Agency Essential Reading for Disaster Relief Agencies

Agency Essential Reading for Disaster Relief Agencies

Guiding Principles for Partnership

Disaster Relief Agreement
CarePortal leadership will determine when conditions exist in a specific area that warrant CarePortal Disaster Relief access. When these areas are identified, approved requesting agencies and organizations are given up to 6 months free access (or through the disaster relief period) to make requests through CarePortal for their clients in the affected area.

Collaboration is critical
No single organization can do this work alone. It takes a fierce commitment to collaboration to make long-term impact.

CarePortal is ecumenically minded
CarePortal promotes unity in and among the Church and seeks to build a network across denominational, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. While we are open to the support of organizations with other world-views, The Global Orphan Project exists to help Bible-believing Christian churches care for vulnerable children and families in their own communities. CarePortal was developed as a ministry tool to help accomplish the mission of meeting needs, making personal connections, and establishing meaningful relationships within and beyond the community of Christ-following believers.

CarePortal serves anyone in crisis
Jesus cast the widest net of love, tearing down cultural biases and promoting radical, personal generosity and concern for those in need. With that example, CarePortal brings together diverse constituents – government agencies, churches, businesses, schools, and other ministries – to support people in crisis regardless of race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, political leanings, etc. If we find any of our partners are discriminating against the individuals they are meant to unconditionally serve, they will be removed from the network.

Disaster Relief Requesting Agencies using CarePortal must be established organizations within one or more of these sectors:

• Government
• Healthcare
• Non-Profit
• Public Sector
• Child Serving Organization
  (can be private)
  

Disaster Relief Requesting Agencies must also:

1. Highly value community engagement
2. Desire to collaborate with local ministry partners that facilitate CarePortal (Implementing Partners)

Have the willingness and capacity to make and approve requests through CarePortal for high-impact physical items or services that a local church could provide to a vulnerable adult or family your organization is serving. These requests would not require a background check by your agency but may require the family needing assistance to sign a release of information. (Churches may require background checks for their own responders.)

The following Requesting Options are available:
Upon enrollment, you’ll be asked to select the option that best fits your operational protocols in efficiently identifying and approving new requests.

• Option 1: Worker > Supervisor AND Agency Rep
  • Worker submits a request (online or via mobile app)
  • “Supervisor email address” required to be completed in Request Form
  • Review email sent to supervisor email AND Agency Rep
  • Supervisor OR Agency Rep can click the link to edit, approve, or decline request
  • Request sent to churches and confirmation email sent to Worker, Supervisor, and Agency Rep
  • Responses sent to Worker
• Option 2: Worker > Agency Rep
  • Worker submits a request (online or via mobile app)
  • Review email sent to the Agency Rep for that agency and county
  • Agency Rep clicks the link to edit, approve, or decline request
  • Request is sent to churches and confirmation email sent to Worker and Agency Rep
  • Responses sent to Worker
• Option 3: Agency Rep
  • Request information collected from worker by Agency Rep
  • Agency Rep submits a request with login access
  • Request is sent to churches and confirmation email is sent to Agency Rep
  • Responses sent to Agency Rep

Commitments of Partnership

Requesting Agency workers identify needs of individuals and families affected by a specified natural disaster, then go to CarePortal.org or the CarePortal mobile app to submit a request for help that is approved and immediately sent to local churches.

One of the following purpose statements must be assigned to each request:

• Support an Emergency Worker
• Alleviate Food/Essentials Insecurity
• Stabilize Housing Insecurity

Requesting Agencies Commit To:

• Designate appropriate staff (Agency Executive + Representative) to oversee use and training of workers, and collaborate with local CarePortal Implementing Partners
• Create a designated agency mailbox to be copied on all CarePortal emails
• Provide any publicly available data that may assist in educating and recruiting churches
• Identify and assist in training agency staff to access CarePortal
• Establish a policy for communication by workers to clients regarding confidentiality before releasing the family information to the church member willing to help (if applicable)
• Make appropriate requests through CarePortal at the frequency agreed upon in each county
• Monitor and engage responses, and close requests in a timely manner when request is met
• Collaborate with local Implementing Partner by attending Active Community gatherings and training events as needed/requested
  

CarePortal commits to: 

As a platform, CarePortal is used by various implementing partners that provide local support to agencies, churches, and community partners. Through this partnership, CarePortal provides:

• Access
  • CarePortal website, mobile app, and other technology in support of the platform
  • Unlimited user access to submit an agreed-upon number of requests
  • Connection of agency partners to churches and their members, on a volunteer basis, to serve children and families in need of assistance
  • Efficient, agency-approved online application processes for volunteer recruitment and vetting (Tiers 2 & 3)
• Training
  • Support to the Requesting Agency by providing live platform training to staff
  • Online resources and in-person experiential training opportunities
  • Convening of local Active Community gathering for agency staff participation
• Support
  • Systematic reporting and metrics to track impact and cost avoidance
  • Opportunities for Requesting Agency leadership to collaborate and communicate with local and state CarePortal leadership
  • Technical support team