8 

AmeriCorps Disaster 

Services Blueprint 

A Framework for Assisting State Service Commissions with 

Disaster Services Engagement 
2 

Contents 

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4 

Milestones ....................................................................................................................... 4 

Milestone 1: Educate and Promote ................................................................................. 5 

Goal ................................................................................................................................................... 5 

Internally educate staff on: .............................................................................................................. 5 

Share knowledge with partners: .................................................................................................... 5 

Learning Path .................................................................................................................................... 5 

 Online Training Courses ...................................................................................................... 5 

Optional Recommended Actions .................................................................................................. 5 

Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 5 

Documents .................................................................................................................................... 5 

Milestone 2: Identify and Assess ..................................................................................... 6 

Goal ................................................................................................................................................... 6 

Recommended Actions ................................................................................................................... 6 

Identify gaps in service by: .......................................................................................................... 6 

Assess interest and ability to support by: ..................................................................................... 6 

Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 6 

o Documents ............................................................................................................................ 6 

o Find mentorship: .................................................................................................................. 6 

Milestone 3: Select, Build, and Perform .......................................................................... 7 

Goal ................................................................................................................................................... 7 

Recommended Actions ................................................................................................................... 7 

Select Disaster Service Engagement: ........................................................................................ 7 

Build Disaster Service Engagement Action ............................................................................... 7 

Perform Disaster Service Engagement ...................................................................................... 7 

Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 7 

Milestone 4: Evaluate and Lead ...................................................................................... 8 

Goal ................................................................................................................................................... 8 

Recommended Actions ................................................................................................................... 8 

Evaluate work within the disaster service engagement example by: .................................... 8 

Improve and Innovate Disaster Service Engagement Support by: ............................................ 8 

Lead from established disaster service engagement knowledge by: ................................... 8 

Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 8 
3 

Disaster Services Engagement Examples ........................................................................ 9 

Disaster Preparedness Examples .................................................................................... 9 

Disaster Preparedness ..................................................................................................................... 9 

Disaster Preparedness Training ..................................................................................................... 9 

Disaster Preparedness Technical Assistance ................................................................................ 9 

Disaster Preparedness Messaging ................................................................................................. 9 

Program/Grant Management ......................................................................................................... 9 

Disaster Response Examples ......................................................................................... 10 

Disaster Response Actions ........................................................................................................... 10 

Disaster Response Technical Assistance .................................................................................... 10 

Disaster Response Coordination................................................................................................. 10 

Disaster Response Messaging ..................................................................................................... 10 

Disaster Response Program/Grant Management ..................................................................... 10 

Disaster Recovery Examples ......................................................................................... 11 

Disaster Recovery Actions ............................................................................................................ 11 

Disaster Recovery Training .......................................................................................................... 11 

Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance ..................................................................................... 11 

Disaster Recovery Messaging ...................................................................................................... 11 

Program/Grant Management ...................................................................................................... 11 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint Self-Assessment Tool ..................................... 13 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint Self-Assessment Tool, cont. ............................ 14 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint Self-Assessment Tool, cont. ............................ 15 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint Self-Assessment Tool, cont. ............................ 16 

After Action Review Process and Template ................................................................... 17 

Overview of After-Action Review Process .................................................................................. 17 

Best Practices ................................................................................................................................. 17 

After-Action Template .................................................................................................................. 18 

Creating an AmeriCorps Litmos Account ....................................................................... 19 

Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 19 
4 

Introduction 

State Service Commissions are valuable assets in times of disaster helping their 

communities and state with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from 

natural and man-made disasters. Since1995 national service has been there to assist 

after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, mudslides, and more. National service supports 

nonprofits, faith-based, and government agencies with their most critical needs 

before, during, and after a disaster event. 

Building, maintaining, and growing disaster service capabilities can be challenging 

for State Service Commissions. The AmeriCorps Disaster Service Blueprint has 

been created to provide a framework to assist State Service Commissions in learning, 

engaging, promoting, and leading in disaster services more effectively.

In this Blueprint, you will find: 

 Milestones Goals 

 Recommended Actions 

and Resources 

 Disaster Services 

Engagement Examples 

Milestones 

This Blueprint outlines four 

milestones with prescribed 

actions and resources for each 

milestone level. 

Additionally, you will find a selfassessment tool to help you 

better understand where your 

State Service Commission is in 

the framework and resources for 

each milestone to help you 

succeed in completing the 

milestone. 
5 

Milestone 1: Educate and Promote 

Goal 

Every State Service Commission understands common roles of national service in disaster 

and can share that information with their partners. 

Internally educate staff on: 

 Common roles of national service in disaster. 

 Roles and functions of AmeriCorps and the Disaster Services Unit (DSU). 

 Emergency management partners and how they organize. 

 Importance of engaging Board Members and other stakeholders in this education. 

Share knowledge with partners: 

 Connect with and educate local/state partners (such as emergency management 

agencies and nonprofit, and faith-based partners who work in emergency 

management/disaster services) on how national service may be able to support 

disaster preparedness, response, recovery, & mitigation locally. 

Learning Path 

 Online Training Courses 

o Introduction to AmeriCorps Disaster Services - DS101 

o National Service and Disaster Response and Recovery – DS102

o Principles of Emergency Management and Disaster Services – DS103 

 NOTE: You must already be signed into AmeriCorps Litmos for direct 

links to work. You can also search inside of AmeriCorps Litmos for these 

courses. If you don’t already have an AmeriCorps Litmos account, you 

can find the directions for registering here.

 Get Connected

o For State Service Commissions: Email DSU@cns.gov to request being added to 

the DSU distribution list and Disaster Services Commission Workgroup. 

Optional Recommended Actions 

 Schedule a time with the AmeriCorps Disaster Services Unit (DSU) for a consultation 

 Schedule meeting with Regional AmeriCorps NCCC campus to build strong 

relationships 

Resources 

 Documents 

o At A Glance: National Service Assets in Times of Disaster

 Additional Technical Assistance 

o Initial and annual consult with DSU Staff through a check-in call 

o America’s Service Commission Mentor Program 
6 

Milestone 2: Identify and Assess 

Goal 

State Service Commissions identify gaps in services within their state and assess their ability 

to support. 

Recommended Actions 

Identify gaps in service by: 

o Have conversations with DSU, AmeriCorps Regional Offices, AmeriCorps NCCC 

Regional Campus, VISTA & Senior Corps programs in your area. 

o Have conversations with emergency management agency personnel, nonprofit, and 

faith-based partners to learn what gaps currently exist in support for disaster survivors 

within your community and/or state. 

o If your state has a higher education institute that operates a school, college, or 

training program focused on emergency management, reach out to them and discuss 

their impressions of local or state gaps in services. 

o NOTE: If you have a disaster focused program, connecting with these 

institutions can also be helpful for member recruitment. 

o Review any data from partners that support their identified needs. 

Assess interest and ability to support by: 

o Review National Service Disaster Services Engagement Examples to identify what 

actions or capabilities other national service programs or State Service Commissions 

have provided within their state/communities. 

o Identify criteria for performance and assess available resources on-hand and identify 

needed resources to perform. 

o Assess interest in involvement from: 

o Board, commissioners, leadership, partners, stakeholders, and constituents. 

Resources 

o Documents 

o Disaster Services Self-Assessment 

o National Service Disaster Services Engagement Examples 

o Find mentorship: 

o Reach out to a State Service Commission that did not previously have a role in 

disaster services, identified gaps within their state, and now has defined 

disaster services roles and responsibilities. 

 Reach out to the DSU and America’s Service Commissions to make 

these connections. 
7 

Milestone 3: Select, Build, and Perform 

Goal 

State Service Commissions select, build, and begin to perform the disaster service 

engagement they identified in Milestone 2. 

Recommended Actions 

Select Disaster Service Engagement: 

 Use analysis from Milestone 2 to select most appropriate disaster service engagement 

to develop. 

Build Disaster Service Engagement Action 

 Perform planning: 

o Create program outline that provides overview of anticipated mission, policies, 

procedures, data collection tools, budgets, and other supporting documents. 

 Acquire needed resources such as: 

o Funding sources to support program development and implementation. 

o Staff to perform the disaster service engagement. 

o Specialized knowledge and skills through additional staff training with 

experienced organizations, consultants, or through the hiring process. 

o Create and build partnerships and formalize with MOU, MOA, or other 

agreements. 

o Hard resources such as equipment, supplies, technology services, and/or 

equipment, etc. 

o Engage portfolio in the service engagement action. 

Perform Disaster Service Engagement 

 Once all program building is complete, perform the disaster service engagement and 

take note of what is and is not working. 

Resources 

 Task Books 

 Position Descriptions 

 Operational Plans 

 Funding Resources 

o AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities

 Commission Investment Fund 

 Commission Support Grants 

 Volunteer Generation Fund 

o State Emergency Management Agency grant opportunities (varies by state) 
 8 

Milestone 4: Evaluate and Lead 

Goal 

State Service Commissions will continually evaluate and improve their disaster services 

engagement, develop, and document best practices/lessons learned, and share outcomes 

and expertise with partners, stakeholders, and fellow State Service Commissions. 

Recommended Actions 

Evaluate work within the disaster service engagement example by: 

 Internally and externally (with partner organizations) identify performance in disaster 

engagement activity by: 

o Conducting after action reviews (if disaster service engagement activity is 

within the disaster response or recovery phase) 

o Hold regular review meetings (can be structured quarterly, semi-annually or 

annually) to review performance within disaster service engagement activity. 

o Review situational data. 

o Review annually: 

 Agreements, roles, and expectations 

 Plans 

 Policies 

 Procedures 

 Needed resources 

Improve and Innovate Disaster Service Engagement Support by: 

 Identify internally and externally (with partners) where improvements can be made 

and where innovative solutions can be added annually or on an as needed basis. 

 Update the following documents if improvements/innovations are made: 

o Agreements 

o Plans 

o Policies 

o Procedures 

o Data collection tools and methods 

o Restock or add new resources, if needed. 

Lead from established disaster service engagement knowledge by: 

 Document and share best practices/lessons learned with partners, stakeholders, and 

fellow State Service Commissions. 

 Provide trainings on your disaster service engagement experiences at conferences, 

convenings, workgroups, or webinars. 

 Support and provide technical assistance to other commissions or national service 

programs. 

 Promote successes to partners and stakeholders. 

Resources 

 After action templates and processes 
9 

Disaster Services Engagement Examples 

Disaster Preparedness Examples 

Disaster Preparedness 

 Volunteer Reception Center, mass care support services, or other training 

 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, program 

development, or preparation 

 Readiness campaigns for the general public 

Disaster Preparedness Training 

 Coordinating training – bringing in external partners to conduct training for 

staff, members, community partners. 

 Delivering or co-delivering training with partners to staff, members, or 

community partners. 

 Amplifying training information and training opportunities from external 

partners. 

Disaster Preparedness Technical Assistance 

 Support portfolio (for State Service Commissions and AmeriCorps National 

programs), partners, and/or stakeholders with disaster preparation knowledge.

Disaster Preparedness Messaging 

 Amplifying preparedness message, information, and/or opportunities from 

other organizations. 

 Creating and distributing your own preparedness messaging, information, 

and/or opportunities. 

Disaster Preparedness Program/Grant Management 

 Managing programs or grants focused on disaster services. 
10 

Disaster Response Examples 

Disaster Response Actions 

 Disaster Philanthropy 

Coordination/Administration 

 Volunteer and/or Donations 

Management 

 Public Information Officer 

 National Service Response 

Support Functions 

Disaster Response Technical Assistance 

o Consulting, providing subject matter expertise, and/or sharing 

response-related information to your portfolio, partners, and/or 

stakeholders. 

Disaster Response Coordination 

o Mobilizing resources or assets to support disaster response actions. 

o Managing resources or assets to support disaster response actions. 

o Supporting resources or assets as they provide disaster response 

actions. 

Disaster Response Messaging 

o Amplify disaster response messages, information, and/or opportunities 

from other organizations to staff, members, or stakeholders. 

o Creating and distributing your own response messaging, information, or 

opportunities to staff, members, or stakeholders. 

Disaster Response Program/Grant Management 

o Managing programs or grants focused on disaster services for response. 
11 

Disaster Recovery Examples 

Disaster Recovery Actions 

 Volunteer Recruitment 

 Managing/Amplifying Recovery 

Resources 

 Disaster Case Management 

 Philanthropy Fund Management 

 Long Term Recovery Groups 

Disaster Recovery Training 

 Coordinating training for staff, members, other organizations, and/or 

stakeholders. 

 Delivering or co-delivering training for staff, members, other organizations, 

and/or stakeholders. 

 Amplifying disaster recovery training provided by partner organizations. 

Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance 

 Supporting portfolio, partners, and/or stakeholders with disaster recovery 

knowledge, tools, services, and/or resources. 

Disaster Recovery Messaging 

 Amplify recovery messages, information, and/or opportunities from other 

organizations. 

 Creating and distributing your own recovery messages, information, and/or 

opportunities. 

Program/Grant Management 

 Managing programs or grants focused on disaster services for recovery. 
12 

Resources 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint Self-Assessment Tool........................13-16

After Action Process and Template.............................................................17-18

Creating an AmeriCorps Litmos Account..........................................................19

Contact Information......................................................................................19
13 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint 

Self-Assessment Tool 

Use this tool to identify when you have achieved a Milestone. You’ll need to answer yes to all 

of these questions to achieve each Milestone. 

Milestone 1: Educate and 

Promote 

Yes No Comments 

We know the roles of national 

service in disaster. 

We understand the roles and 

functions of AmeriCorps and the 

Disaster Services Unit. 

We know emergency management 

partners and how they organize. 

We engage board members and 

other stakeholders in this 

education. 

We connect with and educate 

local/state partners on how 

national service may be able to 

support disaster preparedness, 

response, recovery, and mitigation. 
14 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint 

Self-Assessment Tool, cont. 

Milestone 2: Identify and 

Assess

Yes No Comments

We have conversations with DSU, 

AmeriCorps Regional Offices, 

AmeriCorps NCCC Regional 

Campus, VISTA & AmeriCorps 

Seniors on occasion. 

We have conversations with 

emergency management agency 

personnel, nonprofit, and faithbased partners to learn what gaps 

currently exist in support disaster 

survivors within your community 

and/or state. 

We regularly assess and review 

any data from partners that 

support their identified needs. 

We review and identify what 

actions or capabilities other 

national service programs, or our 

Commission has provided within 

our state/communities. 

We regularly assess available 

resources on-hand and identify 

needed resources to perform. 
15 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint 

Self-Assessment Tool, cont. 

Milestone 3: Select, Build, and 

Perform

Yes No Comments

We create a program outline that 

provides overview of anticipated 

mission, policies, procedures, data 

collection tools, budgets, and 

other supporting documents. 

We have the following resources 

available: 

 Funding sources to 

support program 

development and 

implementation. 

 Staff to perform the 

disaster service 

engagement. 

 Specialized knowledge and 

skills through additional 

staff training with 

experienced organizations, 

consultants, or through the 

hiring process. 

 Create and build 

partnerships and formalize 

with MOU, MOA, or other 

agreements. 

 Hard resources such as 

equipment, supplies, 

technology services and/or 

equipment, etc. 

 Engage portfolio. 
16 

AmeriCorps Disaster Services Blueprint 

Self-Assessment Tool, cont. 

Milestone 4: Evaluate and 

Lead 

Yes No Comments 

We conduct after action reviews

We hold regular review meetings 

to review performance within 

disaster service engagement. 

Review situational data.

We review the following annually:

 Agreements, roles, and 

expectations 

 Plans 

 Policies 

 Procedures 

 Needed resources 

We document and share best 

practices/lessons learned with 

partners, stakeholders, and fellow 

State Service 

Commissions/national service 

programs. 

We provide trainings on our 

disaster service engagement 

experiences at conferences or 

convenings. 

We support and provide technical 

assistance to other commissions 

or national service programs. 

We promote successes to 

partners and stakeholders. 
17 

After Action Review Process and Template 

Overview of After-Action Review Process 

An After-Action Review is a project review and is a vital tool in continuous improvement. This 

review asks: 

 What did we expect to happen? 

 What actually happened? 

 What went well and why? 

 What can we improve on and how? 

This review helps us identify where we’re succeeding and where we can improve. There are a 

few steps to completing a successful After-Action Review: 

 Gather and compile input from everyone engaged in planning, performing, and/or 

benefiting from the disaster service engagement. 

 Review information and decide on corrective actions. 

 Document the information and corrective actions and keep on hand for the next AfterAction Review. 

 Revise planning, replenish and/or gather new resources, modify training and job-aid 

resources, etc. 

Best Practices 

 Make it a Priority – As soon as you and your team complete the disaster service 

engagement schedule and hold the After-Action Review. Don’t wait to perform this 

process – memories can quickly fade and you want as much reliable input as possible. 

Ideally, you’d perform this at least within two weeks of completing the disaster service 

engagement. 

 The Right People – you want to ensure that this review includes input from those who 

planned, resourced, conducted, and benefitted from the engagement. 

 Setting Positive Atmosphere – You want to ensure that everyone providing input feels 

safe to speak honestly about their experiences, views, and recommendations. Remind 

everyone at the start of the input gathering session(s) that this is for the continued 

improvement, and this is a learning environment where everyone’s voice will be 

respected. 

 Designate a Facilitator and Notetaker – You want to ensure that you have an unbiased 

facilitator for the After-Action Review. Ideally, someone that hasn’t been directly 

involved in the disaster service engagement and who’s role is solely to get the most 

valuable insights from the participants. If you’re conducting the review in-person, 

identify someone from outside the focus group to take notes. If you’re conducting the 

review virtually, consider recording the session but only after you’ve informed the 

participants and gained their consent. 
18 

After-Action Template 

After-Action Review

Project Start Date: Project End Date:

Project Location:

Title of Project:

Brief Description of 

Project: 

What did we expect to happen?

What actually happened?

What went well and why? (Include processes, tools, resources, training, experience, 

etc.) 

What can be improved and how?

Next Steps Target 

Dates

Next Steps Description
19 

Creating an AmeriCorps Litmos Account 

Using the token code to access the Introduction to AmeriCorps Disaster Services 

training:

 Navigate to the Self Sign-Up URL https://americorpsonlinecourses.litmos.com/selfsignup/   

 Enter your First Name, Last Name, Email address and token Code IntroDSUTR22 

 (You will be locked out for 2 hours if an incorrect code is entered more than 10 

times from the same IP). 

o The log in email will be sent to you with the log in details. 

o Email serviceresources@cns.gov if you have any issues. 

o Once you log in, you will have access to the Introduction to AmeriCorps 

Disaster Services Training 

Note:   

 If you don’t receive the log in email, please check your spam/junk folder. 

 Hyperlinks to other DSU trainings work only when you are signed into AmeriCorps 

Litmos. 

Contact Information 

Disaster Services Unit – DSU@cns.gov 

America’s Service Commissions – Chad Driscoll, cdriscoll@statecommissions.org