SEMO Chapter of American Red Cross hosts Services to the Armed Forces Casework Training

Two individuals were trained in casework for Providing Service to the Armed Forces during a training at SEMO Produce on Thursday. From left, Red Cross volunteer, Rick Samples, Red Cross member, Laura Norman, Bud Henderson, Red Cross volunteer, Laura Cumpton. Staff photo by Joshua Payne

The American Red Cross recently hosted a training in Kennett to provide volunteers with the abilities and knowledge to respond to military calls, verify information, and translate the information to the Service to Armed Forces Center.

The training, titled Services to the Armed Forces Casework Training, was hosted on Thursday at SEMO Produce and was part of the continuing effort for growth in the Southeast Mo. Chapter of the American Red Cross, according to the organization.

While not a government agency, the American Red Cross is mandated by its Congressional Charter to liaison all messages between a service member and their family.

"We take very seriously the charge to provide emergency communications to service members and their families during time of deployment. We have shared messages of heartache and of joy, from sharing with a service member he or she must come home to lay a loved one to rest, to communicating they are now a proud parent, it is our honor to ensure those messages are relayed accurately and timely," Director of Emergency Services for the Southeast Missouri Red Cross, Jamie Koehler said.

Koehler added that the Red Cross caseworkers for Service to Armed Forces learn to take calls from service members' families during crisis of death, birth, or other situations. The individuals also facilitate the process of assisting service members and their families during financial hardship due to deployment or other emergencies, according to the American Red Cross. The organization noted that all information relayed to the Red Cross is verified by the Red Cross, and then sent to Service to Armed Forces caseworkers Washington D.C. All information is meticulously logged and dispatched to the proper location of the service member.

All Red Cross training is provided at no cost to participants.

American Red Cross volunteer, Rick Samples, of Dunklin County, explained that the Red Cross was working to grow with volunteers in the Dunklin and Pemiscot County areas.

"Most people are not aware of all of the services that the Red Cross provides," Samples said.

He noted that one of these services was aid to fire victims.

"[When notified of a house fire], I go out and do a casework to assess damage, the size of the family, and other criteria. The individuals receive shelter and food, along with being rehabilitated back to the financial level of the family, before the incident occurred, Samples said.