American Red Cross Authorized Provider: Fill & Download for Free

No member of the U.S. military would ever ask a civilian to ask his commander for emergency leave. There is no such organization as military welfare services in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and USA.com is a commercial site not connected with the U.S. Armed Forces or any branch of the U.S. Government. Any email from a U.S. military agency will end in http://mail.mil (http://mail.mil).Emergency leave requests are handled through the American Red Cross whose role is to independently verify the emergency so that the soldier’s unit commander can make the decision whether to grant leave or not. The following are the procedures required in the granting of emergency leave in the U.S. Army.EMERGENCY LEAVE PROCEDURES1. SOLDIER WILL SUBMIT DA FORM 31 WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO UNIT COMMAND FOR APPROVAL. a. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: i. RED CROSS MESSAGE (IF AVAILABLE) ii. CSP ORDERS + DEPENDENT(S) PASSPORT NUMBER (IF APPLICABLE) iii. LOCO PARENTIS STATEMENT (IF APPLICABLE)2. COMMAND MAY VERIFY RED CROSS MESSAGE, LOCO PARENTIS, AND APPROVE DA FORM 31.3. UNIT S1 WILL VERIFY DA FORM 31 IS FILLED OUT CORRECTLY, ACCURED LEAVE DAYS WITH LES OR UCFR, APPROVED BY CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND PROVIDE CONTROL NUMBER. a. APPROVING AUTHORITY TO AN OCONUS LOCATION IS AN O5 OR HIGHER.4. UNIT S1 WILL CONTACT MPD AND FORWARD EMERGENCY LEAVE FORM WITH ALL NECESSARY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS VIA E-MAIL.5. SOLDIERS MAY COME IN PERSON TO THE MPD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 0800-1700 FOR PROCESSING OF EMERGENCY LEAVE REQUESTS. SOLDIERS WHO COME IN PERSON MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE FROM THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE TIMES FOR AFTER HOURS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS. SOLDIERS/UNITS MAY SUBMIT THE EMERGENCY LEAVE REQUEST BY EMAIL. ANY SOLDIER APPEARING IN PERSON, NOT ESCORTED, WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN WITH SOMEONE FROM THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND.see the following link for DA Form 31 Request and Authority for Leave http://www.armycounselingonline.com/download/Blank%20Forms/A31.PDFSo, yes the message is a fake, part of an attempt to scam the unsuspecting.

I’m a volunteer DMH (disaster mental health) supervisor for my local American Red Cross chapter in Michigan.Specific skills depend on what part of the Red Cross organization you’re applying to, for example, authorized American Red Cross and ERV (emergency relief vehicle) drivers must have a minimum of a valid driver’s license.Other organizational roles such as nursing, management, logistics, shelter operations, mass feedings, marketing, and communications need professional licenses and specialized skills.On DROs (diaster relief operations) DMH workers must present a valid professional license. Below is a copy of the American Red Cross DMH position description.Primary GAP: IDC/DMH/SAPurpose: The role of the Disaster Mental Health Worker is to serve as a member of a temporary work unit on a disaster relief operation to provide disaster mental health support to individuals and families who have been impacted by a disaster.Reports To: Primary GAP: IDC/DMH/SVResponsibilities:• Support the emotional health of individuals, families, communities and Red Cross workers through the use of disaster mental health interventions.• Assist in developing partnerships with local mental health agencies.• Facilitate long-term recovery for clients by providing disaster mental health support and connection to local resources.• Be available to provide disaster mental health support to staff as necessary.Qualifications:• CURRENTLY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: At minimum, holds a Master’s Degree in one of the mental health professions listed below; and Holds a current, unencumbered license from, or is registered with, any U.S. state or territory as a social worker, psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, or psychiatrist (any level license/registration, including non-clinical licenses such as Licensed Masters Social Worker or LMSW)• CURRENT SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS: At minimum, holds a Master’s Degree in school psychology or school counseling; and Holds a current, unencumbered license or certification as a school psychologist or school counselor issued by an appropriate state board.• CURRENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSES: Have a state license as a registered nurse; and Have a minimum of two years of experience working in a psychiatric setting, verified by a letter from a current or previous employer.• RETIRED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: Meet the above educational criteria for specified profession; and Held a license (any level license) from any U.S. state or territory as a social worker, psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist, or a certificate as a school psychologist or school counselor, within the five years* prior to on-boarding as a Disaster Mental Health worker; and maintained a license or certification in good standing upon retirement and without any disciplinary action taken by the issuing U.S. state or territory licensing or certification board.*If a prospective Disaster Mental Health volunteer has been retired for more than five years, the corresponding Disaster Mental Health Division Advisor should be consulted.• EXCEPTION: An individual enrolled in the Disaster Mental Health program prior to May 2010 who does not meet these eligibility criteria can continue to work in the Disaster Mental Health activity given good standing with his/her chapter and a positive performance history while working on local and/or national relief operations.• Good organizational skills, responsible and punctual.• Demonstrated active listening skills.• Demonstrated ability to implement Standards and Procedures and follow associated job tools including reporting requirements.• Demonstrated ability to interact with community members in a clear compassionate manner.• Demonstrated ability to involve appropriate others in managing problems and conflict.• Ability to acquire, evaluate and report information accurately.• Demonstrated ability to provide interfaith support while respecting the principles of neutrality and impartiality.• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency,high energy, and enthusiasm.• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.• Ability to lift/carry 30 lbs multiple times per shift• Ability to stand and/or site for 2 hr. periods.• Ability to walk on uneven terrain and/or walk for two miles per shift.• Ability to bend or stoop multiple times per shift• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather.• Ability to spend hours writing, speak clearly on phone, read small print for extended periods and work for long periods on computer.• Climb two or more flights of stairs• Drive in daytime and evening.Relationships: Disaster Mental Health lead and team.Development Opp: Become proficient in Disaster Mental Health. Once proficient, career development to supervisory/management positions and ability to go to disaster beyond the region.Training:• Orientation to the American Red Cross• Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview• Disaster Mental Health: Introduction• Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals, Part 1 and Part 2Furthermore, if a DMH worker wants to volunteer for the International Red Cross they must fluently speak the language of the disaster country.Not everyone can be a American Red Cross worker. In DROs, volunteers are taking on responsibilities typically performed by professional or paid staff in extremely austere and stressful situations. In my opinion, the Red Cross provides a lot of good training but nothing compensates for strong job experience.Anyone qualified and interested in volunteering for the American Red Cross, please apply at your local chapter- Become a Volunteer.

The American Red Cross is on the dole, so they’ve apparently abrogated their role. Their official statement says:“In the past, the American Red Cross has been asked by the authorities to provide services for migrant children and families, and we have inquired to see if we can assist in any way with regard to this current situation.”“But the federal government has control of these facilities, and the American Red Cross does not regularly have access to places of detention for migrants.”So… We won’t come unless we’re asked and we haven’t been asked, so we’re not coming. I’m not a fan of the American Red Cross, but yes, I think they should be asking and making a stink over not being asked. They were asked by the Obama administration in 2014. The barbarians in charge would rather do their evil in secret.Catholic Charities is slightly better. They’re running respite centers for released families. But… they’re also on the dole, so I don’t expect great moral courage from them (or from Christians generally), either.