National VOAD
(Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)
Emotional and Spiritual Care Resources
The Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee’s mission is to foster emotional and spiritual care to people affected by disaster in cooperation with national, state and local response organizations and VOADs. The National VOAD ESCC accomplishes its mission in several ways:
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Embracing the unique contribution of various mental health disciplines and faith based groups.
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Identify specific issues of emotional and spiritual needs as a significant component of disaster response.
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Educate state and local VOADs and non-affiliated partners about emotional and spiritual needs in disasters.
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Promote best practices, standards and models to provide effective emotional and spiritual care.
National VOAD Committees create three types of documents: "Resources," "Points of Consensus," and "Guidelines."
"Resources"
General tools and manuals developed by the committee
Light Our Way (2018 Edition, originally published in 2006)
A resource for disaster workers and planners
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/light_our_way_2018_final-published-copy.pdf
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/lightourway_spanish.pdf
"Points of Consensus"
Ethical standards, agreement required for National VOAD membership
Disaster Spiritual Care Points of Consensus (Ratified 2009)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/poc_disasterspiritualcare.pdf
Disaster Spiritual Care Points of Consensus (Spanish)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/POC_DisasterSpiritualCare_Spanish.pdf
Disaster Emotional Care Points of Consensus (Ratified 2015)
Disaster Emotional Care Points of Consensus (Spanish)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/poc-disaster-emotional-care_spanish.pdf
Guidelines
Operational, behavioral and/or ethical recommendations from the Committee
Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines (Ratified 2014)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/national_voad_disaster_spiritual_care_guidelines__final.pdf
Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines Quick Reference (Ratified 2014)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/dscg_quick_reference.pdf
Disaster Emotional Care Guidelines (Ratified 2020)
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/Disaster-Emotional-Care-Guidelines.pdf
Disaster Emotional Guidelines Quick Reference (Ratified 2020)
Other Resources
National VOAD Emotional and Spiritual Care Presentation to the Centers for Disease Control
https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/cdc-nvoad-esc-presentation-8.pdf
2022 New National VOAD Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee Resources
The Role and Benefit of Including Emotional and Spiritual Care During the Phases of Disaster
2022 Emotional and Spiritual Care Guidelines Webinars
Webinar: Introduction to the National VOAD Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care Guidelines
Webinar: An Overview of the National VOAD Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines
Webinar: An Overview of the National VOAD Disaster Emotional Care Guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions: The National VOAD ESC Guidelines Webinar Series