Training Opportunities

• CERT Team Training (Below)

• On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents. NIMS training is currently available as a FEMA Independent Study Course (IS-700). To enroll in this course go to: FEMA Independent Study.

• Incident Command training is being developed and offered for a variety of disciplines, including Federal Disaster Workers, Public Works, Law Enforcement, and Public Health. All of the ICS training offered through these courses is consistent. However, the various versions include examples and exercises specific to each of these disciplines. ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). To enroll in this course go to: FEMA Independent Study.

• Hurricane Preparedness Planning for Businesses (Acrobat pdf document)

• The Baytown Citizen Police Academy - is a unique learning experience conducted by the Baytown Police Department. It is designed to give citizens a better understanding of the operation and mission of their local Police Department. Each class covers a different topic; areas include patrol, criminal investigations, crime prevention, and traffic enforcement, use of force, narcotics, communications, and gangs among other topics. Classes meet each Thursday evening from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. If you are interested please contact Stewart Beasley at 281-420-6662 or stewart.beasley@baytown.org.

• Farmers Insurance of Houston is providing a "Preparedness Program" for local Houston communities, organizations and businesses for personal emergency preparedness. This 30 to 45 minute instructional program shares resources and information to encourage businesses and individuals to become better prepared for all types of emergencies. For information on how you can task advantage of this free initiative program please contact: Mary Ann Fordyce at info@houston-firesafety.org or 281-627-2008.

• The Greater Houston Area Red Cross offers training and volunteer opportunities for all ages. Whether you want to become a trained American Red Cross volunteer, acquire skills for a new job, or enhance your current skills, you can depend on Red Cross to offer quality and consistant training. All courses require preregistration, and space is limited. Classes are held throughout our 18-county area. Course Schedule.

• A new online presentation is now available at www.redcross.org/beredcrossready to help prepare individuals for emergencies at home, at work and in their communities. The presentation includes sound narration throughout, as well as streaming video of key first aid skills, including conscious choking and CPR. Visitors to the site can also download an emergency preparedness kit shopping list and key steps in making an emergency plan.

• First Aid CPR certification (approximately 9 hours) is being offered by the Red Cross.
  Please contact the Red Cross for the next available class.

• Individual Preparedness & Response: A Quick Guide. (Acrobat pdf document)

• The SAFE KIDS Greater Houston Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations are located throughout the county, make an appointment today. (Acrobat pdf document)

• Bellaire Fire Department Citizens Fire Academy - The academy provides an opportunity for you to become familiar with the operations of the fire department. The academy is a total of eleven weeks and is held on every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 9:00pm with three classes held on Saturday. If you are interested please contact the station at 713-662-8202 or you can e-mail the coordinator at dtittel@ci.bellaire.tx.us.

• Jersey Village Police Department Citizens Police Academy - The academy provides an opportunity for you to become familiar with the operations of the police department. The academy is a total of eleven weeks and is held on every Tuesday evening from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. If you are interested please contact Joyce Undershill at 713-446-2100.

• RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, is reaching out across Harris County to help children improve their reading skills. Through consistent and caring interactions with senior mentors, children’s self-esteem, attitude towards learning, and skills improve. RSVP, in partnership with Junior Achievement, Aspiring Youths, Houston ISD, Humble ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and Pasadena ISD (HOST program), is seeking senior volunteers to work with children during or after school. If you’re “young at heart” and want to see children succeed, thirty minutes of your time, once a week, is all it takes! -- The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program matches the skills and desires of senior volunteers, age 55 yrs. or better, with critical community needs. Contact Barbara Melnik, RSVP Program Coordinator, for information about RSVP’s “Young at Heart” tutor program or to learn more about the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available through RSVP at 713-729-3200, ext. 3227 or at bmelnik@jcchouston.org.

• Volunteers Needed: To give tours at Houston TranStar. If you are interested in providing tours at Houston TranStar please contact Dinah Massie Martinez, Public Information Officer, at 713.881.3244.

• The Texas Center for the Missing offers a Missing Child Awareness, Prevention and Education Program which is designed to raise awareness about the social issues surrounding missing children. Parents, concerned citizens and child service providers will be taught how to minimize the risk that children will be lost or abducted; abduction prevention techniques are discussed, as well as what to do if a child is abducted; and a parent’s role in prevention and search efforts. To learn more please contact Melissa A. Hulin at 713-314-3673 or mhulin@tcftm.org.

• The Harris County Public Library’s adult literacy program needs literacy tutor volunteers, who assist adults in reading at a grade 0-5 reading level, as well as volunteer English as a second language tutors (who assist adults new to the United States) at many Harris County Public Library branches. Training and materials are provided for new volunteers at no charge. More information is available at www.hcpl.net/literacy/literacy.htm. If you are interested you have other questions about the library’s adult literacy programs, please contact Steve Zack at 713-749-9035 or by e-mail at szach@hcpl.net.

• Crisis Chaplain Training will be held at Houston TranStar March 28-29, June 27-28, September 26-27, and December 5-6, 2008

• 300 volunteers are need to assist with our local evacuation exercise on Tuesday April 29, 2008 from 5:30pm until 8:30pm. It will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center Hall A. Free lighted parking will be available in a designated area TBD. Dress casual and please wear comfortable shoes for walking. Bring drinking water and a snack if needed. There will just in time training for this project.
  • 10 Volunteers are needed to help as “Sky Caps” in the bus reception area. Requires ability to lift and carry evacuee baggage and should be in good health.
  • 15 Volunteers are needed to help as “Greeter/Screeners”. Requires personable individuals with the ability to communicate and interact with a diverse population. Multi-lingual highly desired.
  • 25 Volunteers are needed to help as “Registrar” inside the reception area. Requires personable individuals with the ability to communicate and interact with a diverse population and have typing/computer skills. Multi-lingual highly desired.
  • 250 Volunteers are needed to participate as "evacuees." Families welcome.

  If you are interested in volunteering for this exercise please go to www.volunteerhouston.org and under “Menu” click on “Volunteer Opportunities” click on the calendar and go to April 29. Click on the Mock Evacuation Drill volunteer area you are interested in. In order to sign up for this project you will need to register and log in to the system. This system helps us know exactly how many volunteers have signed up.

CERT Team Training is being scheduled at the following locations:

• Aramco CERT Team training will be hosted at the Aramco Services Building, 9009 West Loop South. The training is open to employees of Aramco as well as other employees who work in the Aramco Building. Classes will be held on Monday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., beginning May 19 and ending July 14, 2008 (no class May 26). For registration and information please contact Jim Cotton at Jim.Cotton@aramcoservices.com or 713-432-8138.

• Tomball CERT Team training will be held at Tomball Fire Department, 1200 Rudel, Tomball, Texas 77375. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting September 9, 2008 and ending October 28, 2008. To register contact Lisa Griffin at lgriffin@ci.tomball.tx.us or 281-351-7101.

• Greenspoint Area CERT Team Training will be held at the Harvest Community Center, 17770 Imperial Valley Dr., Houston, TX 77060. The training is free and open to the community. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, beginning June 21 and ending August 16, 2008 (no class July 5). For registration and information please contact Jacqui Goudeau at Jacqui_g@harvesttimechurch.net or 281-877-8888, ext. 3614.

• Spring Area CERT Team training will be hosted by Spring Assistance Ministries at the Timber Lane District Bldg., 2615 Ciderwood, Spring, TX 77373. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., beginning May 27, 2008 and ending July 15, 2008. The training is open to the community and surrounding area. To register and for more information contact Debbie McCabe at maycert@comcast.net or call 281-353-4480.

• City of Humble CERT and surrounding Areas Team training will be held at Humble Fire Department. Station #1, 108 W. Main Street, Humble, TX 77338. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning May 6, 2008 and ending June 24, 2008. The training is open to the community and surrounding areas. To register contact Carole Chambers at 281-446-4928, 281-446-3960(fax) or cchambers@cityofhumble.net.

• Northside CERT Team Training will be held at the Moody YMCA, 706 Moody St., Houston, TX 77006. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, beginning May 7 and ending June 25, 2008. For registration and information please contact Jason Cisneroz at Jason.Cisneroz@cityofhouston.net or 713-247-2003.

• Fort Bend County CERT Team training will be held at Fort Bend County OEM, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, TX 77469 (Fort Street & Third Street). Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning May 6, 2008 and ending May 29, 2008. To register contact Michael Kahlenberg, Fort Bend County at kahlemic@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

• Fort Bend County CERT Team training will be held at a location TBD. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning June 3, 2008 and ending June, 26, 2008. To register contact Michael Kahlenberg, Fort Bend County at kahlemic@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

• Fort Bend County CERT Team training will be held at a location TBD. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning Aug 7, 2008 and ending Sep, 25, 2008. To register contact Michael Kahlenberg, Fort Bend County at kahlemic@co.fort-bend.tx.us.

• Heights House CERT Team Training will be held at the Heights House, 1950 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, beginning April 23 and ending June 11, 2008. This class is closed to residents and personnel of the Heights House. For further information contact Renee Biggs at 713-880-1441 or heightshouse1@gmail.com or Laura Griffin at 713-962-9075 or berylmarkham2000@yahoo.com.

• Denver Harbor CERT Team training will be holding a "Spanish" class at the Denver Harbor Center at 6402 Market Street at the corner of Henke Street, Houston, Texas 77020. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., beginning April 10, 2008 and ending May 29, 2008. The training is open to the community ages 18+. To register or for more information, contact Andres Ortiz at gunnyortiz@comcast.net or 713.672.2931 after 7pm, or Tara Smith at birdita@yahoo.com or 713-894-8460.

• Kingwood Area CERT Team training will be held at St. Martha Catholic Church, 3703 Woodland Hills, Kingwood, TX 77339 (Woodland Hills & Oak Shores Dr). Classes will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning April 7, 2008 and ending June 2, 2008. To register contact Joe Gadus at kingwoodcert@aol.com.

• La Porte CERT Team training will be held at City of LaPorte OEM, 3001 North 23rd Street, La Porte, Tx 77571. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning April 29, 2008 and ending June 17, 2008. To register contact Kristin Gauthier @ 281-470-0011 or GauthierK@laportetx.gov.

• Somebody Cares America CERT Team training will be held at 5005 W.34th Street, Houston, TX 77092. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., beginning May 8, 2008 and ending June 26, 2008. To register please contact Tania Hernandez at 713-621-1498 or Tania@somebodycares.org.

• Cy Fair area CERT Team training will be held at Lone Star College Cy Fair, 9191 Barker Cypress Road & West Road Cypress, TX 77433. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings 6:00pm-9:00pm, starting March 26, 2008 and ending May 14, 2008. To register please contact Bob Fitzgerald at firefighterbob8@aol.com or 832-472-8603.

• G.R.A.C.E. Community Services CERT Team training will be held at 2626 South Loop West, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77054. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., beginning March 25 and ending May 13, 2008. To register contact Marva Lawrence at gcs@gracecommunityservices.org or 713-839-9300.

• G.R.A.C.E. Community Services CERT Team training will be held at 2626 South Loop West, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77054. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., beginning June 17 and ending August 5, 2008. To register contact Marva Lawrence at gcs@gracecommunityservices.org or 713-839-9300.

• G.R.A.C.E. Community Services CERT Team training will be held at 2626 South Loop West, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77054. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., beginning September 9 and ending October 28, 2008. To register contact Marva Lawrence at gcs@gracecommunityservices.org or 713-839-9300.