Volunteer Management

Citizen Corps Volunteer Liability Guide

Engaging the public is a critical part of Citizen Corps’ mission. Well-trained volunteers supplement governmental resources in all phases of emergency management. Identifying and supporting policy and practice that promote and strengthen public participation is, therefore, an important element of Citizen Corps’ implementation.

FEMA has learned from Citizen Corps Councils, volunteer program managers, and volunteers that liability is a significant concern and a potential barrier to volunteer involvement in emergency services. Liability—legal responsibility for one’s acts or omissions—includes diverse concerns: legally imposed payment of damages for personal injury or property damage; penalties for practicing a profession or trade without the required license or permit; compensation for lost income and medical expenses of an injured volunteer; and damages for breach of contract.

To offer guidance in this area, FEMA funded the nonprofit Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) to develop the Citizen Corps Volunteer Liability Guide (CCVLG) to provide an overview of liability and to suggest some approaches to addressing these concerns.

Click here to download the Citizen Corps Volunteer Liability Guide (PDF, 1.6MB)

State Liability Laws

Good Samaritan Laws. Volunteer Protection. Volunteer Immunity. Liability Limitation. Shield Laws. Charitable Immunity. These are issues confronting many volunteer initiatives.

A 2001 publication issued by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center helps to answer many of the questions raised. Their publication, State Liability Laws for Charitable Organizations and Volunteers (PDF), provides an overview of the variety of laws in this field and a compendium each States' laws. Because coverage varies from state to state, we urge you to consult your legal counsel if you have any specific questions.

Managing Spontaneous Volunteers in Times of Disaster

When disaster – natural or man-made – strikes a community, specific emergency management and nonprofit organizations automatically respond according to a pre-established plan. Each of these designated organizations has a specific role to play in ensuring an effective response to and recovery from the disaster’s devastation. Yet one element within the present system continues to pose a challenge: spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers. Spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers – our neighbors and ordinary citizens – often arrive on-site at a disaster ready to help. Yet because they are not associated with any part of the existing emergency management response system, their offers of help are often underutilized and even problematic to professional responders. The paradox is clear: people’s willingness to volunteer versus the system’s capacity to utilize them effectively.

Click here to download the entire Managing Spontaneous Volunteers Guide. (PDF)