AmeriCorps Celebrates 20 Years

   On September 21, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act, which created AmeriCorps. Since its inception, more than 820,000 men and women have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to "get things done for America," serving more than one billion hours and improving the lives of countless Americans.

   Starting in September 2013, CNCS will recognize the extraordinary impact of AmeriCorps and its 20 years of serving America.  Get started by learning about our history, checking out our AmeriCorps 20 resource center, and joining us on social media. Visit the online home of the AmeriCorps 20th anniversary: http://1.usa.gov/1fecLi4

 

 

 

September is National Preparedness Month

 

This month is the annual campaign to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses and communities. We want to encourage you – as individuals and families – to pledge to prepare during the month of September but we also want to encourage you and your family to make preparedness a part of your daily life every day moving forward. Here are three easy steps for you and your family to take to get involved and be better prepared:

    Step 1: Pledge to Prepare

    The first step to getting involved is to register as a coalition member at Ready.gov/pledge. Members will have access to the online community, resources and tools available to help get you and your family prepared for an emergency.

    Step 2: Take a Free Online Preparedness Course

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=is-909

    Developed in partnership with the Emergency Management Institute and in consultation with faith-based and community partners, FEMA’s “IS-909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone” training course will introduce you to a program for promoting individual and community preparedness through simple and engaging activities. The course is free, available online and is designed for anyone to use in coordination with your local emergency preparedness partners.

    Step 3: Implement Simple Preparedness Activities

    FEMA has made available to the public, free training and resources to help you and your family to take action and implement simple preparedness activities. Some of the simple activities include:

•Creating a no-cost or low-cost disaster kit < http://emilms.fema.gov/IS909/assets/01_PreparednessOnAShoestring.pdf >;

•Preparing for utility outages < http://emilms.fema.gov/IS909/assets/14_GoingOffGrid.pdf >; and

•How to use a fire extinguisher < http://emilms.fema.gov/IS909/assets/09_PuttingOutFires.pdf >.

 

NCBDDD Communications Alert: Real Stories of Emergency Preparedness in Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

 

 

 

Real Stories of Emergency Preparedness in Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

 

September marks the beginning of the annual observance of National Preparedness Month. This year the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Family Voices have partnered to recognize the unique experiences of families and health providers during emergency situations. This partnership has resulted in a collection of family stories  that highlight emergency preparedness in children and youth with special health care needs.

 

We invite you to read and share these stories with others. If you are interested in working with us to create more family stories throughout the year please email Dr. Georgina Peacock (ghn3@cdc.gov ) using subject line “Emergency Preparedness for CYSHCN.”

 

 

Erica Cook Reott, MPH | Acting Deputy Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships

Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | O: 404-498-3079 | C: 404-357-1802 | Email: EReott@cdc.gov 

Telecommuting Tuesdays and can be reached at: 678-308-8246

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd