about

Interfaith Disaster Task Force

About Us

Mission Statement:

To facilitate communication, coordination, and collaboration among organizations involved in disaster preparedness and recovery, and to advocate for vulnerable populations.

Vision:

To be a recognized leader and model organization demonstrating how people of different faiths can come together in a cooperative spirit to nurture the creation of a community that will help those least able to help themselves to prepare for and respond to disasters

Bringing Recovery Organizations Together

2006 Recovery Summit (Coordination of Disaster Relief Agencies)

2007 Mental Health Summit (Creating a Safety Net)

2007/08 Interfaith Clergy Retreat (Care for the Care Givers)

2008 Katrina Recovery Summit (Funding for Case Management)

2008 Mental Health Summit (Finding Meaning Through Recovery)

2009 Mental Health Summit - (Children, Families and Communities Best Practices)

Since October 2005, IDTF has developed partnerships with more than 40 organizations. IDTF and partners:

Provided more than 40 training workshops for recovery organizations;

Assisted in the development of Long Term Recovery Committees in the lower 6 counties;

Developed a community-wide, interfaith warehouse for free building materials and home furnishings;

Successfully advocated for the Phase II grant State-administered program for renters and low income residents;

Hosted wellness and resiliency retreats for clergy and other care providers;

Hosted community-wide summits on critical issues such as case management and mental health;

“MSIDTF has a long history and under the capable leadership of Ms Avila has evolved into one of the most important resources in the arena of recovery efforts along the Coast”.

Rabbi Myrna Matsa, D. Min.

Rabbinic Pastoral Counselor

Hurricane Katrina Relief

New York Board of Rabbis in Partnership with

United Jewish Communities

Partnership Information

IDTF has worked with disaster recovery partners to address the unmet needs of families that have not recovered from Katrina. IDTF works to develop strategies for meeting those needs and identify the resources to implement new programs and services.

IDTF is an ally of the Steps Coalition whose mission is a just and equitable recovery from Katrina. IDTF is one of 34 allies in the Steps Coalition that have worked together to address inequities in the state funded homeowners grant funded through MDA. IDTF and the Steps Coalition continues to advocate for a funding source for homeowners with wind damage and increasing the number of affordable rentals on the Gulf Coast. IDTF is an advocate for the return of $570 million in CDBG funding to Housing that was diverted for an expansion of the State Port of Gulfport

In a partnership between the University of South Mississippi and IDTF, the two organizations have worked to address the emotional and spiritual health needs of pastors and their congregations after the disaster. Dr. Jamie Aten and Dr. Sharon Toppings have utilized their research with African American clergy to assist IDTF in the development of programs and outreach to clergy across the region. With Professor Toppings and Aten’s assistance, IDTF received a grant to develop the Clergy and Mental Health Partnership which is designed to equip clergy to provide disaster related spiritual and emotional care for their congregations and surrounding communities. John Hosey serves as our Clergy/Mental Health projects coordinator developing strategies to build collaborative partnerships surrounding clergy and mental health clinicians to serve the needs of vulnerable communities. This partnership is reflective of IDTF's commitment to the Gulf Coast issues related to recovery and preparedness in disasters.

Katrina Recovery

The effects of Hurricane Katrina have been especially difficult for the poor, the elderly, and the vulnerable. IDTF has played a critical role in bringing people, ideas, and resources together over the past several years to focus on solving the problems that the most vulnerable residents face. The challenges of recovery and rebuilding will continue for several years to come. Issues surrounding health care and mental health are just a few of these unmet needs. IDTF will be there bringing recovery organization together until recovery is complete.

With local non-profit and faith-based organizations and many other organizations arriving on the Coast after Katrina, IDTF personnel worked untiringly to ensure that collaborations were formed and that these groups provided complementary services rather than duplicating or supplanting one another.

Carol Buchanan Jones, PhD, NCC, LPC

Director, Project Relief/Mississippi Counseling Association

Director, Psychology and Counseling

William Carey University, Coast

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