Title: Hurricane Relief Resources

Author:

Section/SPIG: Maternal and Child Health

Issue Date:

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• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a Health Care Professionals and Relief Personnel Worker page at <https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/>. Many of the volunteer opportunities on this page require clinical skills, but many do not. There is also a link for organized groups that want to deploy together as volunteers.



• The Peace Corps Crisis Corps, for returned Peace Corps volunteers, is operating in the United States for the first time, in response to Hurricane Katrina. For more information, contact: <http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.crisiscorps.katrina>.



• The American Red Cross, through its Peer Partners Program, is contacting volunteers to provide mental health services for victims of Hurricane Katrina. For more information, contact: <info@usa.redcross.org>.



• The State of Louisiana has informed APHA that medical and clerical nurses are needed to help in Special Needs shelters in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles. The evacuees in these shelters need green level care for conditions such as diabetes. The shelters are seeking volunteers who can dedicate at least a week to the shelter. The requirement to have a Louisiana license has been waived, but licensure in your state must be verified before you can be scheduled to volunteer. The Emergency Operations Center in Louisiana has set up information desks for nurses (1-225-763-5640), physicians (1-225-763-5740), and mental health professionals (1-225-763-5741), to register availability and credentials. This information will be forwarded to the volunteer coordinators, who will contact individuals about when to come to volunteer. The state of Louisiana greatly appreciates everyone who can volunteer.



• The Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has set up a relief fund for children and families affected by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. This fund will also send aid to the pediatricians on the Gulf Coast, many of whom lost everything to Katrina, but are still diligently working around the clock for the children and other victims of the devastating hurricane. To donate to this relief effort, make checks payable to the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MSAAP) and include “Katrina's Kids in MS Relief Fund” on the memo line. Mail contributions to: MS Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, c/o BankPlus, 4450 Old Canton Road, Suite 101, Jackson, MS 39211. For more information, contact Gretchen Mahan, Chapter Executive Director, at (601) 613-2503.



• The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), a national network of public health volunteers, recognized by DHHS and the Surgeon General is also coordinating volunteers, many from university settings. For more information, contact <www.medicalreservecorps.gov>.