Community Support Centers

[colormyquilt]

Re: Community Support Centers

Thank you, Mellie, for the feedback and support.

It is a task- finding the balance. For those watching the spread of the avian flu, combined now with findings of possible mammalian reservoirs other than birds, we know and feel a sense of urgency. Time is of the essence. In keeping it real, that is my issue though. In working/ networking with different people/ contacts to develop a plan, or to begin prepping, or to address this issue with their employer, I have to look at the words I need to say so that the message will be heard. Because then we can have conversations- and more than anything else there needs to be more and more conversations. For me, talk translates into action translates into ownership.

 

[Jonesie]

Re: Community Support Centers

I have talked to several local church officials. Small churches. The people I have talked to are aware of the bird flu's existance overseas. That is all.
All I did was ask them one question. What is your church doing to get ready for the Bird Flu Pandemic?

ANSWER: Nothing so far.

But they all had questions and mis-givings.
They don't think bird flu is a problem that will affect us in this country.
And if it is a problem, why are there no alarming news reports on it?
And if it is going to be a problem, they are all waiting for a warning from the Federal Government before they will do anything at all.

They do not know how to address a pandemic. And they don't know the meaning of the word 'Pandemic'.
They don't know why there will be no food or jobs or utilities. They cannot get the connection.
They don't understand why their church services will be terminated.
And they cannot conceive of a hospital being swamped to closing.
And why quarantine? And why empty shelves?
Why would a water system go down?

All community centers should be first sent a written warning and info on why and how to prepare. In an envelope from a Federal Gov't Agency.
And include examples of other churches preparations (like the Lutheran church) to make it more real to them.

Then follow up the letter with a call and an invite to a meeting with other Faith-based organizations/club officials and a Gov't rep.
It should be done soon, and their assets evaluated for usefulness during a pandemic.
Some clubs/churches cannot pay their light bill and can be of no help. Some have no facilities or funds to aid anyone. Some have no volunteers.

The Lutheran church has a nice website to address the issue. And maybe there are a few more are out there.

But a Methodist church official I talked to had not seen bird flu as a problem, did not have a computer, and so it all probably ended with my conversation.
The wife of one minister of a UCC church in a small town went into a tirade as to what God's plan was for me.
Another minister asked me if this was 'the end times'.
Another said he was not going to be alarmed by the flu and would rely on his faith to see him through.

They need information, leadership and guidance.
Some are looking for government guidance, and when they do get it, will reject any advice because they distrust anything connected with government.

I think if you invite them into a group setting, but prepare them in advance with simple documents to read about a local church's preparation plan, they will be much more informed and receptive.
They need to discuss the problems amongst themselves in their own religious speak.
Once they understand the scope of the problem and see the need to protect their congregation and neighbors from illness and starvation, they will begin moving in a positive direction.

And divide the communities into grids and locate each facility within the grid.
Give them each an area to service.

The plan is very simple, but carrying it out is labor intensive, tedious and immense. This is a big country.

 

[T. ModestoPhD]

Re: Community Support Centers

I agree that keeping the conversation going is vital to helping people and communities prepare, endure and recover from a medical disaster that a pandemic would be. Any movement forward is a step in the right direction. I find that when I talk to folks, and I can show them that I care about their welfare then at least I have that 'foot in the door' with them.

This is such a new experience for everyone to have advanced knowledge of a pandemic. there is also little that we can base our knowledge on in how to help people prepare emotionally so that they can then begin to prepare physically for the crisis.

No one wants to deal with uncomfortable and certainly unpleasant issues. Pandemics are one of those major situations that we want to run from instead of addressing. Sickness is terrifying and death even more so. When we deal with such topics we are not only dealing with them on a 'facts - only' basis but we are dealing constantly with them on a very personal level of our own mortality. It is frightening to think that we as individuals could suffer and possibly die. Noone wants to look at such a possibility. In Gone With The Wind the woman (can't remember the character's name) says she will 'think about it tomorrow' when it comes to painful or difficult situations. Our society is much the same way.

Thanostic issues ( death related issues) are some of the most frightening and complex issues we as humans have to deal with. It is impossible for any of us to comprehend all at once the scope of the problem and potential fall out from such a disease. In dealing with death / thanostic related issues it is important to gently repeat the same message over and over again until the message sinks beyond the emotional defense and can then begin to be accepted. The message has been offered repeatedly for over 2 years now and there is progress in how some are now responding to the situation. Frankly I don't believe that for the death phobic North American society at large, it will sink in until the first bird dies of the disease in high path H5N1. This will need to be compounded by other countries overseas that will be dealing with it as well to even begin to be real for the North American hemisphere populations. My understanding is that others will have to model the way for us in North America in how to deal with a high death related situation. Europe and other continents for example have experienced several wars and regional disruptions that resulted in mass fatalities in this lifetime. Additionally they have a history of pandemics, plagues and epidemics that are apart of the historical fabric of their land. This gives those societies more grounding than those of us in North America who have had very little historical grounding. We also have traumatic thanostic amnesia about the pandemic of 1918 because people did not want to deal with the mass fatalities endured by so many families. This has resulted in deepening the death phobia that our society has.

The more harsh the type of death, the less people want to talk about the possibility of it occurring again. Yet if accurate information is not given as to the potential magnitude of the situation and a comprehensive description in detail of how death may occur, then the tendency to ignore the possibility will stay firmly entrenched. Additionally, accurate information, repeated over and over again is not done, than later during a medical crisis the trust level of the general population will be extremely low for they will feel they were not informed and we who are willing to help will not be heard through the mistrust.

It's certainly hard to be the messenger of doom and gloom of a potential pandemic.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Community Support Centers

I agree AD this would work as it did in Bulgaria, if we were not in the mist of a full blown pandemic. If we are faced with a large percentage of illness and the police force was experiencing high rates of absenteeism, we would still have to count on the average citizen to fill in the gaps. Our police force would be extremely busy just trying to keep up with the basic running of the city. Bulgaria had a controlled situation. I truly believe that during a pandemic it will be necessary for the average citizen to fill in during these times. Depending on the severity of the pandemic will depend on the extent that the police force will be available to dispense food. Door to door would be the optimal situation. My concern is, if the police force was not able to accompany the distribution process due to lack of people, this could put the average citizen in extreme danger. The lack of resource's could cause panic and lack of good judgment.

I mentioned this to show that some distribution will be necessary. The alternative would really encite people to violence. During a full-blown pandemic, people would have to police their own neighborhoods. We have near-zero police here anyhow. If I were distributing food, I wouldn't do it without some personal protection.

Goju - hopefully there would be some "extra" food available from individuals and stores. It may be a small amount - but it will sustain life. Some people here are storing large quantities of rice for that purpose. We're fortunate to have fresh wild meat to be added to that rice. Parks and game preserves may suffer a decline in edible wildlife.

.

 

[prepdeb]

Re: Community Support Centers

Ideally, everyone would receive enough warning and take enough responsibility to put aside extra food and water, but I know that some won't even if they are ordered to do so.

I would be afraid to distribute food outside of my immediate neighborhood too. We've stored enough beans and rice so that we can anonymously leave packages on the doorsteps of our neighbors when the time comes. However, I would do this when I'm not likely to be seen.

Sadly, a percentage of the human race can be brutal even when not desperate. I hope to survive this while helping at least a few others to do so as well.

 

[T. ModestoPhD]

Re: Community Support Centers

Jonesie

I have had the same sort of experience with faith based congregations throughout the world. It is not limited to one particular faith expression, far from it. It is vital that this information be given to local congregations everywhere. Last week I was invited to be a consultant at a CDC interfaith disaster agency and faith leadership briefing in Washington DC. There are many who are trying to get the information out to as many as possible. It is a HUGE job.

There is very little education available on pandemic ministry.

Frankly the only in-depth continuing education course that I know of is When So Many Die which my own course that I wrote and offer through Asbury Theological Seminary online distant learning program (www.aoi.edu). The seminary is fully accredited both nationally and regionally. If there are congregations out there that are interested in learning more about ways to address pandemic ministries on a local level then they may want to consider this course. Please in no way consider this information as advertisement in this venue but only as information resource sharing in a forum discussion.

When So Many Die course description is:

This continuing education program consists of three courses. Each independent course contains 3 sessions (Congregational, Individual or Community Issues). Course One - "Preparing for a Medical Emergency or Pandemic" focuses on pre-medical disaster education, short to long term preparation issues & development of disaster plans for congregations, individuals & the local community. Course Two - "Ministry During A Medical Emergency" explores the different pastoral & congregational ministries during a medical crisis. Course Three - "Ministering Through The Tears" provides close attention to the pastoral & congregational ministries in the grief recovery process of a medical disaster. These three courses help pastors and congregations understand the various issues that confront communities & individuals as they journey through the many issues of preparation, crisis endurance and recovery process.
Each session covers in a systematic method, specific & important aspects of a medical disaster situation. Each session will offer:
1- Discussion of the potential impact of identified issues or populations presented
2- Spiritual reflection & encouragement component in a non-denominational presentation
3- Table top exercise to consider responses to an applicational situation that encourages implementation of current learning material in concrete applicational fashion.
4- Provide further reading suggestions on the topic

INTENDED PARTICIPANTS

This series is intended for pastors, ministry teams, parish nurses, deacons & deaconesses, Stephen Ministers & community outreach service teams to learn ways of assisting in a medical disaster in a proactive applicational manner. NO prior background in medical or critical incident response education necessary.

GOALS

1- Understand the specific needs of congregations and individuals affected by a medical crisis at different times in a pandemic or medical disaster experience.
2- Reflect on spiritual issues for each phase of a medical crisis.
3- Identify special population categories & their needs / issues.
4- Review community educational outreach model including an intergenerational program for medical disaster preparation and during the grief recovery process.
5- Suggest different approaches / methods of ministry before & during a medical disaster.

OBJECTIVES

1- Help pastors, congregational teams with service ministries understand the diverse needs of individuals and communities in critical incident events.
2- Provide pastors & congregations with current information on critical incident pastoral care especially in thanatological (dying, death, bereavement & loss) issues.
3- Explore practical effective ministries for pastors, congregational teams, and community outreach ministries.

METHODOLOGY

The educational content of this course is constructed in a multi-modality process including high quality, current, critical incident and thanatological content information. Participants are provided opportunities for creative reflection response in addition to applicational activities that can be presented & shared with members of the local congregation in a collaborative format. This course is designed in a *whole and holy* frame of reference that addresses and honors the body, mind, spirit and cultural environment of the participant.

I have talked to several local church officials. Small churches. The people I have talked to are aware of the bird flu's existance overseas. That is all.
All I did was ask them one question. What is your church doing to get ready for the Bird Flu Pandemic?

ANSWER: Nothing so far.

But they all had questions and mis-givings.
They don't think bird flu is a problem that will affect us in this country.
And if it is a problem, why are there no alarming news reports on it?
And if it is going to be a problem, they are all waiting for a warning from the Federal Government before they will do anything at all.

They do not know how to address a pandemic. And they don't know the meaning of the word 'Pandemic'.
They don't know why there will be no food or jobs or utilities. They cannot get the connection.
They don't understand why their church services will be terminated.
And they cannot conceive of a hospital being swamped to closing.
And why quarantine? And why empty shelves?
Why would a water system go down?

All community centers should be first sent a written warning and info on why and how to prepare. In an envelope from a Federal Gov't Agency.
And include examples of other churches preparations (like the Lutheran church) to make it more real to them.

Then follow up the letter with a call and an invite to a meeting with other Faith-based organizations/club officials and a Gov't rep.
It should be done soon, and their assets evaluated for usefulness during a pandemic.
Some clubs/churches cannot pay their light bill and can be of no help. Some have no facilities or funds to aid anyone. Some have no volunteers.

The Lutheran church has a nice website to address the issue. And maybe there are a few more are out there.

But a Methodist church official I talked to had not seen bird flu as a problem, did not have a computer, and so it all probably ended with my conversation.
The wife of one minister of a UCC church in a small town went into a tirade as to what God's plan was for me.
Another minister asked me if this was 'the end times'.
Another said he was not going to be alarmed by the flu and would rely on his faith to see him through.

They need information, leadership and guidance.
Some are looking for government guidance, and when they do get it, will reject any advice because they distrust anything connected with government.

I think if you invite them into a group setting, but prepare them in advance with simple documents to read about a local church's preparation plan, they will be much more informed and receptive.
They need to discuss the problems amongst themselves in their own religious speak.
Once they understand the scope of the problem and see the need to protect their congregation and neighbors from illness and starvation, they will begin moving in a positive direction.

And divide the communities into grids and locate each facility within the grid.
Give them each an area to service.

The plan is very simple, but carrying it out is labor intensive, tedious and immense. This is a big country.