08-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey County │ Annex H: Mass Care and Shelter 14 community partners and CBOs. MCS staff should serve as a conduit to provide information about and access to these services as they become available. 3.1.7.9 Reunification The ARC is experienced in and has systems in place for collecting, receiving, and reporting information about the status of impacted individuals in disasters and emergencies. The Shelter Manager will coordinate with ARC to assist in providing Safe and Well inquiry services. 3.1.7.10 Other Services Especially in long-term shelters, additional services may be needed. These include things such as laundry, the internet, cultural brokering, and social services. Many of these services will be filled by CBOs, faith-based organizations, and private sector organizations that send relief teams to the affected area. The County will remain vigilant to evolving opportunities for community support, particularly from emerging organizations that provide services to diverse populations, often informed through ongoing inquiry and feedback from shelter residents. It is critical that all organizations offering such services coordinate through the EOC and do not self- deploy to shelters. Relief teams arriving on-site at shelters who have not been vetted and formally activated should not be allowed entry and should be redirected to the EOC. This includes attempts to set up services in the parking lot or other facility grounds. 3.1.8 DIVERSE POPULATION CONSIDERATIONS 3.1.8.1 Children and Unaccompanied Minors The specific needs of children and unaccompanied minors must be considered during MCS operations. Children and unaccompanied minors present a unique set of considerations, such as logistical requirements, mental health support, medical needs, shelter placement, transport, and other services. In accordance with ARC policy, shelter staff will identify any unaccompanied minors. Community Social Services (CSS) is responsible for the development of a process for reunification with a parent/guardian or for care when a parent or guardian cannot be located. More information can be found in the Ramsey County Family Assistance Center Plan and in Section 3.1.6.3 Childcare. 3.1.8.2 Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs Individuals with DAFN may include, but are not limited to, individuals with disabilities, older adults, individuals who are blind, deaf, hard of hearing, have speech and language disabilities; mental health conditions, learning, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and chemical sensitivities; unaccompanied minors, individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), limited access to transportation, limited access to digital services (e.g., Wi-Fi/internet); single mothers, and/or limited access to financial resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency. Through times of disaster, jurisdictions should still comply with regulations and laws regulating the care of individuals with DAFN, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as other federal, state, and local laws and statutes.