LSPA 2017 American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Training Pre-Registration Information

LSPA 2017 American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Training Pre-Registration Information

Thank you for expressing interest in joining our Red Cross Disaster Mental Health team.

The first step is to complete all 5 Steps of the Red Cross Volunteer Application.

1.

2. Fill out the Right side “Create a Red Cross ID” (Note: Please use your home email and home address.)

(Remember your email and password - These will become your login after this first time)

3. You will then need to complete ALL the following steps of the Volunteer Application

• Volunteer Application
• Update Your Profile
• Review and Indicate Opportunities of Interest (Just put Disaster Services)
• Read and Agree to Red Cross Policies
• Authorize Background Check

4. Then wait a few days for everything to be completed and your background check to be approved.

5. Once the background check is completed and you are referred to the Disaster Mental Health Team you can start the online trainings which need to be completed prior to the Red Cross Training at the November 10th conference.

6. The following classes are online:

1. Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview - This is a self paced Web-based on-line training that takes approximately 2 hours.

2. Disaster Mental Health Introduction - This is a self-paced Wed-based on-line training that takes approximately 30 minutes.

3. Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals - Part 1 - This is a self-paces Web-based on-line training that takes approximately 2 - 3 hours.

All online training classes can be accessed through EDGE. Here are step-by-step instructions:

First log into your VOLUNTEER Connection

1. Start by logging into your Volunteer Connection. Go to

2. Under the Volunteer tab - Click on “Sign in to Volunteer Connection”.

3. Your login is your email. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it.

(If you cannot get into your Volunteer Connection, please call IT for support - 888-778-7762)

Next log into EDGE

4. At the top of your Volunteer Connection Home page click on “Connect to EDGE”. EDGE is where you will find all training classes.

5. Enter the same login and password you used for Volunteer Connection and then Sign In.

6. In to top right corner click on the magnifying glass to "Browse for Training”. (Make sure your browser has “pop-ups” enabled.)

7. All training classes are listed in alphabetical order. You can find theOn-Line Web-Based classes because they have a blue computer screen symbol in front.

8. Scroll down and click on each of these classes and click on “Request," followed by "Launch" to begin the course.

• “Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview” (select the one with a stack of books in front) Then scroll down and you’ll find the blue screen to Launch the class.
• “Disaster Mental Health Introduction”
• “Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals - Part 1"

9. In your “Transcript” you will see all the classes that are loaded and are ready for you to take.

10. Click on “Launch” to begin each on-line class when you are ready to take them.

If you are having difficulty, make sure your browser has “pop-ups blocker" turned off for EDGE.

If you need help with EDGE or accessing the "Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals” class, please contact Jodi Tolliver at (504-620-2401.She will walk you through it and help trouble-shoot computer issues.)

WORD OF WARNING: The DMH Fundamentals Part 1 class is challenging, even for the most experienced DMH workers. It is self-paced and takes several hours.

IF YOU FOLLOW THESE TIPS - THEN IT IS EASY

1. IMPORTANT: Before you begin, download,printand read all the attacheddocuments, especially the "Disaster Mental Health Standards and Procedures”.

2. The class is taught through "guided learning" by asking questions. All the answers can be found in the documents and you will need to refer to them throughout. They tell you if your answer is correct or incorrect and why.

3. At the end, there is a 20 question test. You will need to score 80% or better. You can refer to the documents and they tell you if your answer is correct or incorrect and why. You can take the test as many times as you need to achieve a score of 80% or better. (TIP: Write down the correct answers to each question the first time you take the 20 question test, so if you don’t achieve 80% or better the first time, you will know the answers on your second try.)

Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals - Part 2 - is an instructor led interactive in-person course, which integrates role playing to simulate situations that you will encounter in the field (The 3 on-line classes above are prerequisites for this class). This training will be taught at the conference by Dr. Bill Martin who is one of 5 Disaster Mental Health Chiefs in the country. When you finish this training you will be ready to engage with your local American Red Cross Chapter and/or deploy on a disaster.

We look forward to meeting you and working together. Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns.

Tracy Lewis-Todd, PsyD

Disaster Mental Health Regional Lead for Louisiana

American Red Cross

847-769-7300