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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:

  • Embracing the unique contribution of various mental health disciplines and faith based groups.

  • Identify specific issues of emotional and spiritual needs as a significant component of disaster response.

  • Educate state and local VOADs and non-affiliated partners about emotional and spiritual needs in disasters.

  • Promote best practices, standards and models to provide effective emotional and spiritual care.

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National VOAD Committees create three types of documents: "Resources," "Points of Consensus," and "Guidelines."

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"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

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Light Our Way (Spanish)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/lightourway_spanish.pdf

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"Points of Consensus"

Ethical standards, agreement required for National VOAD membership

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Disaster Spiritual Care Points of Consensus (Ratified 2009)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/poc_disasterspiritualcare.pdf

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Disaster Spiritual Care Points of Consensus (Spanish)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/POC_DisasterSpiritualCare_Spanish.pdf

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Disaster Emotional Care Points of Consensus (Ratified 2015)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/poc__disasteremotionalcare__final_2withformatcorrections.april2016.pdf

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Disaster Emotional Care Points of Consensus (Spanish)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/poc-disaster-emotional-care_spanish.pdf

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Guidelines

Operational, behavioral and/or ethical recommendations from the Committee

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Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines  (Ratified 2014)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/national_voad_disaster_spiritual_care_guidelines__final.pdf

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Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines Quick Reference (Ratified 2014)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/dscg_quick_reference.pdf

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Disaster Emotional Care Guidelines (Ratified 2020)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/Disaster-Emotional-Care-Guidelines.pdf

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Disaster Emotional Guidelines Quick Reference (Ratified 2020)

https://www.nvoad.org/wp-content/uploads/Quick-Reference-Guide-Disaster-Emotional-Care-Guidelines.pdf

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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

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2022 Emotional and Spiritual Care Guidelines Webinars

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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

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