#5 More Red Cross Classes

Hi there,

Me again. Took the last of my Red Cross classes yesterday.
Can't tell you how happy I am to be done with them.

First class was taught by a fellow who's grasp of english was limited, and who's thick accent was very difficult to cut through. Second class was taught by a cranky loud woman who spoke rapid fire, and went so quickly through filling out the necessary forms, that many in the class had trouble keeping up with her. Quite a contrast.

Yesterday's class was Family Services. Taught by a man who
absolutely droned. Ai yi yi,...it was like torture. It was one of
those: how many words can I use over and over and over again to
describe this one teeny tiny element of what you need to
know....before I move on to the next teeny tiny element which I will
describe to you in the minutest detail, using the largest possible
number of monosyllabic words that I am familiar with? He exhausted
us.

Also more endless forms. I was shocked at the lack of
computerization in a major agency such as this. One gigantic
cartoonish form measuring about 12"x18" even had carbon paper.
Carbon paper????

One of the forms though was very high tech. As has
happenedin the past, some people show up after a disaster with counterfeit
forms, trying to scam money. In response, they have developed a form
that when you squeeze a certain marked portion of it, it changes
color to verify its authenticity.

Some people left. It was that dreadful. I figured that If I
couldn't live through these three classes and instructors, then I
would be pretty pathetic when any real hardship comes up. Like
someone losing their temper at me because I wasn't understanding
their needs quickly enough. That will happen... I am guessing. Maybe the classes are a test...lol

I did learn a lot though. I learned that the Red Cross is a
bureaucracy, and like any bureaucracy, it is encumbered by rules and
regulations. Most of them for good reason. Some of them a bit
nonsensical to a left leaning Californian.

I also learned that the Red Cross is a short term emergency stop gap. They provide money,food and shelter only...and that is temporary. They also assess
needs, and direct clients to more long term services.

Clients are processed in as an individual or a family. If a
family, the acceptable structure is strict. A spouse for example, is
only recognized as such if the couple is legally married. Parents of
children have to be their birth parents or their legal guardians. I
have no idea how the heck we will be dealing with common law
spouses,grandmas raising kids, aunties who are really just old family
friendsraising kids etc....

Having been to the south many times, I know that those arrangements abound. we were also told that homosexual or lesbian couples would be processed separately. Its all in the legality I was told.

It was a little confusing at times. For some reason it seemed
that we could place a non legally related couple in the same bed,
but were to provide separate beds for same sex couples. One attendee
after hearing that commented, "So... we are not promoting
homosexuality, but we ARE promoting promiscuity?" Our instructor was
proved to be a little unclear on some subjects.

Good stuff: No client pays for anything. We try to find them
housing equivalent to what they lost, feed them, and give them
money.We actually provide them with a credit card that has a daily limit.

Oh...they can't buy guns or alcohol with the card or it will be
cancelled. Damn...don't you hate it when that happens?

The Red Cross collects information on missing prescriptions,
medical or mental problems, and connects the clients to the
appropriate agency. Sounds like they do a lot of coordinating. All
of this lasts however for only a two week period, with the idea being
that by that time, the client has been connected with more long term
agencies to help their continuing needs.

Other things: The clients' privacy rights are paramount. We do
not give out names. Non residents may not enter shelters, or get any
information about any client. Inquiries are processed and delivered
to the individual client so that he or she can contact the person or
not. If immigration officials come to the door looking for someone
that they know is with us, we turn them away with no information
given. We protect the clients above all.

Informing us about the other agencies that work disasters, one
of the questions the instructor asked was, "what does FEMA do?"...He
got almost universal laughter as a response, and many shouts of ,
"nothing!". Several pointed out that it was not a good question to
ask just yet, and someone else pointed out that as far as she knew,
at least no arabian horses have been known to have died in the
floods.

Note: FEMA is having some serious problems getting its act
together, and the director's last job was as the head of an arabian
horse association. However, all of the agencies are having some
problems. Yesterday OXFAM arrived to help. Their last deployment was
the tsunami. They usually help underprivileged countries..Oops.

So still no deployment, but the Los Angeles RC has begun
processing families here, that are arriving from the gulf as of
yesterday. 190 processed so far. I am volunteering for that over the
weekend. My friend David who went with me to the first class
received a deployment call yesterday, asking if he could leave in two days.
Turns out David is 6'3", and used to be with the Peace Corps.

That's it for now. I have made pals with some classmates, and
weare all frustrated by the seeming slowness of it all.We will all
continue to hurry up and wait. I will keep you posted on the
progress, or the lack thereof.


Take care,

Lisa