Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps Program

AmeriCorps logo

Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps is a program based out of the University of Iowa College of Public Health whose mission is to increase disaster preparedness among older adults in Iowa. Members serve either within a local public health/senior service organization or with our team at the College of Public Health. Members recruit older adults and deliver our program to them, as well as work with their own and other local organizations to help promote disaster preparedness and develop resources that allow us to more specifically target vulnerable populations. 

Disaster PrepWise has placements ranging from minimum time positions during the summer to quarter-, half-, and three-quarter-time positions built around the UI academic calendar. Members can serve internally with our program staff or externally with another non-profit/public health organization with benefiting older adults and/or disaster preparedness as goals.

A presentation slide with a dark blue bar on the top fifth that says 'Host Site/Member Placements (2023-2024). Below the bar is a central box with arrows pointing in one direction out to six smaller boxes in a half-circle formation. The text in the central box reads 'University of Iowa College of Public Health (CPH), Program Director Sato Ashida, Program Administrator Maria Donohoe, Program Coordinator Nick Ostrem, Member Service Specialist: Bonnie Butler'. The text in the box on the far-left reads 'CPH-based AmeriCorps members, 75%, 25%, 25%, 25%'. The text in the next box going counter-clockwise reads 'Johnson County Public Health, AmeriCorps Member, 25%'. The text in the next box continuing counter-clockwise reads 'Heritage Area Agency on Aging, AmeriCorps member, 25%. The text in the next box continuing counter-clockwise reads 'Washington County Public Health, AmeriCorps Members, 25%, 25%". The text in the next box continuing counter-clockwise reads 'Linn County Emergency Management Agency, AmeriCorps Member, 50%. The text in the last box continuing counter-clockwise, on the far right, reads 'Linn County Public Health, AmeriCorps member, 25%

Listen to Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps Member Shahad Elnour as interviewed by KCII radio about her service and the Disaster PrepWise program.

“Serving with AmeriCorps and the Disaster Prep Wise team just felt right. I consistently experienced immense support and confidence from both my host site and PrepWise team in leading interventions, presentations, and outreaching/marketing ideas. Further, these partnerships allowed me to expand my professional communication skills and develop a fearlessness to ask questions or ask for help. I feel the presentation and networking opportunities improved my public speaking skills, and therefore my comfort level presenting to larger audiences in general, but especially regarding the importance of Disaster PrepWise. Additionally serving has increased my overall knowledge within the realm of disaster preparedness and the key systems assisting our older populations. While leading interventions has been beneficial in learning how to properly mitigate sensitive subjects/conversations for participants. My service time with Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps and Heritage Area Agency on Aging has certainly shown me what teamwork truly means, while exposing me to the definition of a healthy professional work environment I know I someday will try to pursue and replicate.”

DeLaney Frater – AmeriCorps Member

Nick Ostrem, our Disaster PrepWise program manager, spoke with Volunteer Iowa to share his experiences as an AmeriCorps member and the Disaster PrepWise Program. To read the full article click the following link:

“I hadn’t expected to do AmeriCorps, but the opportunity presented itself and the things that it offered were the things that I was looking for, actual real world job experience in Iowa City, Everything suddenly fell into place really nicely.”

Nick Ostrem – Disaster PrepWise Program Manager

Activities

  • Members give presentations to target populations to inform them about general preparedness and Disaster PrepWise
  • Members have one-on-one meetings with participants to help them develop a personalized disaster plan using the Disaster PrepWise tool
  • Members develop relationships with local organizations to help spread the word about Disaster PrepWise
  • ​Members help to create and refine resources (handouts, flyers, etc.) for the Disaster PrepWise program

AmeriCorps members at the State Capitol