Disaster Case Management Pilot Program Awarded To Louisiana
Release Date: October 29, 2008
Release Number: 1603-812
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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded up to $32 million to the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) to assist with disaster case management for Louisiana families affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Hundreds of case managers from the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps (LFRC) and the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership (GNODRP) will be able to provide much-needed disaster case management assistance to thousands of families across Louisiana.
"FEMA and the State have partnered to develop this program to support the recovery of Louisiana's citizens. Through individual case management, we have the potential to help thousands of families still working to transition back to a normal life after hurricanes Katrina and Rita displaced them from their homes," said Jim Stark, FEMA's director of Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.
This is the second part to a two-phase disaster case management plan FEMA proposed to meet the ongoing needs of the Gulf Coast. It will continue through March of 2009.
"Case management provides a critical link to help our families connect to the government services and other resources they need to rebuild their lives and find safe and sustainable housing," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the LRA.
During Phase One, April 1 to May 31, 2008, FEMA provided direct Cora Brown awards to Louisiana specifically for the cases that remained open from the Katrina Aid Today (KAT) program. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) formed KAT, a national case management consortium, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to provide disaster case management services to individuals and families. KAT was funded through more than $66 million in donations from foreign countries.
The Cora Brown Fund is used as a last resort to assist families following a presidentially-declared disaster who have unmet disaster-related needs. Potential recipients do not apply for this assistance. FEMA representatives identify them through information provided from various sources, including federal, state, local and voluntary relief agencies.
In Phase Two, the Louisiana disaster case management program staff will coordinate the budget needs of their individual case management providers. FEMA has provided program guidance for the State that assists in determining the funding for the program needs. Eligible recipients for disaster case management assistance will be families living in FEMA temporary housing, families with health-related concerns living in FEMA-funded hotels or motels and families whose case management services are not yet fully completed and were in the Cora Brown disaster case management Phase One program.
Prior to the establishment of the two-phase plan, FEMA did not have the authority to implement a disaster case management program and KAT funding was exhausted. Through the partnership established with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP), a case management component was negotiated with FEMA. The Phase Two Disaster Case Management Plan is not an additional program, but will work in coordination with DHAP utilizing resources available throughout the state.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Oct-2008 14:08:36