Long Term Recovery Group Models

Long-term Recovery Committee (LTRC) – a formal organization made up of members of the community it serves; representing business and financial leadership, local media, community and faith-based groups, non-profit/civic organizations and city and county governments. The purpose is to coordinate and communicate the individual efforts of these - by leveraging a limited supply of resources to maximize and sustain the recovery process but INDIVIDUALLY address survivor needs.

Long-term Recovery Organization (LTRO) – a coalition or organization with formal structure;  community organizations working as a single entity to bring resources to bear on the disaster-related needs.  The purpose is to coordinate and communicate the efforts of these groups by leveraging a limited supply of resources to maximize and sustain the recovery process by COLLECTIVELY addressing survivor needs.    Source: UnitedWayNC.org |  Long Term Recovery Organization 

In other words,  a LTRG is a community based organization that encourages diverse stakeholders from all sectors to come to table  in order to nurture the development of a holistic, comprehensive, humanitarian disaster recovery strategy through a "Whole Community Approach."     

Our  LTRG's Organizational  Structure

The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) highlights that every good Long Term Recovery Group [LTRG] includes the following components:

Our  LTRG includes all of the basic components recommended by NVOAD.    However, unlike other LTRG’s our Disaster Case Management Committee is made up of two distinct parts:   

• The Case Review Committee,

• and the Disaster Case Management Round-table

The Case Review Committee & the Disaster Case Management Round Table

RCDRC’s Case Review Committee is the component of our organization that serves the function that other Long Term Recovery Groups may refer to as the Unmet Needs Committee.   In a nutshell, RCDRC's  Case Review Committee is a funding table where diverse organizations that have direct access to financial resources and other relevant assets consider well developed, vetted cases presented by Disaster Case Managers.  The Case Review Committee consists of members and non-members who focus on meeting the unmet needs of eligible disaster survivors who have been served by the Disaster Case Management process through genuine Disaster Case Management providers.  

Unlike the Disaster Case Management Round-table held during public LTRG meetings and workshops where Disaster Case Managers (DCM's) explore a range of diverse opportunities, gaps, strategies, lessons learned, and  best practices in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the services they provide, the Case Review Committee meets in a private, closed environment where DCM's individually identify the specific unmet needs of the clients that they represent while presenting a tangible, credible, eligible, verifiable, and reasonable case for funding before a review board of potential funders. 

Unmet Needs Committee & Subcommittees

Unlike other LTRG’s, our Unmet Needs Committee is not a funding table and does not review cases.   Instead, our Unmet Needs Committee consists of 3 distinct Unmet Needs Subcommittees that focus on: 

• Emotional & Spiritual Care;

• Public Health;

• and Human Services. 

Collectively the Unmet Needs Committee, Subcommittees, and attached work-groups focus on identifying gaps, opportunities, and solutions.   Through this component our diverse members, stakeholders, strategic partners, and participants develop strategies, user-friendly consumer information,  and a menu specific referral options that can address  disaster related and recovery related unmet needs through the myriad of relevant services and resources that are available to eligible disaster survivors via our collaborative network. 

Emotional & Spiritual Care

The Emotional & Spiritual Care Unmet Needs Subcommittee focuses on "addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals, families and community,  and can kindle important capacities of hope and resilience.”   Members of this Unmet Needs Subcommittee include diverse churches and faith-based organizations,  clergy and congregants, as well as other agencies, organizations, and individuals who share an interest in this focus area.    

Doing so is especially critical in our communities since Robeson was listed as the most unhealthy county in the state according the 2018 County Health Rankings and has traditionally received among the lowest Health Factors and Health Outcomes rankings over the last several years.   As such, the role of this sub-committee and its attached work-groups is to identify gaps, challenges, obstacles, barriers, resources and opportunities while developing Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible goals and objectives that can strategically and systematically address multi-dimensional disaster related public health unmet needs. 

Public Health Unmet Needs Work-groups  

• Access to Care & Medications

• Services for Vulnerable Populations

• Chronic Disease Self - Management

• Food & Nutrition 

• Substance Abuse 

• Behavioral Health 

• Environmental Health   

• Disease Prevention 

• Screening, Treatment, &  Interventions  - 

• Health Education & Promotion

• Research

Human Services

The Human Services Unmet Needs Subcommittee focuses on developing more effective and efficient ways to improve  eligible disaster survivors access to the relevant services and resources that are provided through agencies, organizations, non-profits, etc.     Collectively the members of this Unmet Needs Subcommittee provide a range of services and resources that include but is not limited to:  Transportation [ie, SEATS];   Legal Services [ ie.,  Legal Aid of North Carolina ];  Soup Kitchen & Homeless Shelter [ ie.,  Lumberton Christian Care ];  Employment [ ie, The Lumber Council of Governments - Dislocated Workers Program ];  Food Pantry, Clothing & Furniture [ ie., Robeson Church & Community Center ];  Education [ ie., The Public Schools of Robeson County ];  Energy Assistance [ ie.,  The Robeson County Department of Social Services ]; etc, 

Construction Management 

Consists of overseeing repairing or rebuilding homes to safe, sanitary, secure and functional condition.   Members, stakeholders, and participants on this Unmet Needs Subcommittee include:   NC Baptists Men; UMCOR;  Team Rubicon;  and Rebuild NC

Volunteer Management 

Volunteers are a key component to disaster response and should be managed and treated as a valuable resource throughout all the phases of disaster.

Communications 

Having a good communications strategy is essential for the success of a long term recovery group.”

Donations Management

 Responders who know how to effectively manage donated goods are more efficient at leading their community toward recovery.

Financial Controls and Reporting 

 It is the responsibility of the LTRG, along with its fiscal agent, to ensure that good financial controls are in place.