Resource Assessment and Project Planning in a Practicum Project

Practicum Project 1: Project Planning Form and Resource Assessment

Persons with specific needs face barriers in receiving certain kids' support based on their societal discrimination, identity, or other relevant factors. These circumstances enforce them to be deprived of rightful services that the state is not providing them and hence remain dispossessed from enjoying their lives to the fullest like other normal citizens of the state. This paper aims to identify such at-risk or vulnerable aggregate within the population of the area where they reside. The demographics of the chose aggregate would be discussed, and disaster preparedness deficits would be identified. The agency resources would be pointed out to help this community, and the emergency management coordinator's contact would be provided. Also, some websites would be cited to address the special needs of this aggregate effectively.

Identification of At-Risk Community Aggregate

The refugee camps of Texas are selected as the at-risk or vulnerable community aggregate. The reason for selecting the Texas refugee region is that Texas, one of the most populated areas in terms of refugee residence (National Immigration Forum, 2020). Approximately 10 percent of all US refugees have been re-positioned to Texas since 2010 (McConnell, 2020). After the UNHCR and the US embassy's finalization, the refugees are sent to particular states according to their accommodation and resource capacities. The refugee re-settlement agencies help this community to settle in the specific region with basic housing, clothing, and food requirements.

Some interesting facts of this group that encouraged me to select this aggregate were that they are the ones who have left their country for certain reasons and are obligated to live in another country. The displacement can be due to conflict between the two states, state violence, or human rights violations. This characteristic is common among all the individuals of this group and hence, makes it an aggregate that is at-risk of vulnerability. This vulnerability can be seen during and after a disaster since they might have to be displaced in times of flood or other crises that cause high costs for the state governments. Sanitation, hygiene, child-protection, healthcare, and food services have to be provided for refugee aggregates, making it most vulnerable at the time of disaster.

It is mostly observed that neighboring countries give the refugees an allowance to stay within their state. Most refugees come from Congo, Burma, and Ukraine (National Immigration Forum, 2020). Refugees from Congo have outnumbered the other states since the US has strong relations with this country, especially after its independence from Belgium in 1960. However, during Trump's regime, there was a cap imposed on the incoming of refugees, before which the US was counted among one of the top countries residing refugees (Krogstad, 2019). Global events and shifting priorities of the US have kept the influx of refugees fluctuating over time.

Quick facts

Population: Texas

Percent of population under five years old: 6.9% (Census.gov, 2019)

Percent of population over 65 years old: 12.9%

Percentage of the non-White population: 21.3%

Percentage having bachelors or higher degree: 29.3%

Percentage of veterans: 17%

The median value of an owner's occupied house: $161,700

Median household income: $59,570

Percentage of persons in poverty: 13.6%

Resource Deficits Related to Disaster Preparedness

Refugees in Texas can be considered as socially vulnerable aggregates concerning natural disasters. Texas is the most prone area for natural disasters in the entire United States (NASA, 2017). There are complications that Texas refugees have to face due to certain resource limitations for disaster preparedness. They have lost their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods due to frequent disasters in Texas; however, there are many other situations wherein they could be helped before becoming victims of these disasters.

Access to accurate data about the legal rights and services that could assist them in such situations is one of the major resource deficits (GCIR, 2017). If their immigration status is not considered, they should be aware of the assistance they could get before a disaster to be equipped with appropriate needs for their survival. Cultural and language barriers also make it difficult for them to understand the actual benefits they are entitled to and cannot utilize them properly. Severe administration policies frighten them, and they could not capitalize on the variable services to the fullest. Low-income refugees find it even harder o accommodate themselves with the limited, if any, available resources or to obtain cash funding from the government mainly because they are undocumented immigrants and could not receive civil and legal rights to resources. Authorization of work and getting secured jobs to become a major hindrance for these refugees to receive and pay disaster preparedness services. Texas natural disasters make administrative matters pending and postponed for those who want to have renewed documents and hence are left unattended to gain disaster preparedness services. Even some Texas laws have created a climate of fear over the refugees as those who are not documented, city police, and universities are impeded from giving them certain rights. Recently, it has also been reported that Texas has shown harshness in providing benefits to the refugees after refusing to restore any disrupted refugee-programs for building progressive refugee communities. Mental and physical health professionals are needed for those refugees who experience trauma due to natural disasters within the said state, which also encompass cultural and linguistic barriers in the provision of quality service. The local service infrastructure seems weak in providing welfares to the refugees despite counting them as special needs aggregates. Sadly and contrarily, the low-wage immigrants and refugees are exploited for hurricane recovery work, including recovery and rebuilding.

Community/Agency Resources for Assisting the Aggregate Before, During, and After Disaster

Refugee Services of Texas and Refugee & Empowerment Services are the two agencies that could help the selected aggregate, refugees of Texas, before, during, and after a disaster. Refugee Services of Texas can serve as a guide of re-settlement before and during the disaster so that food, housing, and clothing could be provided in time for the victims (Refugee Services of Texas, n.a.). It has various programs, such as youth mentoring, which can help serve the direction for the young adults. It can also help familiarize the youth with the American and Texan culture and make adjustments within the community. This direction would help them gain new jobs during or after the disaster for serving their families in a better way.

Refugee & Empowerment Services is a similar organization working for almost the same purpose. This agency can help refugees, especially women, empower themselves for a living (Refugee Empowerment Center, n.a.). Job skill development and civic engagement would be necessary during and after the disaster so that refugees can feel connected with the communities and better gain resources required for disaster preparedness. Expansion of social and cultural support networks might help in attaining financial help during and after disasters.

Identification of Emergency Management Coordinator

The name, title, phone number, and website of the emergency management coordinator for Texas for helping the at-risk, special needs aggregate, refugees of Texas, is provided as below:

· Website:  https://stear.tdem.texas.gov/Services/STEAR/Login.aspx

· Phone: Dial 2-1-1 and press 4 to register or call 1-877-541-7905 for contacting the assigned city emergency management coordinator.

· More information on https://www.211texas.org/cms/.

· Email: [email protected] or fax to 1-866-557-1074 (Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, n.a.)

Disaster Planning Websites and Their Help in Addressing Unique Needs of Selected Aggregate

The two websites that can help in disaster planning for the special needs of selected aggregate refugees of Texas are Texas General Land Office and Texas City. Texas General Land Office would help with disaster preparations since it has a howl section on the website discussing disaster planning details. It advises knowing the risks, gathering supplies, securing important documents, making essential evacuation plans, and protecting the property before the arrival of a disaster. There is a list of weather websites given on the website so that refugees can stay updated about the natural disaster's progressions according to weather changes. There are several links for extra preparedness tips, including social media accounts to follow in times of disaster, tech readiness, flood insurance, Texas homeowner's handbook, etc. (Texas General Land Office, n.a.).

Another website, Texas City, is vital in making decisions about disaster preparedness since it provides disaster planning guidelines for families. It has a checklist of emergency preparedness and gives a plan for family engagement when a disaster strikes. Flood and tornadoes are addressed in separate sections since these two natural disasters are mostly observed in Texas. It provides further links to useful websites like preparing for disasters for people with disabilities, humane society for disaster preparedness, Texas division of emergency management, federal emergency department, disaster assistance, institute for business and home safety, and national flood insurance program, etc. (Texas City, n.a.)