Internships
Public Affairs On-Call Volunteer/Intern PDF Print E-mail

Public Affairs On-Call

Volunteer/Internship Position

Position:
As a volunteer spokesperson for the organization you are responsible for speaking with or contacting news media to provide the pertinent information during or following a disaster event that involves a Red Cross presence or response.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide the public with timely information regarding Red Cross services following a disaster
  • Communicate with media either in person or by phone.
  • Provide online postings as needed (Facebook, Twitter)
  • Conduct interviews on-scene of disaster if media is present & requests a face-to-face interview
  • Coordinate follow-up media interviews with clients
  • Visually document Red Cross services, provide photo support to internal and external customers
  • Work professionally with clients, media outlets and partner agencies
  • Ensure all Red Cross photography and brand standards are followed including Information Release Forms
  • Conduct yourself as a representative of the American Red Cross
  • Comply with the ARC Code of Conduct and Fundamental Principles

Qualifications:

  • Successfully complete volunteer enrollment process (including background check)
  • Valid Wisconsin driver's license and good driving record
  • Volunteers are expected to be on call and accessible via cell phone one week per month. (On call schedule will be set based on your availability).
  • When on call, ability to respond (on-site or remotely) when notified
  • Strong written and oral communications skills
  • Ability to follow instructions, work as a team player and to motivate others
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks and assess incoming information quickly
  • Ability to work effectively in a chaotic, stressful setting
  • Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds

Location: Home and on-location for local disaster responses.

Training:

  • Disaster Services: An Overview (classroom)
  • Disaster Public Affairs: An Overview (Online)
  • Fundamentals of Disaster Public Affairs: The Local Response (classroom)
  • Knowledge of the Public Affairs Operation Manual (self-study)
  • Additional disaster services training as needed to understand the mission and services of the Red Cross.
  • A cell phone will be provided if you do not wish to use your personal phone.


Time Commitment:
On-call for seven (7) consecutive nights and all day on the weekend, approximately one week every 4-6 weeks. Includes holidays. On-call shift is 4:30 pm to 8:00 am the following business day (Monday through Friday) and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. On-call day shifts are also possible (8:00 am – 4:30 pm).

Internships:
This is an unpaid volunteer position. If you are a current college student working towards a degree in Communications, Public Relations or similar, Red Cross will work with you to meet your school's requirements to earn school credit.

Online Application:Volunteer Application 2011 (pdf 66.92 Kb)

Contact: Gina Trimboli at 414-345-8689 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .



Last Updated on Monday, 19 September 2011 12:33
 
Casework Services PDF Print E-mail

Position reports to: Casework Services Director or his/her Designee

Description: This internship provides needed hands-on experience to DAT/Family Service staff who have limited access to disaster services casework.

If you want to be DSHR (Disaster Services Human Resources) qualified, in the Family Service Emergency Assistance function, you must have completed five disaster cases from beginning to close of the case. Your supervisor must document these five cases before you will be asked to go on a National Disaster Response - as a Family Services Tech. Once these five cases have been documented, you have fulfilled the entry-level requirements for a Family Services Emergency Assistance Technician.


Responsibilities: Casework Service Department in Milwaukee will schedule internships. Internships will be scheduled for up to one-week commitments but may be longer with both parties agreeing to increase the length of the internship.

Casework Intern will be responsible to get to and from the Milwaukee office. Talk with your staff support if this is a hardship.

If casework is slow, the intern could be asked to do follow-up phone calls to clients and/or respond to fire calls with the Milwaukee DAT.

The intern will receive an orientation prior to starting his/her internship.

When the Internship is completed, the Intern may receive an evaluation of his/her job. This evaluation is a learning tool only. It will not reflect on the Intern in any way except to provide suggested ways to improve casework, client assistance or recommend other disaster courses.

Casework Intern will be asked to attend an outgoing evaluation of the project.

While the Milwaukee office averages over 50 disaster cases per month, it is impossible to predict how many cases there will be to work on in any given week. Your flexibility in adjusting to these unknown factors is appreciated.


Qualifications: Participants must have completed these Red Cross Disaster courses: Introduction to Disaster Services and Family Services and Providing Emergency Assistance.

Training Needed: See above qualifications.
Last Updated on Monday, 06 April 2009 12:50