Page Contents

Intro | Decision-making Body | DAT | CAT | Activity Lead (local) | Group Lead (Local) | Local and DSHR (Supervisor, Manager, Administrator, DRO Director, Disaster Reserve)

Introduction

Most of us start out our volunteer work with a strong desire to be of service, but with very little Red Cross training and experience. Over time, we take training classes and perform work in our chosen activity or activities. After acquiring a certain amount of knowledge, some volunteers are interested in advancing within the volunteer organization. Each advancement path has its own training and experience requirements.

Most leadership positions are filled by application to the chapter, Service Area, or National Review Board. The exceptions are DAT and CAT promotions, which are approved by the Team Leader or Coordinator, depending on the position to be filled.

In the DSHR system, promotions are referred to as Reassignments.

Promotion decision making body

DAT or CAT Leader or Coordinator

• MIT
• DAT
• DAT Relief Leader
• DAT Leader
• Citten
• CAT
• CAT Leader

Chapter Review Board

• DSHR/Local Activity promotion (Reassignment) to Supervisor
• DSHR promotion to Operations Management/Chapter DRO Director
• Local Activity Lead
• Local Group Lead
• DAT Coordinator
• CAT Coordinator

Service Area Review Board

• Reassignment to Manager
• Reassignment to Operations Management/Multi-Chapter DRO Director

National Review Board

• Reassignment to Administrator
• Reassignment to Operations Management/National DRO Director
• DSHR Reserve

DAT

Requirements: Requirements Page | pdf info

Forms

• MIT Application Form: Word (fillable), PDF Form
• DAT Application Form: Word (fillable), PDF Form

Procedure

In order to advance to the next DAT level, you must provide proof that you have completed the minimum requirements, and your advancement application must be approved by your immediate DAT supervisor. Start with the forms listed above.

Assistance with the DAT promotion forms can be obtained from your DAT supervisor, the Coordinator of Disaster Volunteers, or the Emergency Services staffing office

CAT

Requirements: Requirements Page

Forms: [need form]

Procedure

In order to advance to the next CAT level, you must provide proof that you have completed the minimum requirements, and your advancement application must be approved by your immediate CAT supervisor. This proof and approval are accomplished with the CAT promotion form for the desired level. Forms are currently under construction and will be posted when completed.

Local Activity Lead

Requirements

• Requirements are specified in the Position Descriptions located in the Document Library

Forms

• Applications forms are a work in progress and will be posted in the Document Library

Procedure

• Review the Activity Lead Position Description for the chosen activity and write a narrative describing your qualifications for the Position
• Review and fill out the application form, if available, for the position
• Sign the Position Description and the Application Form
• Gather any supporting documentation you believe is relevant to your application, including outside training documentation and evidence of outside experience.
• Submit the the above to the ES Staffing Office, Attention Victoria, PO Box 3200 N Vancouver Ave, Portland, OR 97208

Local Group Lead and Assistant Group Lead

Requirements

• Requirements are specified in the Position Descriptions located in the Document Library

• Forms

• Applications forms are a work in progress and will be posted in the Document Library

Procedure

• Review the Activity Lead Position Description for the chosen activity and write a narrative describing your qualifications for the Position
• Review and fill out the application form, if available, for the position
• Sign the Position Description and the Application Form
• Gather any supporting documentation you believe is relevant to your application, including outside training documentation and evidence of outside experience.
• Submit the the above to the ES Staffing Office, Attention Victoria, PO Box 3200 N Vancouver Ave, Portland, OR 97208

Local and DSHR

Local promotion (reassignment to Supervisor, Manager, Administrator) is the same as the promotion process for DSHR. Disaster Responders must be in the DSHR system to qualify for these promotions, even if they only serve as responders locally.

Requirements. Reassignment requirements for DSHR positions are included in the Activity Requirements and Resources document

Procedure. Advancement through the DSHR System is called Reassignment by National HQ. The forms and procedures are determined by National and can be found on CrossNet. You can also get the forms from the Staffing Office or from the links below to the Document Library on this web page. If you come in to the office to get the forms, please make an appointment so you will be sure to find someone available when you come in.

Forms Required

• OTC Reassignment Procedures
• Reassignment Request Checklist
• Reassignment Request endorsed by DSHR Administrator (for Supervisor or Chapter DRO Director)
• Reassignment Request endorsed by Chapter (for Manager, Administrator, Multi-Chapter DRO Director, and National DRO Director)
• Migration Record
• DSHR Profile (current)
• Competency evaluation signed by applicant's supervisor (Supervisor, Manager, Administrator, DRO Director)
• Recommendation letter from chapter (for Manager, Administrator, Multi-Chapter DRO Director, and National DRO Director)

Supervisor and Chapter DRO Director (Chapter Review Board) Procedures

(This info is also available in the OTC Reassignment Procedures document in the Document Library)

Member Responsibilities

• Member discusses promotion options with his or her supervisor (for example: DAT Leader, Activity Lead, Group Administrator)
• Member meets with the DSHR Administrator or CDV to review requirements for Reassignment to the next level and receive advice about steps to take and documentation to provide. Member is provided with the Tasks and Competencies for the specific activity and for the new position, and with any other forms that may be required.
• Member gathers the necessary documentation to demonstrate overall competency in each Activity task and specific competency in each Supervisor task. Competency can be demonstrated using a combination of Disaster Response training and experience, external training, and life experience. Documentation could include: DSHR Evaluations, Chapter Response experience, national disaster response experience, external recommendation letters, external training documentation, etc.
• Member requests (or generates from LMS) a printout of the member’s chapter training and assures that all training received has been entered. If the member has taken additional training outside the chapter, the member confirms that documentation of that training has been placed in the member’s DSHR/Chapter file.
• Member requests a copy of the member’s DSHR profile and confirms that all training courses available for entry into the DSHR database have been entered. The member should also review the rest of the profile to confirm its accuracy.
• Member fills out the following
  • The back of the ARC DSHR System Life Experience and Competency Evaluation for DSHR Supervisors detailing the member’s life experience as it relates to the Reassignment Request.
  • The top part of the DSHR System Management Reassignment Request.
• Member prepares a narrative summarizing the member’s experience in the Activity and detailing how each of the competencies is demonstrated by the documentation.
• Member submits the ARC DSHR System Life Experience and Competency Evaluation for DSHR Supervisors or Chapter DRO Director to his or her supervisor for completion of the front portion of the form.
• Member requests a meeting with the DSHR administrator or CDV to discuss the promotion and go over the application packet.
• DSHR Administrator and Member meet and review the documentation, competencies, and training.

Chapter Review Board Responsibilities

• The Review Board at its next meeting reviews the Reassignment Request packet, completes the bottom portion of the Reassignment Request form, and delivers the form to the DSHR Administrator.

Manager, Administrator, Multi-Chapter DRO Director, National DRO Director (National Review Board)

Same as above except:

• Member fills out the top of the two page Reassignment Request required by the National Review Board
• Member Requests a letter from the chapter recommending the member for the specific position, including a summary of how the member qualifies for the position. This is especially important if most of the member’s experience is local and is not reflected in their DSHR Member Profile or DRO Evaluations.
• Chapter Review Board endorses the application and forwards the packet to National, or does not endorse the application and informs the applicant.

Disaster Reserve

Requests for Disaster Reserve status are made directly to National HQ. See CrossNet for more information.