Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 9 Volunteers 163
et al.). One study found that people with certain personality dispositions,
such as empathy, become spontaneous volunteers following a crisis
(Dovidio, et al.).
Rouse and Clawson (1992) found that the majority (85%) of adult organization
volunteers were retired and over age 65 and that almost three
fourths of volunteers working with youth and 60% of older volunteers
were married. The adult organizations had nearly equal percentages of
male (49%) and female (51%) volunteers; almost all volunteers were parents
(Rouse & Clawson). Teenagers were more likely to volunteer if their
parents were also volunteers (Dovidio, et al., 2006).
In the United States, members of ethnic minorities are less likely to
volunteer than are European Americans, although the percentage of African
Americans who reported volunteering showed a dramatic increase
in a recent survey (Dovidio, et al., 2006). However, when factors such as
education, income, and other socioeconomic factors are statistically controlled,
racial /ethnic differences largely disappear (Dovidio, et al.).
Another social institution consistently associated with volunteerism is
organized religion. A recent study suggests this relationship cuts across
racial and ethnic groups (Dovidio, et al., 2006).
Survey responses indicated that both volunteers working with youth
and adult organization volunteers consider training desirable (Rouse &
Clawson, 1992).
TRAINING EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS
People in the community are untapped resources simply waiting to be
developed (Kerkman, 2003). Volunteers are a valuable resource when
they are trained, assigned, and supervised within established emergency
management systems (Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center
National Network, 2002b). Volunteers can be successful participants in
emergency management systems when they are flexible, self-sufficient,
aware of risks, and willing to be coordinated by emergency management
experts (Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network,
2002b). Community leaders need to develop such volunteers by
providing training, assigning specific roles, planning for follow-up and
retention, and creating resources for emotional support during and after
a disaster. Ideally, volunteers should be affiliated with an established organization
and trained for specific disaster response activities. In April
2002, United Postal Service (UPS), the Points of Light Foundation and