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FOIA Number: 2013-0661-F (2)
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
National Service
Series/Staff Member:
Rick Allen
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OA/ID Number:
2148
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ACTION/VISTA [Volunteers in Service to America] [2]
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66
2
2
1
Performance.
Consultants to Higher Education
4649 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 302
Coral Gables, Florida 33146
305/667-1004
UNITED
VISTA
WAY
OF DADE COUNTY
In Service to South Dade
The United Way I VISTA
Partnership
Hurricane Recovery Project
June 17, 1993
An Evaluation Report by
Dr. Dabney G. Park, Jr.
Performance.
3920 Durango
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305/445-2842
1. Introduction
Hurricane
During the early morning hours of August 24, 1992, Hurricane
Andrew
Andrew swept ashore in South Dade County, wreaking
immeasurable havoc and creating the largest immediate and
ongoing need for volunteer assistance the nation has ever
seen. In economic terms, Hurricane Andrew was by several
orders of measure the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history
(over $18 billion in damage to insured properties, not to
mention properties that were not insured). In social terms,
Andrew blew the cover off of an ongoing, chronic problem of
poverty in South Dade County and overnight created an
immense new pocket of crying needs. Architect and town
planner Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk told Secretary Henry Cisneros
that the hurricane "left us overnight with suburban
deterioration to rival the urban deterioration in inner city areas
in the North." Cisneros later wrote President Clinton that the
rebuilding effort would take at least three and possibly as
many as five years.
The United Way's
The United Way of Dade County quickly swung into action to
Response
help meet the needs of the people most directly affected.
Under United Way Executive Director Harve Mogul's
leadership, the Volunteer Center began mobilizing and
coordinating volunteers for service in South Dade. Within a
few weeks, the United Way submitted a proposal to
ACTION/VISTA for support for an extensive hurricane relief
effort. The proposal was funded in record time, and by mid-
October, the VISTA program began taking shape.
The Fall
The United Way mounted this relief and rebuilding effort in
Campaign
spite of the fact that its annual Fall fund-raising campaign was
seriously set back by the storm, its aftermath, and its impact on
many of the companies and people who have supported the
United Way of Dade County over the years. Thanks to the
outstanding support of some key corporations and individual
leaders, the campaign goal was eventually reached. But this
outcome seemed virtually impossible to reach in September and
early October, when the United Way chose to concentrate on
serving the needs of the people stricken by the hurricane.
A New Model
The crucible of Hurricane Andrew forged a new model of
for Service
United Way / VISTA service to poor communities. This model
uses VISTA volunteers to leverage the work of other
volunteers; it is neighborhood-based; and it involves
coordination with a wide range of social service agencies.
United Way Report
Page 1
Questions About
This new model has achieved outstanding success in meeting
the Future
the needs of hurricane relief and rebuilding. Both the United
Way and VISTA need to consider whether to continue the
program into a second and possibly more years. The model
has been so successful in meeting the needs of South Dade
that the question has been raised as to whether it should be
replicated in other poor communities in Dade County, such as
Liberty City and Wynnewood. At the same time, the new
model has raised a host of important questions about the
mission and focus of both United Way and VISTA.
Evaluation of
Because of the success of the United Way / VISTA program
the United Way /
and because of the many critical questions this experience has
VISTA Program
raised for both agencies, the United Way determined that a
systematic evaluation of the program with a focus toward the
future was in order. To carry out this task, the United Way
contracted with Performance, Inc., a consulting firm based in
Coral Gables. Dr. Dabney Park became Project Manager for
the United Way / VISTA evaluation.
Sources of Data
This report summarizes the findings and issues identified by Dr.
for This Report
Park in his review and evaluation of the United Way / VISTA
project. Sources of information for this analysis included the
following:
The original grant proposal to ACTION / VISTA
The Project Director's reports on accomplishments of these
goals and objectives.
The VISTA Activity Database, an ongoing list of projects
completed.
Minutes of the VISTA volunteers' weekly staff meetings.
The VISTA Flash, a weekly project summary.
Participation in and notes from the VISTA volunteers' team-
building retreat
File of letters and quotes from volunteers and sponsors.
Publicity file.
Channel 10 video clips.
Tour of South Dade sites benefiting from VISTA work.
Telephone interviews of selected heads of United Way-
funded agencies.
The Method
The method used for this evaluation report involved collecting
and analyzing anecdotal and statistical data, interviewing some
key people, formulating observations, and raising questions
and issues for the future. Throughout the process, the United
Way's commitment to Total Quality Management was taken
into account, and where possible the data and conclusions
have been presented in a manner consistent with TQM.
United Way Report
Page 2
2. Original Goals and Project Structure
Original
The United Way started the VISTA effort with an outstanding
Goals
proposal to ACTION/VISTA which conceptualized the entire
project and provided its organizational structure. This
proposal, which was funded, established the mission and
outlined six major goals for the United Way / VISTA Project:
Mission Statement
The mission of the United Way / VISTA Hurricane Recovery
Project is to design and implement a plan to assist low income
South Dade communities affected by Hurricane Andrew
through advocacy, direct aid, volunteer mobilization, and
interfacing with other agencies.
Goals
1. Management/Supervision. To launch the United Way
volunteer coordination effort to support the immediate
and long-term Hurricane Andrew recovery programs in
South Dade, using VISTA resources.
2. Logistics. To design, develop, and implement volunteer
support of the Hurricane Andrew recovery effort in
South Dade through the coordinated efforts of the
VISTA teams.
3. Social Services. To establish and maintain
communications with all community-based organizations
active in the South Dade recovery effort throughout the
VISTA project year.
4. Corporate Marketing. To communicate with local,
state, and national organizations and corporations to
mobilize human and material resources for the Hurricane
Andrew recovery effort.
5. Systems. To design, develop, and implement an efficient
information and communication system for the VISTA
project.
6. Communications. To organize volunteer activities and
promote volunteer accomplishments of the VISTA United
Way Volunteer Center South Dade recover effort.
United Way Report
Page 3
Project
To accomplish these goals, 14 VISTA volunteers were recruited
Structure
(see Appendix A). Upon arrival, they were assigned to one of
five teams: Marketing, Systems, Logistics, Social Services, or
Communications (see Appendix B). Working through these
five teams, the VISTA volunteers recruited other volunteers to
work in South Dade, determined specific needs in specific
neighborhoods, coordinated the flow of information, matched
volunteers to needs, and kept the United Way and other
agencies and community people aware of their presence and
their ability to provide support for hurricane relief and
rebuilding. These activities where outlined in a flow chart
designed to show how the teams would interrelate (see
Appendix A).
Goal
Ms. Emme Pedinielli, United Way / VISTA Project Director, and
Accomplishment
the Systems Team have kept thorough records of project
activities and have written quarterly reports to ACTION/VISTA
detailing the accomplishment of each of the goals and
objectives listed in the original proposal. These reports
demonstrate without doubt that the VISTA project has
delivered on target and within the deadlines anticipated. The
present report does not attempt to cover this same ground.
Instead, this report is directed toward the overall outcomes of
the United Way / VISTA project, its impact on other agencies,
and its short-term and long-term future.
United Way Report
Page 4
3. A New Model for Social Service
The New
Essentially, the United Way / VISTA project has created a new
Model
model for social service--one not fully developed in the same
way in any other location. Each of the elements of this new
model exist in other locations, but the combination of elements,
which accounts for the strength of the model, appears to be
unique. The basic elements of the new model are described
below.
Mobilizing
VISTA volunteers mobilize other volunteers in the service of
Other Volunteers
poor communities. From time to time, and especially during the
week, United Way / VISTA volunteers have performed direct
services for people and institutions in South Dade, but their
primary focus has always been on making effective use of the
work of other people who volunteer to serve.
Neighborhood
Insofar as possible, VISTA projects are neighborhood-based.
Focus
VISTA volunteers working in the field oversee several
neighborhoods. Working within defined areas, they are able to
determine specific, strategic community needs that can be met
by the volunteers mobilized by the VISTA marketing team.
VISTAs have also made some efforts to coordinate the work of
other United Way and non-United Way agencies to ensure
that specific community needs are met. In this way, VISTAs
and the volunteers they mobilize play a significant role in
community development.
Non-Specific
VISTA volunteer projects do not require or make extensive use
Skills Used
of skilled labor. For this reason, it is possible to recruit people
with a wide range of skills (or no specific skills) to help raise a
tent city or put in a playground.
Project
VISTA volunteer efforts are oriented primarily toward projects,
Orientation
while the volunteer efforts of other groups are directed to the
needs of individuals. For example, ICARE (the Interfaith
Coalition for the Andrew Recovery Effort) primarily serves
individual, uninsured or underinsured homeowners; CCSA
(Christian Community Service Agency) and other agencies
serve the social service needs of individuals.
Deployment
VISTA volunteers are deployed directly by the United Way
by United Way
itself, instead of by its funded agencies. In Memphis, for
example, VISTA works with the United Way to provide
volunteers for its funded agencies.
United Way Report
Page 5
A Combination
Through this combination of elements, the United Way / VISTA
of Elements
project is able to provide service of extraordinary value to the
people of South Dade in their effort to recover from the
devastating effects of Hurricane Andrew and to rebuild their
communities. This program represents the opposite of an effort
to come into these communities from outside to "do good" by
telling local residents what they need. Instead, the United Way
/ VISTA program is driven directly by local needs, as defined by
the neighborhoods in which the project is most active. In this
process, the two TQM-related principles of decentralization (or
local control) and empowerment are brought to fruition. The
focus on projects and on one-day service works well for both
out-of-town and local volunteers. Many people in the
community can give a day, especially when they do not need
many specific skills to do the job.
Contribution
The neighborhood focus of the United Way / VISTA project is
to Community
probably its strongest feature and the aspect of the program
Development
that deserves most attention in terms of replicating this work in
other communities. Before the hurricane, the so-called
"communities" of South Dade were in fact represented little
more than residential geography--they were not "communities"
in any real sense of the word. In a paradoxical way, the
response of these stricken communities to the tragedy of
Hurricane Andrew has for the first time mobilized them around
common objectives and empowered them to take charge of
their own futures. The United Way / VISTA project has played
a vital role in supporting and encouraging this indigenous
community development in various neighborhoods in South
Dade.
United Way Report
Page 6
4. Activity Database
Sources of
Valuable information about the United Way / VISTA project
Information
comes from a number of sources. A tour of the area and
interviews of VISTA volunteers are essential. Participation in
the VISTA retreat was also useful for gaining a perspective on
the program and the effort to manage and focus a team of such
diverse people working in so many different places. The
Channel 10 video clips have recorded many of the most
important volunteer events.
The Activity
However, the most useful data about the United Way / VISTA
Database
project comes from the list of activities kept by the Systems
Team since November. Data has been kept on when events
occurred, whether volunteers are local or from out of town, on
groups which have supplied volunteers, on the types of
institutions assisted, on locations where activities took place,
and on the type of work accomplished. This database provides
quantifiable evidence of the number of people involved and
the range of project activities for the six month period
between mid-November 1992 and mid-May 1993. (See
Appendix B for the number tables summarizing the database.)
Qualifications
Like most databases, the VISTA Activity Database is
About the
incomplete. Almost every organization in Dade County that
Database
was involved in hurricane relief found it virtually impossible to
count activities and people during the first few months. The
United Way / VISTA project was no different. A review of the
database indicates that records were kept spottily in November
and December, and began to show more regularity after
January 1. It appears that the database is slightly more
accurate each month up to the cutoff date for this study (May
15). Discussions with the Systems Team resulted in a
conservative estimate that the database describes 75-80% of
the activities which took place during the six months from
November to May. If this is true, then the real activity was 20-
25% higher than is revealed by these figures. The mix was
probably about the same. For this reason, the figures given
below for percentages are reasonably accurate.
United Way Report
Page 7
Activities Not
The VISTA Activity Database leaves out some very important
Counted
services performed by project volunteers. In particular, the
database was not used to record the political relations work
carried out by VISTA Volunteer Aundrella Hamed or the wide
range of support for individuals coordinated by VISTA
Volunteer Vashti Duff at the United Way Homestead Help
Center. Nor does it deal with other United Way but non-
VISTA activities, such as the Help Center trailer and events
coordinated by the United Way Volunteer Center. Other
recent work is not accounted for the database, including the
establishment of neighborhood support groups and the
development of a network of Haitians focused on a variety of
issues, but most especially their concerns about public schools
and job training. Nor does the database record the estimated
1,800 days of volunteer time contributed by the VISTA
volunteers themselves during this sixth-month period. Not all
of these activities fit neatly into the pattern of facilitating other
volunteers to spend one day at a time in hurricane relief and
rebuilding, but they are obviously of enormous value in
contributing to community development.
The Value of
These qualifications about the VISTA Activity Database make
the Database
it clear that, while the information is not complete or fully
accurate, it errs by understating rather than overstating the
enormous volume of activity carried out through the United
Way / VISTA project.
United Way Report
Page 8
Total Events
VISTA volunteers organized and managed a total of 174
and Volunteers
events involving 2,465 volunteers during the six months from
mid-November to mid-May, averaging 14.2 volunteers per
event. February, March, and April were the months with the
highest level of activity. Note that for November and May,
only half of each months is counted. Chart 1 raises a
question as to how many volunteers can be deployed on a
sustained basis.
CHART 1
RUN CHART No. of Volunteers by Month
500
450
428
400
400
340
300
206
200
110
60
100
0
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
M
Mar
Apr
May
For the Period Nov. 15 thru May 15
Volunteers by
Volunteers were counted as local (primarily Dade County) or
Place of Origin
out-of-town. The out-of-town volunteers accounted for
almost 60% (59.7%, to be exact) of the total. Just over 40%
(40.3%, or 994) of the volunteers were local. Examination of
the monthly data shows that the heavy out-of-town
contribution during the peak months of February, March, and
April disappeared during the first two weeks of May. It is
possible that some of the out-of-town volunteers have
withdrawn to regroup and come back for the Summer.
However, it is also possible that the out-of-town volunteer
pool has dried up significantly.
United Way Report
Page 9
Groups Participating
VISTAs recruited their volunteers through various community
in Five or More
groups. Seven of these groups, including VISTA itself, were
Events
regular volunteers, participating in five or more events. Chart 2
shows that two groups which supplied primarily out-of-town
volunteers accounted for almost 40% of the volunteers
recruited among the repeat groups. The question here is what
happens if and when Habitat and the Lutheran Disaster
Service no longer field volunteers for deployment by United
Way in such large numbers.
CHART 2
Vol Groups in 5 or More Events
PARETO CHART
HABITAT FOR
27.6%
HUMANITY
LUTHERAN
16.8%
DISASTER
CAREFORCE 10
6.5%
UP WITH
5.1%
PEOPLE
UNIVERSITY
4.2%
OF MIAMI
GLENDALE
3.5%
FEDERAL
VISTA
3.2%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
Percent of Total Regular Vois
United Way Report
Page 10
Volunteer Groups
Almost all of the volunteers came from some community group
by Type of
or other. Fewer than 1% were individuals without group
Sponsor
sponsorship or attachment. Habitat for Humanity (at 27.7%)
and Churches (22%) were the largest supplier of volunteers,
followed by Corporations (17.5%) and College volunteers
(10.8%). Chart 3 shows that the VISTA project has not been
dependent on a few primary sources of volunteers, but instead
has drawn from a wide variety of sponsoring groups. The
question suggested by Chart 3 is whether corporations and
educational institutions can sustain the flow of volunteers,
once the churches and Habitat for Humanity dwindle in
numbers or become otherwise deployed.
CHART 3
Vols by Type of Sponsor
PARETO
Habitat
27.7%
Churches
22.0%
Corporations
17.5%
Colleges
10.8%
Schools
6.6%
Up With
5.1%
People
Serv Clubs
3.9%
Soc Serv Orgs
3.1%
Youth Groups
1.8%
Individuals
0.9%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
United Way Report
Page 11
Types of
When it comes to the work accomplished by volunteers
Institutions
enlisted through the United Way / VISTA project, the database
Assisted
shows that more than half the work (58.7%) was directed
toward institutions or multi-family housing projects. A
significantly large percentage of volunteer days (41.3%) were
spent on repairing individual homes. Chart 4 demonstrates
that, other than housing repair (single and multi-family), the
remainder of the work was spread evenly over assistance to
day care centers, social service organizations, churches,
schools, parks, and other institutions. The questions raised by
Chart 4 are when the housing repair work will be completed
and whether the demand for volunteers will continue once
this need is met.
CHART 4
Institutions Assisted
PARETO
Housing
52.3%
Day Care
13.0%
Soc Serv Orgs
7.5%
Churches
7.3%
Schools
6.5%
Parks
4.3%
Mig Camps
4.1%
Dis Relief Grps
3.3%
Support Grps
1.2%
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
United Way Report
Page 12
Type of Work
The database also contains information about the type of work
Accomplished
accomplished. As expected, reconstruction and housing
support claim a major share of the work done, although the
cleanup work was often focused on housing as well. Cleanup
and reconstruction (which involves light repair, not permitted
contracting) took up almost 74% of the volunteer days. This
finding reinforces the focus of the United Way / VISTA project
on one-day, low-skill projects that produce significant results
without extensive training of volunteers. Chart 5 shows that
the remaining work was fairly evenly distributed among
community/social events, social services, education/day care,
and miscellaneous. The question here is similar to the
question raised by Chart 4, and that is whether the demand
for volunteers will continue once the housing repair need is
satisfied.
CHART 5
Type of Work
PARETO
Reconstr
41.2%
Cleanup
32.6%
Social Events
9.7%
Housing
6.4%
Soc Servs
6.0%
Misc
3.4%
Edn/Day Care
0.7%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%
United Way Report
Page 13
Volunteer Work
Finally, the database contains information about where the
by Neighborhood
work was done. The neighborhood focus of the United Way /
VISTA project is apparent in these data, which show that 10
neighborhoods or communities were targeted by volunteers.
Chart 6 shows a fairly widespread distribution of assistance by
neighborhood. Geographically, these neighborhoods are
spread from one end of the stricken area to the other. A
question which might be raised by this data is whether a
sharper focus on fewer neighborhoods might be desirable in
the future.
CHART 6
Location
PARETO
Perrine
24.1%
Homestead
13.4%
Richmond
12.9%
Heights
Naranja
10.5%
Florida City
8.8%
Goulds/Prince
8.6%
ton
Leisure City
4.3%
Miami
2.1%
South Mia
1.8%
Heights
Cutler Ridge
1.0%
0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%
Quantity
Again, it is important to remember that the 2,465 volunteer
of Service
days accounted for in the United Way / VISTA Activity
Database amount to about 75-80% of the volunteer days
actually worked during the six month period studied. The total
estimated volunteer days worked is about 3,200. When this
figure is added to the 1,800 VISTA volunteer days, the total
number of days worked during the six month period is
approximately 5,000. This represents a total of about 20 full-
time people for one year. Based on the VISTA Volunteer
payroll of $180,000, each volunteer day actually spent in the
field cost about $18.00.
United Way Report
Page 14
The Volunteer
Volunteers who have served with the United Way / VISTA
Experience
project have reported in glowing terms on their experience.
Offering a volunteer experience that leaves the volunteer
feeling well-employed and productive is important for
encouraging both local and out-of-town volunteers to
continue to participate. For the United Way, the ability to
ensure a good volunteer experience in a significant element in
expanding its role in volunteer deployment.
The United Way /
By any measure, the United Way / VISTA contribution to the
VISTA
Hurricane Andrew relief and rebuilding effort in South Florida
Contribution
has been substantial. Without this support, the stricken area of
South Dade would be much farther behind in its effort to
recapture what existed before the hurricane. But more
importantly, the volunteers mobilized by VISTA have been
deployed in the service of the affected neighborhoods in a
way that has empowered the affected communities and
supported the development of indigenous leadership. This
offers the prospect that, in the long run, these communities
could be stronger than they were before the storm changed the
face of South Florida.
United Way Report
Page 15
5. Issues for the Future
Framing the
Even though the United Way / VISTA Hurricane Recovery
Issues
Project has demonstrated outstanding success, the experience
raises some important issues and questions for the future. The
intent here is not to make specific recommendations, but to
raise the key questions and issues, to offer insight on some of
them, and to frame the decisions that might be made by project
management, the United Way, and ACTION/VISTA. Almost all
of the questions listed below can be answered affirmatively.
Some questions will be easier to answer than others, and
implementing program changes will be easier in some areas
than others. However, taken together, positive answers to the
questions below will add up to significant changes for the
VISTA Hurricane Recover Project, for the United Way, and for
ACTION/VISTA.
United Way Report
Page 16
Issues for the VISTA
SUPPLY OF VOLUNTEERS
Hurricane Recovery
Project
1.
Can a substantial volume of volunteers be recruited so
that a significant level of volunteer work will be
sustained over the period when they are needed?
2.
What happens if religious organizations such as Habitat
and the Lutheran Disaster Response group no longer
send volunteers?
3. Can enough local volunteers be recruited from
corporations, schools, churches, and other nonprofit
organizations to make a difference?
4. Can the United Way / VISTA project work with
interfaith organizations to encourage Dade County
churches begin to play a significant role in fielding
volunteers?
5. Can the Dade County Public Schools mobilize students,
teachers, and parents as weekend volunteers?
6. Can corporations be tapped for one-day volunteers in a
way that will support rather than diminish financial
contributions from employees?
SERVICE OFFERINGS
1.
How long will the need for help with cleanup,
temporary construction, and housing repair continue?
2. Can one-day VISTA-deployed volunteers play a
significant role in support of ICARE, Habitat, and other
organizations which focus on new housing and on
rebuilding homes that were not insured or under-
insured?
3. Can volunteers with non-specific skills be effectively
used to do other things, including support of schools,
parks, and other institutions and the development of
neighborhood support groups?
4. If the priorities for the services offered by VISTAs and
the volunteers they mobilize change, what priorities
should be selected for the next three months? Six
months? The next year?
United Way Report
Page 17
Issues for the VISTA
GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS
Hurricane Recovery
Project (con't)
1.
VISTA he been strong in six neighborhoods. Can
project efforts be more narrowly focused to provide
more help for fewer neighborhoods?
2.
Can the neighborhoods be more clearly and specifically
defined? Can more information be gathered in a more
systematic way about the institutions and homes in each
neighborhood? Can pockets of extreme poverty be
more directly targeted?
3.
Can neighborhood definition also support and
encourage work with ethnic groups which have
particular needs (such as, for example, the Haitians)?
United Way Report
Page 18
Issues for the
1.
Should the United Way be in the business of direct
United Way
service to clients? Or should direct service be the
business of the agencies funded by the United Way? Is
direct service within the United Way's mission and
goals?
2.
Can the United Way afford to get into the business of
direct service? Can the United Way afford to stay out
of the business of direct service?
3.
Is there a legitimate service niche in the deployment of
one-day, occasional volunteers with non-specific skills
that fits the United Way better than its funded
agencies?
4.
Should the United Way continue to use VISTA
volunteers to support its work with one-day
volunteers?
5. What should be the relationship between the VISTA
Hurricane Recovery Project and the United Way's
Volunteer Center? Should these two entities be
merged? Should they be coordinated more effectively?
6. What role should the United Way, through the
Volunteer Center and/or through the VISTA project,
play in the next hurricane? Should the United Way
accept responsibility for coordinating all volunteers in
Dade County when the next diaster strikes?
7. What potential positive impacts on fund-raising might
result from the United Way's involvement in direct
service? How could these positive impacts be
maximized?
8.
What potential negative impacts on fund-raising might
result from the United Way's involvement in direct
service? How could these negative impacts be
minimized?
9.
What potential positive impacts on relations with United
Way-funded agencies might result from involvement in
direct service? How could these positive impacts be
maximized?
10.
What potential negative impacts on relations with
United Way-funded agencies might result from
involvement in direct service? How could these
negative impacts be minimized? How can the United
Way / VISTA project avoid duplicating the work of and
competing with its funded agencies?
United Way Report
Page 19
Issues for
1.
Does the United Way / VISTA Hurricane Recovery
ACTION/VISTA
Project in fact represent a significantly new model for
serving poor communities in America?
2.
Does this project carry out the mission and goals of
ACTION/VISTA in an effective way? Does it offer
maximum support to local, poor communities for a
minimum of resources?
3. Given the 3-5 year recovery period noted by Secretary
Cisneros, should VISTA continue to support hurricane
recovery work through the United Way project?
4. Should ACTION/VISTA support the United Way's effort
to prepare itself for a major role as county-wide
coordinator of volunteers should another disaster
strike? Should the development of a disaster-
preparedness plan including United Way and VISTA
volunteers be a part of a second-year project?
5.
How does the United Way / VISTA Hurricane Recovery
Project relate to plans for a national service corps and
for literacy volunteers? How does this project tie in
with the evolving mission of ACTION/VISTA?
Overall
1.
If the neighborhood-based focus of the United Way /
Issues
VISTA Hurricane Recovery Project represents a new
and exceptionally effective way to address the needs of
local, poor communities, should this model be replicated
in other poor communities in Dade County? In other
cities? If so, how can this happen?
2.
How can the United Way / VISTA project expand its
work in leadership and community development? Can
more work be done to train VISTAs, occasional
volunteers, and especially community people in
leadership and community development skills and
techniques?
3.
How can the project, the United Way, and
ACTION/VISTA increase their contributions to the
empowerment of people in local, poor communities?
United Way Report
Page 20
Conclusion
It is the very success of the United Way / VISTA project that
raises these hard questions. While most of these questions
could be answered affirmatively, they bear careful
consideration because the decisions made now will shape the
future service roles of the United Way and ACTION/VISTA in
some significant ways. From an overall perspective, it is easy
to see that social service agencies need occasional, one-day
volunteer help as well as support from committed, long-term,
full-time volunteers. The United Way also needs to prosper in
its fund-raising and public relations efforts so that it can raise
the funds to support its agencies. In the final analysis, the issue
becomes a question of how decision-makers balance the
various resources available or find the right mix to leverage or
produce the best result in meeting the needs of people in poor
communities. The goal is to meet the most critical needs by
deploying resources in the least wasteful and most effective
way.
United Way Report
Page 21
Appendix A:
United Way / VISTA
Key Documents
ACTION MISSION STATEMENT
TO STIMULATE VOLUNTARY CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS
OF AMERICAN COMMUNITIES PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE POOR, THE
DISADVANTAGE, AND THE ELDERLY.
VISTA MISSION STATEMENT
TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ASSIST LOW INCOME SOUTH DADE
COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE ANDREW THROUGH ADVOCACY,
DIRECT AID, VOLUNTEER MOBILIZATION, AND INTERFACING WITH OTHER
AGENCIES.
VISTA SHARED VALUES
ACCEPTANCE
BALANCE
RESPECT
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNITY/TEAMWORK
NON-JUDGMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
TRUST
UNITED
WAY
VISTA
OF DADE COUNTY
HURRICANE RECOVERY PROJECT
What is VISTA?
Volunteers In Service To America
VISTA is often called the domestic Peace Corps. It is administered by ACTION, the federal
volunteer agency. VISTA is a full-time, year-long volunteer program for men and women 18 years
of age and older from all backgrounds. Volunteers are assigned to local sponsors which may be state
or local public agencies or private, non-profit organizations in urban or rural communities.
Who is the local sponsor for this VISTA Project?
The United Way of Dade County is the local sponsor. The addition of 15 VISTA volunteers,
recruited to serve for one year, will enable the United Way to expand its Volunteer Center activities
to coordinate volunteer needs and resources to assist low-income families and communities in
moving from the emergency hurricane relief to the recovery stage.
What are the VISTA Project goals?
VISTA volunteers will work closely with existing community-based organizations to identify the
hurricane-related needs of low-income communities in South Dade. Rather than serve as "direct
service providers", VISTA will serve as "volunteer mobilizers" to design, develop and implement
volunteer-driven projects. VISTA will communicate with local, state and nationwide organizations
and corporations to recruit volunteers and other resources to meet the needs of low income
hurricane victims. The final VISTA goal will be to design a "blueprint", based on the Dade County
Hurricane Recovery Project to be implemented by ACTION in future national disasters.
For additional information contact:
United Way of Dade County
United Way/VISTA
Amerifirst Building/Suite 1950
Telephone: 579-2329
One Southeast Third Avenue
Fax Number: 579-2352
Miami, Florida 33131-1710
United Way/VISTA Work Flow Chart
CORPORATE MARKETING
SOCIAL SERVICES
Generating Volunteers
Generating Projects
FIII Out Volunteer Groups
FIII out Agency Site
and In-Kind donation
Needs/Requests Form
forms (Blue & Pink)
(Grey)
Deliver Form
Deliver Form
SYSTEMS
Copy form and deliver
Notebook
LOGISTICS
Makes Match
Successful
Problems
Goes on Calendar
For Future
COMMUNICATIONS
Identifies
Assigns A
COMMUNICATIONS
Point Person
Special Problems
Tracks
For future
Point Person
Attenda.
Works with
relevant team
LOGISTICS
VISTA services for Volunteer Coordinators
Information and Referral
Volunteer
Volunteer
Advocacy &
(for Volunteer Coordination)
Recruitment
Placement
Troubleshooting
Participating Volui
Agencies
Available
American Red Cross
Information Flow and Requests
Catholic Community Services
Services
Careforce 10
1. Volunteer Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity
Information sheets
I.C.A.R.E.
2. Referral/Clearinghouse
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
People Helping People
SUPPLIER
VISTA
CUSTOMER
services
3. Newsletter
Salvation Army
4. Advocacy
Switchboard
United Home Care Services
United Way
University of Miami
We Will Rebuild
Youth for Christ
others
Procedures for requesting these services
I.
Identify a specific need of offering (eg. too many or too few volunteers).
II.
Contact VISTA office (phone 579-2328 Fax 579-2352) for referral information or assistance.
III.
VISTA will make referral to specific agency or volunteer worksite based on defined need.
IV.
General issues and concerns (eg. housing, permits, medical needs, publicity, etc.)can be addressed collectively when all agencies
agree it is in everyone's best interest.
V.
Keep VISTA informed of changing needs and resources. VISTA pledges to maintain constant contact with your agency and other
community resources. A bi-weekly newsletter/flash will be distributed to keep everyone informed about other agency happenings and
accomplishments.
VISTA
MARKETING
SOCIAL SERVICES
Recruits local, state
Identifies Projects
national volunteers
Assesses Needs
Locates In-kind resources
Attends networking meetings
LOGISTICS
Makes matches between
volunteers & projects
PLACEMENT
PROBLEM RESOLUTION
Volunteer assigned to
work with:
Resolves Problem
Agency, Church Group,
Individual home,
Non-profit organization, etc.
VISTA Hurricane Recovery Project
Amended goals and objectives
April 12, 1993
Logistics Team
On-going goals:
To design, develop, and implement volunteer support of the Hurricane Andrew recovery effort
in South Dade thryough the coordinated efforts of the VISTA teams.
To communicate with each VISTA contingent to ensure the efficient use of resources, and
manage volunteer scheduling, transportation scheduling, transportation and communication issues.
3 & 4 quarter goals:
To coordinate the presence of VISTA volunteers in the United Way Help Centers in South
Dada, to strengthen communication within VISTA, increase VISTA visibility, and improve the
volunteers' knowledge of the South Dade community.
Promote volunteerism and actively recruit volunteers while pursuing above goals.
Social Services Team
On-going goals:
To establish and maintain communications with all community based organizations active in the
South Dade recovery effort throughout the VISTA Project Year.
To determine community based organizations' volunteer needs for the South Dade recovery
effort and communicate those needs to the Logistics team.
To determine new and increased needs brought on the Hurricane Andrew that can be met
through volunteer resources and communicate those needs to the Logistics team.
3 & 4 quarter goals:
To develop a working knowledge of community dynamics in South Dade neighborhoods in order
to recruit residents to participate in rebuilding their communities.
To use VISTA and United Way resources to assist South Dade communities in vocalizing their
needs to government and social service figures who will be able to respond.
Promote volunteerism and actively recruit volunteers while pursuing above goals.
Marketing Team
On-going goals:
To communicate with local, state and national organizations and corporations to mobilize
human and material resources for the Hurricane Andrew recovery effort.
To identify volunteer and other resources to meet new and increased needs in South Dade as
a result of Hurricane Andrew.
3 & 4 quarter goals:
To develop and implement the long term effective use of volunteers and resources, through
developing a bank of skilled and unskilled local volunteers.
Promote volunteerism and actively recruit volunteers while pursuing above goals.
Systems Team
On-going goals:
To support office operations through data entry, word processing, faxing, and answering phones.
3 & 4 quarter goals:
Promote volunteerism and actively recruit volunteers while pursuing above goals.
Communications Team
On-going goals:
To organize volunteer activities and promote volunteer accomplishments of the VISTA Projects.
To work with United Way staff to communicate with agencies, corporations, and media VISTA
needs and accomplishments.
To effectively communicate long-term volunteer needs for the South Dade recovery effort to
potential local, state and national sponsors and supporters.
3 & 4 quarter goals:
To develop a database to record the accomplishments of the VISTA Project.
To work with the Points of Light Foundation in creating a manual for volunteer mobilization
after disasters.
Promote volunteerism and actively recruit volunteers while pursuing above goals.
Appendix B:
Activity Database Summary
United Way / VISTA
Avg.
As %
Vols
of Total
No. of
No. of
per
in
Events
Vols
Event
Group
WHERE VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME FROM:
LOCAL VOLUNTEERS
63
994
15.8
40.3%
OUT-OF-TOWN VOLS
111
1,471
13.3
59.7%
TOTAL VOLUNTEERS
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
VOLUNTEER GROUPS PARTICIPATING IN FIVE OR MORE EVENTS:
TOTAL NUMBER OF GROUPS: 26
VISTA
8
80
10.0
3.2%
GLENDALE FEDERAL BANK
5
86
17.2
3.5%
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
8
103
12.9
4.2%
UP WITH PEOPLE
6
125
20.8
5.1%
CAREFORCE 10
10
160
16.0
6.5%
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE
36
415
11.5
16.8%
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
60
681
11.4
27.6%
19 GROUPS IN FEWER THAN 5 EVENTS
41
815
19.9
33.1%
TOTAL
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
VOLUNTEER GROUPS BY SOURCE:
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS
4
23
5.8
0.9%
YOUTH GROUP VOLUNTEERS
3
45
15.0
1.8%
SOCIAL SERV ORG VOLUNTEERS
5
77
15.4
3.1%
SERVICE ORGANIZATION VOLUNTEERS
10
95
9.5
3.9%
UP WITH PEOPLE VOLUNTEERS
6
125
20.8
5.1%
SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
6
162
27.0
6.6%
COLLEGE VOLUNTEERS
17
265
15.6
10.8%
CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS
20
431
21.6
17.5%
CHURCH VOLUNTEERS
40
543
13.6
22.0%
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY VOLS
60
684
11.4
27.7%
OTHER
3
15
5.0
0.6%
TOTAL
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
Page I
United Way / VISTA
Avg.
As %
Vols
of Total
No. of
No. of
per
in
Events
Vols
Event
Group
VOLUNTEER WORK BY TYPE OF INSTITUTION ASSISTED:
SUPPORT GROUPS
3
30
10.0
1.2%
DISASTER RELIEF AGENCIES
6
81
13.5
3.3%
MIGRANT CAMPS
1
100
100.0
4.1%
PARKS
6
105
17.5
4.3%
SCHOOLS
11
159
14.5
6.5%
CHURCHES
9
179
19.9
7.3%
SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
14
186
13.3
7.5%
DAY CARE CENTERS
15
321
21.4
13.0%
HOUSING REPAIR
107
1,288
12.0
52.3%
OTHER
2
16
8.0
0.6%
TOTAL
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
SUBTOTALS FOR DAY CARE & HOUSING REPAIR
GOOD SHEPHERD DAY CARE
13
294
22.6
11.9%
INDIVIDUAL HOMES
92
1,017
11.1
41.3%
BY LOCATION
Cutler Ridge
2
24
12.0
1.0%
South Miami Heights
4
44
11.0
1.8%
Miami
5
52
10.4
2.1%
Leisure City
6
107
17.8
4.3%
Goulds/Princeton
20
211
10.6
8.6%
Florida City
13
218
16.8
8.8%
Naranja
15
260
17.3
10.5%
Richmond Heights
24
318
13.3
12.9%
Homestead
18
330
18.3
13.4%
Perrine
43
593
13.8
24.1%
Not Documented
24
308
12.8
12.5%
TOTAL
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
Page 2
United Way / VISTA
Avg.
As %
Vols
of Total
No. of
No. of
per
in
Events
Vols
Event
Group
VOLUNTEER WORK BY TYPE OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED:
(NOTE: Since some events involved more than one activity, the following totals do not add up
to those above.)
CLEANUP
82
811
9.9
32.6%
Clean-up Houses and Yards
26
326
12.5
13.1%
Debris Removal
50
430
8.6
17.3%
Landscaping/Laying Sod
6
55
9.2
2.2%
RECONSTRUCTION
95
1,026
10.8
41.2%
Needs Assessments
4
46
11.5
1.8%
Temporary Roofing
67
622
9.3
25.0%
Construction
2
30
15.0
1.2%
Painting
19
176
9.3
7.1%
Playground Installation
1
130
130.0
5.2%
Furniture Refurbishing
2
22
11.0
0.9%
HOUSING SUPPORT
12
160
13.3
6.4%
Setting Up Tents
9
132
14.7
5.3%
Moving Tenants/Victims
3
28
9.3
1.1%
COMMUNITY/SOCIAL EVENTS
10
241
24.1
9.7%
Christmas
5
156
31.2
6.3%
Easter
2
30
15.0
1.2%
Mothers' Day
2
40
20.0
1.6%
Toy Distribution
1
15
15.0
0.6%
SOCIAL SERVICES
9
149
16.6
6.0%
Counseling
2
6
3.0
0.2%
Feeding Homeless
1
10
10.0
0.4%
Sorting/Distributing Clothing, etc.
4
128
32.0
5.1%
Creole Translation
1
1
1.0
0.0%
Haitian Pride Days
1
4
4.0
0.2%
EDUCATION/DAY CARE
2
18
9.0
0.7%
Assisting Teachers
1
6
6.0
0.2%
Tutoring
1
12
12.0
0.5%
MISC/UNITED WAY
8
85
10.6
3.4%
Close/Move Service Center
3
40
13.3
1.6%
Manning Trailer
1
10
10.0
0.4%
Pamphlet Distribution
3
30
10.0
1.2%
Manning Booths, Security
1
5
5.0
0.2%
Page 3
United Way / VISTA
Avg.
As %
Vols
of Total
No. of
No. of
per
in
Events
Vols
Event
Group
VOLUNTEER WORK BY TYPE OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED (SUMMARY):
(NOTE: Since some events involved more than one activity, the following totals do not add up
to those above.)
EDUCATION/DAY CARE
2
18
9.0
0.7%
MISC/UNITED WAY
8
85
10.6
3.4%
SOCIAL SERVICES
9
149
16.6
6.0%
HOUSING SUPPORT
12
160
13.3
6.4%
COMMUNITY/SOCIAL EVENTS
10
241
24.1
9.7%
CLEANUP
82
811
9.9
32.6%
RECONSTRUCTION
95
1,026
10.8
41.2%
TOTAL
218
2,490
11.4
100.0%
BY MONTH
November
3
60
20.0
2.4%
December
9
206
22.9
8.4%
January
18
340
18.9
13.8%
February
38
450
11.8
18.3%
March
33
428
13.0
17.4%
April
26
400
15.4
16.2%
May
10
110
11.0
4.5%
Not Documented
37
471
12.7
19.1%
TOTAL
174
2,465
14.2
100.0%
Page 4
Clinton Presidential Records
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United Way of Dade County
1992-1993 Annual Report
VOLUNTEER
HURRIS
RELIEF EFORT