MCIDTF History and Role in Disaster Response and Recovery

MS Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force (MCIDTF) was formed in 1980 as a Long Term Recovery Committee to respond to the needs of MS Gulf Coast citizens following hurricane Frederick . They also provided services to the community after Elena in 1986, and Georges in 1998.

In early 2006 MCIDTF reactivated to respond to Katrina. Soon afterward, government agencies, faith groups, aid agencies, and volunteers began arriving by the thousands to join Coast residents in recovery efforts.  MCIDTF played a major role in coordinating these efforts.

After recovery was underway, MCIDTF changed its mission to reflect the size and scope of this disaster. The staff worked to develop partnerships with faith-based and community-based disaster recovery organizations to both create an effective regional response to Katrina and to prepare communities for future disaster events.

Recent accomplishments include organizing four two-day Mental Health Summits (in 2007, 2008 and 2009, 2010) aimed at increasing resiliency, awareness of potential clergy/clinician partnerships, and preparedness strategies for crisis response networks, that annually drew an average of over 300 participants (e.g., mental health professionals, clergy, disaster relief workers), MCIDTF also spearheaded two Katrina Recovery Summits (2008 and 2009) that saw an average of  350 participants who brought attention to and advocated for the unmet needs of vulnerable coastal citizens and disenfranchised communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.  MCIDTF also coordinates a bi-monthly learning collaborative that brings together mental health professionals, clergy, community leaders, and disaster relief professionals for training and networking to address the unmet needs of coastal communities and work together to provide solutions that address these needs utilizing collaborative efforts.

MCIDTF is currently working with its partners to address the short and long term impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill Disaster on coastal residences. As a member of South MS Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster it played a key role in the Summit’s organization and coordination. MCIDTF is working with  local partners to determine necessary resources for assisting citizens impacted by the Oil Spill Disaster.

Collaboration

The strength of MCIDTF is found in its wide range of collaborative partnerships with a variety of non-profit, faith based and community partners. MCIDTF has worked to bring people and organizations together to resolve unmet needs, prepare for and respond to disasters and provide training opportunities that help assist coastal communities in recovery efforts. 

Since its reactivation in 2006, MCIDTF has played a key role in convening meetings between government agencies, faith groups, aid organizations, and volunteers to provide a true collaborative approach for supplying a broad range of necessary resources for coastal residents. 

As recovery efforts for Katrina have wound down, MCIDTF has focused on preparing coastal communities for future disasters, while addressing unmet needs in underserved communities and vulnerable populations that existed prior to and were exacerbated by Katrina.  Particular attention is given to the needs of faith based communities that play such a vital role in response and recovery issues related to disasters and community crisis events.  It is our goal to resource community faith groups with support and training to enhance their ability to respond to the needs of their people and the communities they are seeking to serve.

These efforts will include continued work with local stakeholders by bringing them to the table to insure a diverse representation from all coastal communities. To ensure this diverse representation, MCIDTF will work to build a broad network representative of congregational leadership from the three  counties of Mississippi. The network will provide local clergy with training, retreats, pastoral care education and information on accessing health services in the region. Congregations across the MS Gulf Coast will be supported by our organization in their efforts to promote disaster planning that addresses the unique needs of faith groups and building collaborative partnerships with other organizations who serve the needs of citizens across the coast in a time of crisis. 

Opportunities for Members of the Clergy Network

• MS Coast Clergy and Mental Health Clinician Partnership funded by the Foundation for the Mid South (connecting communities with care)
  

• Emotional and Spiritual Care Training for Clergy
  

• Congregation Disaster Care Coordinators Training
  

• Psychological First Aid and Crisis Intervention Training (October, 2010)
  

• MS Coast Primary/Mental Health Collaborative meeting (Bi-Monthly on the fourth Friday)
  

• Community Wellness Conference (May, 2011)
  

• Access to member organization of the South MS Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SMVOAD)
  

• Interfaith Clergy Retreats (October).
  

• Pastoral Care Courses
  

• Consultations with seasoned Pastoral
  

•      Counselors
  

• Interfaith Pastors Conference (2011)
  

• Address Current Community needs by providing relevant forums/workshops
  

• Partnership with MS Power to provide weather-proofing materials and training for coastal home owners (September, 2010)
  

• Payday Lending Scams Education (September, 2010)
  

• Health Care Advocacy (October, 2010)
  

• Health Fairs
  

• Preparedness education and handouts
  

Disaster Preparedness is Vital for all Congregations

Disaster preparedness is more than just having the right items ready in your Disaster Kit. The faith community is a part of a larger extended family that requires special preparedness training that can reduce the stress associated with a crisis event in your community. When disaster strikes the community looks to the local houses of worship for support. MCIDTF can help your congregation prepare for these crisis events.

Partners and Resources

Project Funders

Jewish Federations of North America

Dietel Partnerships

Foundation for the Mid South

Mississippi Power

Mississippi/Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

MS Coast Foundation

MSCIDTF Collaborative Organizations

American Red Cross (South MS Chapter)

Bay Area Food Bank

Boat People SOS, Inc

CARRI - Community and Regional Resilience Institute

Coastal Family Health

Gulf Coast Substance Abuse Task Force

Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Non-Violence

Hope CDA

Jewish Federations of North America

Journey Counseling and Consulting (Hattiesburg, MS)

Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi

Memorial Behavioral Health

Mental Health Association of Mississippi

Mississippi Chaplains Association

Mississippi Commission for Volunteers

Mississippi Counseling Association

NAACP

International Relief and Development

Open Doors Homeless Coalition

Presbyterian Disaster Relief

Reach NOLA (Tulane University School of Medicine)

Relevant Ministries, Inc (Nelson Roth/Mennonite Pastor)

Save the Children

Singing River Health Systems (Behavioral Health)

Steps Coalition, Inc

United Methodist Church (Seashore District)

UMCOR -  United Methodist Disaster Response of Mississippi

United Way of South Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

Veterans Administration -  social services/mental health/homeless vets (Biloxi, MS)

And many Faith Communities Across Mississippi Gulf Coast

MS Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force

Click Here to Meet our Staff

contact jmhosey@msidtf.org for information on this site  all rights reserved www.msidtf.org

To enhance disaster preparedness, recovery, and resiliency on the Mississippi Coast by strengthening the ability of faith-based organizations to meet the needs of their constituents and those who are most vulnerable.