Texas Impact (coordinating/training LTRCs)
Last updated . This is not confirmation of current availability; call before travelling.
Available here 0
Nothing is listed as available.
Needed here 0
No needs are listed.
Campaigns 1
Find matches
About this facility
- Mission
- from the website:
What is Texas Impact?
Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Texas Impact exists to advance state public policies that are consistent with universally held social principles of the Abrahamic traditions.
Texas Impact accomplishes its mission by developing grassroots networks in local communities and mobilizing them to advocate with their legislators on specific issues. Developing these networks includes a process of broad policy and advocacy education in congregations and denominational bodies; teambuilding in local faith communities; leadership development with key individuals and groups; and coordination with lawmakers, media, and other public interest groups.
Texas Impact was founded on the central religious conviction that religious communities are called to minister to the whole person—to respond with compassion to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all people. The Texas religious leaders who established Texas Impact in 1973 believed that such a ministry cannot be performed adequately without a concern for basic social problems at the state government level.
Texas Impact's board consists of a delegation made up of up to two representatives from each Member Organization as well as several at-large and special members. There are currently about 45 members of the board.
Member Organizations make annual pledges to Texas Impact and send members to Texas Impact's board. Member Organizations include:
• Judicatories (regional governing bodies) of mainline Christian denominations in Texas such as United Methodist annual conferences
• Regional chapters of social justice groups affiliated with specific religious traditions such as the American Jewish Congress
• Regional and local single-faith and interfaith groups such as Austin Area Interreligious Ministries
• Statewide units of religious women's groups such as Church Women United The board sets Texas Impact's legislative agenda, approves policy positions, and maintains contact between Texas Impact and the Member Organizations. The executive committee oversees day-to-day operations, and there are other standing and ad hoc committees to address issues and projects as they arise. The full board meets three times a year, and committees meet as needed in person or via conference call. Board members may be ordained or lay people, and come from religious communities throughout Texas.
How We Work on Issues Texas Impact works on a wide variety of public policy issues within the broadly held social concerns of mainstream religious traditions. More information on religious social concerns, social teachings and principles of faith traditions, and resources for denomination-specific information is available in the "Social Teachings" area of this website. Texas Impact uses a process of discernment on public policy issues similar to the processes used by many faith traditions, using Scripture, the wisdom of the faith traditions, current public policy information and data, and the experiential knowledge of people of faith to develop our positions and policy goals. Texas Impact works collaboratively with religious and secular groups. Texas Impact strives to make information about state government and public policy accessible to people of faith and all interested Texans. Texas' excellent state government website should be the first stop for anyone looking for information about specific programs, the state budget, or any other public policy concern. - Service
- Temporary
Notes
See list of disaster relief orgs:
http://www.texasimpact.org/Disaster_Response_Agencies
from the website:
Disaster Response Infrastructure
Disaster relief is complicated because there are so many agencies involved. In addition to the multiplicity of agencies, there are also different time frames in which these agencies are involved. This section seeks to clarify exactly what each agency does and when they do it.
Principles of Disaster Response
Because disasters are unpredictable, and one disaster is rarely similar to another, the golden rule in disaster response protocol is flexibility. Because of this, it is difficult to lay out a timeline during a disaster. Yet, these basic principles can help map out what happens during a disaster:
1) Disaster response must be flexible
2) Disasters begin and end locally
3) Disasters should be managed at the lowest possible level
Determining Scope of Response
When a disaster occurs, the local jurisdiction first assesses the magnitude of the disaster and decides whether or not it needs outside resources. If it does, it first goes to the Regional Mutual Aid Coordinator which can send resources across jurisdictional lines. Next it looks for resources within its State Disaster District, and finally calls upon state resources. The governor then decides whether or not to provide resources.
If the disaster is widespread, the governor can request federal assistance. If the president declares it a national disaster, FEMA can be brought in. If FEMA gets involved, they become the lead organization although it usually defers major decisions to the state government. Typically, the local jurisdiction makes the decisions; the state provides the resources and coordination; and FEMA provides additional.
Timeline of Response
The lead agency (either FEMA or the State) determines the different resources necessary. First a decision is made regarding the necessity to evacuate. In Texas while the state can recommend evacuations, the official decision is left to the local jurisdiction. Once an evacuation order is in place, the state (through the Department of Public Safety) ensures that the evacuations occur peaceably using police forces at both the state and local level.
States can also choose to bring the National Guard for additional assistance. Similarly, the local jurisdiction can order a search and rescue but the state performs the search and rescue missions. Furthermore, the state coordinates the “point to point” system which determines where evacuees go. For each city that needs to evacuate, there is a pre-established evacuation city or cities. The state also coordinates the different voluntary organizations involved in disaster relief, like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Men, etc. These state-wide organizations then coordinate with their regional offices.
If an evacuation has been ordered, voluntary organizations are often the ones responsible for organizing evacuee shelters (the Red Cross), Disaster Recovery Centers (the Red Cross), and distributing food and water (the Red Cross and Salvation Army). Recovery As soon as immediate response actions (like search and rescue) are no longer necessary, the regional VOAD’s take over and begin conducting the coordination calls. These calls remain on a state-wide level and determine the needs of the region.
The state, meanwhile, continues to coordinate certain activities like monitoring energy companies and the status of power within affected areas. FEMA provides expertise on how to create and effectively use Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC). FEMA also provides debris removal and coordinates disaster recovery centers (DRCs). These Centers provide immediate needs and once those responsibilities are exhausted, the DRCs allow people to file claims for public assistance and FEMA sends out inspectors. Simultaneously, the state begins coordinating a case management program. The federal government provides funds for this program and the state awards an organization to bring in case workers.
As soon as immediate response actions (like search and rescue) are no longer necessary, the regional VOAD’s take over and begin conducting the coordination calls. These calls remain on a state-wide level and determine the needs of the region. The state, meanwhile, continues to coordinate certain activities like monitoring energy companies and the status of power within affected areas. FEMA also provides debris removal and coordinates disaster recovery centers (DRC’s). These Centers provide immediate needs and once those responsibilities are exhausted, the DRC’s allow people to file claims for public assistance and FEMA sends out inspectors. On a community level, the state begins coordinating a case management program. The federal government provides funds for this program and the state chooses an organization to bring in case workers.
Then, Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRC’s) begin to take shape. LTRC’s are responsible for combining community resources and addressing any unmet needs. They also work with case managers to help close their cases. FEMA provides expertise on how to create these LTRC’s.