Staff members from Catholic Charities of South Jersey and the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Communications participated in Catholic Charities USA’s annual Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence training March 16-20 in Orlando, Fla.
The national gathering prepares Catholic Charities agencies to respond effectively to natural disasters and humanitarian crises through formation in leadership, case management, communications, logistics and recovery operations.
“Some key takeaways for me were the importance of communication and follow-up with clients, being realistic and not making promises, and always treating clients with empathy, dignity and respect,” Avileny Velasquez, a case worker with Catholic Charities South Jersey, said of the experience. “It also highlighted the importance of taking care of our own well-being so we can do our jobs effectively, and keeping community resources updated and available.”
In addition to Velasquez, others from Catholic Charities of South Jersey to attend were Brian Wagner, veteran outreach worker, and José Sanchez, director of Immigration and Migrant Services. With co-presenter Jeff Tiner, chief program officer for Catholic Charities Maine, Sanchez gave a talk on the topic of “Leadership Toolbox: Preparing Leaders for Disaster Deployment.” The session focused on identifying staff for deployment roles, strengthening organizational readiness, and building resilience in teams serving in crisis environments.
Also presenting was Michael Walsh, director of communications for the Diocese of Camden, who co-led three sessions with Daniel Altenau of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C.: “Communications 101: Telling the Story YOU Want to Tell,” which introduced strategies for crisis messaging and storytelling during disasters; “AI in Action: Strengthening Communications for Disaster Response,” which explored responsible ways artificial intelligence can support outreach and coordination; and the conference’s concluding tabletop exercise that guided participants through a simulated emergency response scenario requiring collaboration across leadership, case management, communications, logistics and partner agencies.
Velasquez said the training broadened her understanding of CCUSA. “It was inspiring to see the work being done in other states and the impact on vulnerable communities. It gave me a greater appreciation for the work we do and a broader view of our mission.”
More Online
On the March 30 episode of Talking Catholic, host Mike Walsh welcomes leaders from Catholic Charities USA’s Disaster Operations team. Listen at talking.catholicstarherald.org.
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