american muslim community-crisis response guide

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This guide is created in hopes of helping American Muslim communities understand how to effectively respond to both

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Page 1: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide
Page 2: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction II. What is a Crisis Response Strategy? III. Why is it Important to have a Crisis

Response Strategy?IV. What are Some Types of Crises I

should be Concerned about for my Community?

V. Setting Up a Crisis Response Team VI. Standard Response StrategyVII.Resources

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Page 3: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

I. Introduction

This guide is designed to help provide you the understanding of how to

protect your community from various crises and dangers that may affect your

community. These crises and dangers can be both man-made and natural

disasters. The purpose of this guide is to help you create a crisis response

strategy to help respond to these crises and dangers in an effective manner.

II. What is a Crisis Response Strategy?

A Crisis Eesponse Strategy is a strategy or plan of action for your masjid or

organization to respond to various community crises and dangers that may

impact your community. This strategy will allow you to mobilize your local

resources in your community to help protect your community from harm and

keep your community members safe.

III. Why is it Important to have a Crisis

Response Strategy?

The American Muslim community faces several challenges that must be dealt

with in an effective, swift, professional and timely manner. Many crises and

dangers if simply responded to in a timely manner can avoid the problem

turning into a larger problem that may hurt your community further. From

hate crimes to natural disasters to community members asking for financial

assistance it is important for a community to build up its capabilities to

respond to these requests.

Not having a crisis response strategy can ultimately hurt your community and

organization in the long run and can potentially open up your community to

various dangers and make your organization and community vulnerable to

various dangers and disasters.

IV. What are Some Types of Crises I

Should Be Concerned about for My

Community?

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Page 4: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

Here are a couple of major crises and disasters that your community should

be prepared to respond to:

A. Natural Disasters (floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.)

B. Man-Made Disasters (hate crimes, violence, domestic violence, disease,

etc.)

C. Financial Disasters (unemployment, medical expenses, etc.)

V. Setting Up a Crisis Response Team

A Crisis Response Team should consist of dedicated volunteers in the following

roles. Each of the team members would be trained and given the resources

and tools to respond to various crises in your community. These team

members would have committees under them to help assist them in

responding to crises.

A. Disaster Relief Director

The Disaster Relief Director would be responsible for overseeing all

disaster relief efforts in the local community and work with local relief

agencies to provide disaster relief for the local community. The Disaster

Relief Director would be provided training along with the Disaster Relief

Team in disaster relief response, CPR and other essential trainings.

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Page 5: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

B. Media/PR Director

The Media/PR Director would handle all media requests for your masjid or

organization. This would include issuing press releases, statements,

engaging with news outlets and developing relationships with local news

outlets and journalists.

C. Legal Director

The Legal Director would handle all legal matters and advise the masjid on

any legal matters. The Legal Team would support the Legal Director.

D. Healthcare Director

The Healthcare Director, ideally a physician would head the healthcare

efforts of the masjid and the broader community. The Health Director

would be assisted by the Healthcare Team.

E. Social Worker

The Social Worker would be responsible for responding to all cases

regarding families and children. This will include providing support and

resources to help community members get temporary financial assistance

and employment. The Social Worker will be supported by the Social Work

Team.

F. Counselor

The Counselor would be responsible for providing counseling and therapy

services to masjid community members. The Counseling Team would

support the Counselor and devise a strategy of how to respond to

counseling and therapy requests.

G. Security Director

The Security Director would be responsible for creating a strategy to help

ensure the safety and security of all masjid community members on

masjid premises. This would include training and hiring security officers for

masjid security, providing surveillance of masjid premises, and other

security support. The Security Director would be supported by the Security

Team.

H. Civic Engagement Director

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Page 6: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

The Civic Engagement Director would be responsible for all relationships

with all local elected officials and would be responsible for creating

meaningful and strategic relationships with local elected officials and also

helping train and educate the masjid community members about the

importance of civic engagement. The Civic Engagement Director would be

supported by the Civic Engagement Team.

VI. Standard Response Strategy

The following would be the standard response strategy for any crisis:

All crises would be referred to the respective Director and his/her team to handle.

Dependent on the severity or an immediate need/request the team would assemble

quickly to address the manner.

VII. Resources

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Page 7: American Muslim Community-Crisis Response Guide

A. DART (Disaster and Relief Training)-Islamic Relief

B. I Am Change Workshop-MPAC

C. Mental Health First Aid Training-Muslim Wellness Foundation

D. ReThink Media Media Trainings-ReThink Media

E. Domestic Violence First Aid Training-Peaceful Families Project

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