Ready, Set, Go: Recruitment, Training, Coordination, and Retention Values for All-Hazard Partnerships

All-hazard partnerships have the potential to expand the capacity of a community's ability to be ready, set and able to go in disasters. The Citizen Corps Council is an example of an all-hazards organization, which exists across the United States. Although the membership of each organization might change slightly, an essential similarity remains the partnership of trained volunteers working alongside first responders. One approach to gain insight into the organizational dynamics of the partnership is to identify shared core values. Members validate values through an Appreciative Inquiry process, which encourages story telling about the organization. This essay documents values associated with recruitment, training, coordination and retention elements of an all-hazards team. Recommendations for incorporation of identified value statements into all-hazard organizational campaigns for example, will likely resonate with prospective members.