offerings:
- Advanced Early Response Teams (ERT):
Provides trained ERT members with supplementary tools and technical information to strengthen their capacity for safe and effective disaster response.
- Disaster 101:
Basic Disaster Ministry is an introduction for anyone interested in the unique and important role the faith community plays in disaster 
readiness and response. Participants learn about disasters, traditional responses to a disaster and how the faith-based response is different, how to prepare for a disaster, and how to get involved after disaster strikes.
- Basic Early Response Teams 1 & 2:
Early Response Teams (ERTs) fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster: to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes and otherwise help prevent further damage while at the same time providing a caring Christian presence.
- Disaster Case Management Overview:
Provides an overview of the work in guiding survivors through to their recovery. UMCOR’s model for disaster case management is a holistic approach, which incorporates the unique perspective of the faith community with understanding the emotional, spiritual and physical impact of the disaster on survivors. Class touches on how to identify and address unmet recovery needs of all survivors, particularly those who 
were vulnerable before the disaster.
- Long Term Recovery Ministries, Part 1:
Developing a Conference Disaster Recovery Program.
- Long Term Recovery Ministries, Part 2:
Activating the Conference Recovery Program after disaster.
- Conference Plans and Partners:
Helps Conferences develop disaster plans and partnerships with agencies and other Conferences.
- UMVIM New Team Leader Training:
This is the updated new Team Leader Training.
- UMVIM New Team Leader Refresher:
Provides new updates for Team Leader certification.
- Conference Disaster Response Plans:
Detailed plans defining the specific roles and responsibilities of church staff within the Conference guiding the response actions in the case of a disaster. Includes preparedness, emergency, relief and recovery phases.
- Connecting Neighbors:
Provide participants the ability to develop a disaster plan that fits with the local church’s mission. Connects the church to community emergency plans, identifies types of disasters likely and the needs that may arise, assess church’s role in disaster ministry, create a plan to manage volunteers, assigns responsibilities and activates communication.
- Ministry of Care:
Provides practical information and ideas to help people facing the unique emotional and spiritual challenges that accompany disaster.
- Caring for the Care Giver:
Helps participants recognize the signs of stress and burnout and provides suggestions on how to cope with these realities.
Registration Costs:
- Event Pass, Single Occupancy: $265
- Event Pass, Double Occupancy: $200
- Day Pass, Monday: $30
- Day Pass, Tuesday or Wednesday: $40
- Day Pass, Thursday: $20
- Overnight, Single Occupancy: $50
- Overnight, Double Occupancy: $35
Costs includes lodging, meals and tuition.
Register online at https://calnev-reg.brtapp.com/WesternJurisdictionDisasterAcademy
FUTURE TEAMS AND PRAYER REQUESTS
Davis UMC to India – January 8-20 Mary Philip and Kathleen O'Connor lead and serve with Alex Achimore, Susan Padgett, Alice Lakin and Jane Hing.
Alamo San Ramon Valley UMC Team to Haiti – January 22-30
Warren McGuffin of Alamo – San Ramon Valley UMC leads and serves with Brad Stribling, and Phil Bryson and Steve Elliot, both of Livermore – Asbury UMC.
Individual Volunteers
Warren McGuffin of Alamo - San Ramon Valley UMC continues to serve in partnership with Haiti.
Viri Batiratu of Centennial UMC continues to serve in partnership with Fiji.
UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS
Imagine No Malaria Team Member Training, Los Altos UMC - Saturday, January 18th
Disaster Ministry Training: Early Response Team, First UMC San Leandro – Saturday, January 25th
Disaster Academy: multiple classes, Seattle, WA – March 3-6th
NEW UMVIM TRAINING HANDBOOK AVAILABLE!!!
The Mission Volunteers Program Unit of Global Ministries announces the publishing of a new handbook for volunteers, called A Mission Journey. Nook and Kindle versions available from Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. Actual book copies can be purchased from the Upper Room. This is to be used as a supplement to, not a replacement of, the old "nuts and bolts" UMVIM Manual.
INTERESTED TO SERVE AS A HEALTH/MEDICAL VOLUNTEER? THEN ATTEND THE:
Rx Consultation +
RoundUP
August 8-10, 2014
Epworth Forest Camp, IN
keep the date!!!!
INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR YOUR UMVIM TEAM
The Board of Global Ministries no longer offers insurance to UMVIM teams. There are other options for your team. The Southeast, Northeast, and North Central UMVIM jurisdictional offices offer great and extensive coverage for UMVIM teams! Below, please find more information about some coverage options from the North Central UMVIM Jurisdiction Office:
Transitioning from GBGM Insurance
INFORMATION
Mission Volunteers and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries strongly urge that no United Methodist Volunteer-in-Mission (UMVIM) group or individual, regardless of the type of volunteer work
they do, engage in any domestic or international mission volunteer work without securing accident and
medical insurance coverage.
Effective now, January 2014, all UMVIM group or individual insurance of
the North Central Jurisdiction, will be handled through the UMVIM-NCJ by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. The Insurance Policy is called Passport To Ministry for International Mission Teams.
UMVIM-NCJ has negotiated a contract with Brotherhood Mutual for a much reduced price from their regular rates due to volume of teams the jurisdiction has had purchase it in the past.
For more information and forms to receive coverage, visit http://www.umvimncj.org/NCJVIM/Forms.html.
UMVIM-NCJ has also negotiated a contract with Brotherhood Mutual for a Seven Corners National (USA)Team Medical Insurance. The company is revising this policy and we should see changes early in 2014.
If you are already have medical insurance in the US, you do not need to get this policy unless you want added coverage. If you do not have medical insurance, please purchase this policy
while on the mission. Team leaders should make sure no one goes on the mission without coverage of some kind.
