April 2009 Themes for Community Outreach
National 9-1-1 Education Month
Citizen Corps Affiliate, E 9-1-1 Institute and the Coalition for 9-1-1 Education has dedicated April as 9-1-1 Education Month and is leading a national outreach effort to educate the public on the 9-1-1 system. The Coalition includes eight national organizations who jointly call upon educators, parents, public officials, and telecommunications industry leaders to join a national effort to educate the public on the importance of the 9-1-1 emergency call number system and its appropriate use during April.
National Financial Literacy Month
Finances are often an overlooked topic when it comes to disaster planning and preparedness. During National Financial Literacy Month, Councils may utilize the resources of one or several of the organizations below that are leading the way in promoting pre-disaster financial preparedness and in increasing financial literacy across the country.
Operation Hope, a National Citizen Corps Affiliate, has developed a number of initiatives to provide financial literacy, financial preparedness, and financial emergency support. HOPE Coalition America provides free pre-disaster financial preparedness seminars and foreclosure prevention workshops for both individuals and organizations and provides financial experts to assist communities after a disaster strikes. Information and resources, including the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) and the Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDPG), are available at http://www.operationhope.org/.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks sponsor Go Direct, a campaign to motivate people who receive federal benefit checks to sign up for direct deposit. For those who depend on the mail for their Social Security benefits, a difficult situation can become worse if they are evacuated or lose their mail service – as 85,000 check recipients learned after Hurricane Katrina, and thousands more learned in 2008 during Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike. Switching to electronic payment is one simple, significant way people can protect themselves before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. More information, including the Go Direct Disaster Preparedness Toolkit, talking points, and web banners, is available at http://www.godirect.org/partners/Disaster_Preparedness.cfm.
The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission provides financial education resources for all Americans through its partnerships and website. MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether planning to buy a home, balancing a checkbook, investing in a 401k, or navigating these economic hard times, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help. Toolkits, brochures, frequently asked questions, and other resources to help Citizen Corps Councils and partners improve financial literacy in their community are available at http://www.MyMoney.gov.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) administers a national financial education campaign called Money Smart. This comprehensive financial education curriculum is designed to help individuals develop financial skills and positive banking relationships through a free training program available both online and on CD. More information on the Money Smart program is available at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/.
April 19-25, 2009: National Volunteer Week
A proclamation or volunteer call to action by local leaders during National Volunteer Week provides the opportunity for media visibility for Citizen Corps activities in the area. Learn more about National Volunteer Week and approach reporters to keep them informed of the trainings and volunteer service activities taking place that week in your neighborhoods. Additionally, you might want to consider inviting your local investigative reporter to complete CERT training or shadow a Citizen Corps volunteer and report his or her experience to the community.
April 25 - May 2, 2009: National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)
Partner with a local radio station or television station to broadcast Public Service Announcements on the importance of immunizing infants. Organize Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who can provide information and answer questions regarding immunizations to give interviews with local media. The Centers for Disease Control offer supporting materials for National Infant Immunization Week each year.