Colorado VOAD can be an instrumental resource in community recovery. Our network and members are often positioned to support communities’ recovery for years following the impact. Please review the guidance and training offered below and contact ColoradoVOAD@gmail.com to arrange any training listed or to request local guidance/support.
Disaster recovery does not have a one-size-fits-all model. Many trainings and resources point to specific frameworks—such as government-managed recovery or VOAD-managed recovery—but what matters most is that local stakeholders are actively involved and, when possible, take the lead in shaping recovery for their own community. Recovery can be incredibly complex, taking into account government declarations and programs, existing community challenges, media coverage of the event, politics, and the nature of the disaster that occurred. The tools and principles shared in this guide are meant to inform and empower—not to prescribe—recognizing that each community has its own needs, resources, and culture. That said, some established models exist because they reflect hard-learned lessons and best-tested practices, so it may be wise to adapt or adopt them where appropriate. Early decisions in recovery carry long-term consequences. VOAD-led recovery efforts often prioritize individual survivors and households facing the most significant hardship, while government-led recovery efforts tend to focus more on rebuilding infrastructure and restoring systems. Neither approach is wrong, but leaders should be aware of these dynamics and how they shape outcomes. Above all, recovery is built on relationships and trust. Much of the success of these efforts will depend on how well partners work together and how deeply communities trust their leaders. Colorado VOAD can help connect you with peers across the state and country who have experience applying these tools in real-world recovery efforts, so you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.
Recovery Guidance Documents
In our COVOAD Share Drive, within our ‘Recovery Guidance Documents’ folder, you are welcome to access and reference a variety of recovery guidance/example documents:
Website – https://bit.ly/COVOAD-ShareFiles
National VOAD – Recovery Tools Workshops
The Recovery Tools Workshop (LTR RTW) introduces the framework that a community can use to help households recover from any disaster. COVOAD can provide these trainings to community partners who need high-level guidance on community recovery.
- LTRG Communications Best Practices RTW – This 30-45 minute Recovery Tools Workshop is designed to help LTRGs share accurate, concise, and appropriate information during all the various phases of the disaster cycle. The presentation explores different media formats, relationships, and best practices to bring a better understanding of the disaster needs, issues, and resources. Good communications policies and a well-prepared spokesperson can help avoid inaccurate information, rumors being spread in the community, and build confidence in the recovery process.
- Disaster Case Management RTW – The Disaster Case Management (DCM) RTW provides local community members with an overview of how Disaster Case Managers interact with survivors (clients) to form and achieve a realistic recovery plan. This RTW session guides participants through the various types of disaster declarations, the sequence of delivery of resources, why DCM is essential, and how DCM fits into the Long-Term Recovery process. This comprehensive and holistic approach to recovery extends beyond providing relief, providing a service, or meeting urgent needs..
- Financial Management & Grant Writing RTW – The approximately 2-hour Financial Management & Grant Writing RTW helps familiarize Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) leadership and fundraisers with their responsibilities for ensuring financial resources are secured, properly managed, and reported to funders. Options for fiscal management are presented for consideration, including the steps for creating a 501(c)(3) organization and establishing a memorandum of understanding with a fiscal agent. The workshop introduces the important role grant writing can play in securing funding for the work of the LTRG. The workshop also provides insight into the process of readying the LTRG structurally and procedurally for the securing of grants from community, corporate, and private foundations, as well as from governmental entities.
- Emotional and Spiritual Care RTW – The Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC) RTW defines the basic elements of ESC and why these are essential for Long-Term Recovery planning. Emotional and Spiritual Care includes many kinds of caring gestures and encourages supportive resources to help promote positive directions. This session highlights the importance of listening to survivors and the caring organizations that serve them. ESC creates opportunities for people to tell their stories, focus on self-care, and connect with family and friends. The session also reviews the importance of the Ministry of Presence and highlights the respect for diversity in cultural and religious values and traditions by including diverse leaders in recovery efforts. The session also incorporates professional standards in care and Integrity work and the need to build relationships for referrals to local mental health professionals when necessary.
- Construction Management RTW – This Construction Management RTW covers the subjects of overseeing, repairing, or rebuilding of client homes to a safe, sanitary, secure, and functional condition. This workshop addresses areas that should be considered when operating an effective and efficient construction operation. The RTW provides an overview on the flow from Disaster Case Management through Construction Management, and includes topics such as project guidelines, code compliance, safety protocols, preexisting and deferred maintenance, flood plain and the 50% rule, mitigation practices, estimation, job site supervision, and record keeping along with other issues that may arise during this process.
- Volunteer Coordination RTW – The Volunteer Coordination RTW provides local community members with an overview of the essential role of Volunteer Management in the response phase and how it is integrated into Long-Term Recovery. Volunteers are an important resource to communities, and participants will learn the variety of tasks volunteers can contribute. This RTW discusses the types of volunteers that serve, the duties of a volunteer coordinator, how work is assigned to volunteers, and the considerations a community should include when determining how to engage and receive volunteers. This session also covers specific needs of volunteers, such as hosting, orientation, housing, bedding, meals, supplies, showers, transportation, debriefing, and more.
- Donations Management RTW – The Donations Management RTW will help the LTRG maximize donations that begin to arrive in the area as soon as the disaster occurs. A multi-agency warehouse may be set up soon after the disaster, but as the response moves into recovery, the LTRG will need to have a way to store donated items. The RTW will bring forward ways to solicit donations, equipment needed for a small warehouse, what policies and procedures need to be in place, as well as how to best work with the other subcommittees of the LTRG.
Partner Guidance
COVOAD Partner – Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) is a national organization that helps funders and communities maximize the impact of philanthropic dollars in disaster recovery. CDP provides resources, research, and training on long-term recovery best practices, emphasizing equity, local leadership, and resilience. For rural foundations and nonprofits, CDP can be a trusted guide in identifying where dollars and partnerships will make the most sustainable difference—moving beyond immediate relief toward rebuilding stronger communities. CDP offers practical tools such as the Disaster Philanthropy Playbook (a collection of strategies for funders), targeted Disaster Recovery Funds that support long-term recovery, and regularly updated Issue Insights and toolkits that highlight lessons learned from past disasters. These resources can help rural leaders quickly understand best practices and apply them in their local context.
Disaster Philanthropy Playbook – https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster-philanthropy-playbook/innovative-program-strategies/
COVOAD Partner – United Policy Holders
United Policyholders can provide a variety of guidance related to recovery, including their Roadmap to Recovery program, survivor peer support, case manager training, and legal/insurance guidance. A core component of the Roadmap to Recovery (“R2R”) program is the series of educational workshops we offer in selected regions that have been impacted by large-scale disasters. R2R workshops are led by UP staff and feature expert speakers, including lawyers, construction estimators, building department officials, tax professionals, and previous disaster survivors. Topics follow a standard curriculum and timeline, typically beginning with Insurance 101, Debris removal, Documenting Losses, and moving on to other steps on the road to recovering from a serious or total property loss, adapted to address local conditions and issues. Workshop availability is subject to funding and community support.
Website – https://uphelp.org/recovery/
Educational Videos – https://uphelp.org/media/videos/
Disaster Recovery Help page – https://uphelp.org/recovery/disaster-recovery-help/
Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Academy
The Colorado Academy for Professional Emergency Managers (CAPEM) is a dynamic learning experience focused on addressing “wicked problems” in emergency management through interactive sessions, collaborative projects, and strategic networking. Participants will explore innovative leadership, operational support, strategic partnerships, and resilience-building, culminating in a capstone project to develop solutions for complex challenges. CAPEM aims to foster dialogue around real-world emergency management challenges, enhance professional skills, and build a network of diverse emergency management leaders across the state. The State of Colorado funds this program, and there is no cost to the participant. The program runs annually from October through May. Applications must be completed by April for the upcoming academy. The prerequisites are the seven courses in FEMA’s Independent Study Professional Development Series (PDS).
Website – https://dhsem.colorado.gov/training-exercise/colorado-academy-for-professional-emergency-managers
Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Training and University
DHSEM provides training across the state on supporting AFN populations through the CMIST (Communication, Maintaining Health, Independence, Support Services, and Safety and Transportation) framework. Here are the initial courses we would encourage our partners to take:
- CO-CMIST 4000: Introduction to the Access and Functional Needs Resource Framework in Emergency Management
- CO-CMIST 4017: Moving Beyond the Buzzword of ‘Whole Community Inclusion in Emergency Management
- G0197: Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Management
Website – https://dhsem.colorado.gov/emergency-management/plans/access-and-functional-needs
Colorado TRAIN – Hosted by Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Many government-led in-person Emergency Management trainings are listed on COTRAIN. This website is where you register for in-person trainings offered across Colorado.
Website – https://www.train.org/colorado/welcome
FEMA Independent Study Training
FEMA has many free Independent Study (IS) trainings available – Here are some trainings that we encourage partners to take linked to Response and Recovery
- IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
- IS-200: ICS for Initial Response
- IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- IS-800: National Response Framework (NRF)
- IS-288: The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management
- IS-244: Developing and Managing Volunteers
- IS-505: Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency in Disaster
- IS-290: National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), An Introduction
Website – https://training.fema.gov/is/
FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) – Located in Emmitsburg, MD
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI), situated on the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is FEMA’s premier training facility—now evolving as part of the National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU). EMI delivers foundational and advanced emergency management education to federal, state, local, tribal, nonprofit, volunteer, and private sector leaders. The campus is well-equipped with classrooms, lodging, a simulation lab, and a library to support immersive, in-person learning. These trainings are offered for free to nonprofit organizations.
Website – https://training.fema.gov/emicourses/