Core Values

To achieve our vision, it is important that all ACF staff share the following values. These values guide our work and inspire public trust and confidence in our organization.

Self-Determination

The individuals and families adversely impacted by a disaster have the same rights and responsibilities as everybody else. Government aid to person adversely impacted by a disaster should, therefore, seek to support their self-determination as they seek access to public benefits and consider relocation opportunities. Individuals and families focusing on their own needs, resources, and interests are far more likely to reach favorable results for themselves and for the broader society than when government restricts or directs their choices.

 

Self-Sufficiency

The objective of any public welfare program, including our efforts targeted toward assisting person adversely impacted by a disaster, should be individual and family self-sufficiency. As we seek to provide every necessary benefit to help person adversely impacted by a disaster recover from the disaster and restart their lives, the measure of our success should not be the number of new entrants into the public welfare systems or dollars expended. Rather, our success will be measured by how quickly and successfully individuals are able to become economically self-sufficient and socially integrated. These new lives may be either in the homes and communities they had before the disaster or in new locations they have chosen based on their own best judgment of where their goals and aspirations may best be fulfilled.

 

Federalism

Our federal system is designed so that states and local governments are often the primary means for administering and delivering public benefits and services to those who are eligible for them. For efficiency, speed, and to take maximum advantage of existing expertise in matching evacuees with the benefits and services, aid should be delivered--to the maximum extent possible—through existing state and local governments, rather than through the creation of new federal institutions or programs. The role of the federal government, therefore, should be to enhance and support these existing mechanisms, taking action wherever possible to eliminate impediments to evacuees receiving assistance while safeguarding federal resources.

 

Flexibility and Speed

Persons adversely impacted by a disaster need immediate access to benefits wherever they present, even if they have lost their documentation or have just arrived in a new state. Prior eligibility should continue without interruption and new eligibility should be established quickly. Hence, the federal government should endeavor to provide states and local governments with as much latitude as possible in delivering benefits.

 

Support for States

States, tribes, localities and individuals that endeavor to deliver needed benefits and services to persons adversely impacted by a disaster should not be financially disadvantaged by their compassion and generosity. The federal government, to the extent possible, should endeavor to prepare for and reduce disaster impact on existing service delivery to their citizens by aiding in connecting individuals to services. More quickly linking individuals to appropriate assistance will reduce the likelihood that they will require more intensive healthcare and social service benefits and thus reduce the impact on States and existing system.

 

Protection

Some disaster victims are unable to protect themselves and function safely outside their normal environment. The federal government should make every effort to protect those unable to protect themselves.

 

Collaboration

Coordination and collaboration with all partners, public and private, is essentially to success.