How AmeriCorps Members Support Partner Organizations

Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps works with local organization and programs to provide training and support the implementation of emergency preparedness services. When placed with partner organizations, members support preparedness initiatives that align with both Disaster PrepWise’s mission and the partner’s existing programs.

Members may assist partner organizations by:

• Recruiting and engaging older adults in disaster preparedness programs
• Delivering evidence-based preparedness education and workshops
• Developing or distributing preparedness materials and resources
• Training members to serve vulnerable or underserved populations
• Strengthening partnerships and community integration
• Supporting local preparedness planning and initiatives

Our goal is to build sustainable preparedness capacity within communities while supporting organizations already serving older adults and vulnerable populations.

Who Should Partner With Us

We welcome partnerships with organizations that support older adults or work in emergency preparedness, including:

• Local public health agencies
• Senior centers and aging services organizations
• Nonprofit organizations serving older adults
• Emergency management agencies
• Community health organizations
• Housing or social service providers serving vulnerable populations

If your organization works with older adults or aims to improve community disaster preparedness, a Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps member may be a valuable addition to your team.

Current Partners

Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps works with organizations across Iowa that are committed to improving disaster preparedness for older adults. Our current partners include:

“PrepWise is right in line with our mission of helping people remain independent and remain in their home for as long as they can,” adds Harrison March, HAAA’s community engagement coordinator. “If there’s a disaster but you’re not ready for it, a house or living setup that was safe might not be safe for you anymore. But if you’re prepared for that disaster, you can remain in that home longer than if you weren’t ready.” – Harrison March, Heritage Area Agency on Aging

“The University of Iowa College of Public Health’s Disaster PrepWise program has had a meaningful and lasting impact on Linn County Emergency Management. Through the placement of Public Health AmeriCorps Members, our agency has expanded its capacity to educate, plan, and engage the community in ways that would not have been possible with existing staff alone. Members strengthened community partnerships, increased public awareness of Alert Iowa notifications, produced preparedness videos that broaden our outreach to new and access-and-functional-needs populations, and supported the design and facilitation of both tabletop and functional exercises. Their contributions to resource and systems development, training, volunteer management, and administrative support for our CERT program directly improved the quality and reach of our services. By advancing projects that had previously been delayed due to limited staffing, and by assisting with planning updates for high-risk facilities and stakeholder exercises, Disaster PrepWise members enabled Linn County EMA to achieve stronger preparedness outcomes and deliver consistent, high-quality services with the same or fewer resources.” – Heather Tripp, Linn County EMA

• Iowa Homeland Security​
• Iowa Department of Aging​
• Volunteer Iowa​
• County Public Health Departments: Johnson, Linn, Washington​
• County Emergency Management Agencies: Polk, Johnson, Linn​
• United Way East Central Iowa​
• United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties
• Iowa Association for Area Agencies on Aging​
• Milestones & Heritage AAA​
• Aging Services, Inc.​
• Leading Age Iowa​
• Family Caregiver Centers of Mercy​
• Alzheimer’s Association​
• Iowa Legal Aid​
• Congo Handicap​
• Hawkeye Area Community Action Program

Benefits of Partnering With Disaster PrepWise

Partner organizations gain:

• Dedicated AmeriCorps member support for preparedness initiatives
• Access to Disaster PrepWise training, materials, and program resources
• Collaboration with the University of Iowa College of Public Health
• Expanded outreach to older adults and vulnerable populations
• Opportunities to strengthen community resilience

Together, we can help ensure that community members across Iowa are better prepared for disasters and emergencies.

Become a Partner

If your organization is interested in hosting a Disaster PrepWise AmeriCorps member or learning more about partnership opportunities, we would love to connect.

Contact us to discuss how we can work together to strengthen disaster preparedness for older adults in Iowa. Please contact the Disaster PrepWise team by calling 319-946-1193 or by email at cph-prepwise@uiowa.edu