PLANNING FOR DIVERSITY: EVALUATION OF A VOLUNTEER DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAM

Area of Science:

• Disaster response
• Volunteer management
• Sociology

Background:

• The US population is rapidly diversifying, alongside an increase in disaster frequency and severity.
• Current disaster response organizations often rely on homogenous volunteer bases, limiting their effectiveness.
• Diversifying volunteer pools is crucial for enhancing program reach and serving a wider range of disaster survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an organization's efforts to diversify its volunteer base geographically, ethnically, and linguistically.
• To identify organizational needs for successful volunteer pool diversification in disaster response.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative evaluation of a disaster response organization's diversity initiatives.
• Interviews with program leadership to understand challenges and successes.

Main Results:

• The organization identified a need for clearer organizational communication regarding the definition and rationale of diversity.
• The organization recognized the necessity of implementing targeted volunteer recruitment strategies to meet diversity goals.

Conclusions:

• Effective disaster response requires volunteer pools that mirror the diversity of the populations they serve.
• Clear communication and strategic recruitment are essential for organizations aiming to diversify their volunteer base.