FAQS

Once the application and supplemental paperwork has been submitted, selected candidates will receive notification for an interview. Each month HHI staff meet to review all interviewed applicants to determine if candidates meet DRT qualifications. An HHI representative will then reach out to inform applicants of the decision. Acceptance at this point will be pending submission and approval of remaining paperwork and completion of DRT Workshop.

Timing varies depending on the time taken to submit supplemental paperwork and the availability of HHI staff to interview and review applicants. The process takes longer during disasters as HHI staff are deployed to the field. During times when HHI is not responding to disaster this process can be completed in 2 weeks, during an active disaster response this process could take 2 months.

HHI welcomes volunteers and partners from all religions and backgrounds to join in helping fulfill our mission of improving health access. We recognize that many of our volunteers serve others as an expression of their faith. As a faith-friendly organization, HHI often brings together team members from a wide variety of beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Team members are expected to be respectful of beliefs or cultural understandings which may differ from their own.

The amount varies from year to year depending on the number of disasters that strike. On average HHI has deployed four to six times a year.

When disaster strikes HHI staff meet to discuss the variables to determine the level at which HHI will respond. If the decision to respond with a medical team is made, HHI will then assemble an advance team. Following the assembly of the advance team DRT members will receive a notification via email. This notification contains information on HHI’s decision to deploy, deployment details and an availability survey. If a volunteer is willing and able to respond all this is required is an email with the signed pre-deployment assessment and completing the survey form. As HHI receives availability, members will be selected for the team based on a variety of variables such as experience, training, position, and travel. Once a member has been selected to deploy with HHI they will receive individual travel information and a situational brief.

Heart to Heart understands that each volunteer has obligations such as work, children, and vacations. We do not expect that each member of the DRT will be able to deploy at each disaster but do expect that each member will do their best to accommodate when able.

Deployments can last anywhere from one to three weeks depending on location of the disaster. Generally, at least one week of availability is required to deploy domestically and two weeks for an international response.

During deployment all food, lodging, and transportation is covered by Heart to Heart.

HHI always includes a packing list as part of the situation brief that deploying members receive. These items typically include comfortable clothing that can get dirty, are quick dry and light weight, shoes/boots that are comfortable to work long hours in uncommon work environments, and a raincoat/jacket.

For international responses, HHI will purchase medical liability insurance for the team. However, this policy does require that individuals have active liability insurance or, if retired, had active insurance until their date of retirement. For domestic responses, HHI relies upon the Volunteer Protection Act to cover volunteers. HHI still recommends that medical professionals carry their own liability insurance in addition to this.

Yes, as a member of the Disaster Response Team you must have personal health insurance.

Yes, we accept international applicants. However, there are a few things we like to make international applicants aware of before applying. In order to become a fully vetted volunteer it is required to attend a DRT workshop that we host in Kansas City, Missouri. HHI does not cover transportation costs to the workshop. Additionally, due to licensing requirements varying in each state and country, international volunteers do not always meet the requirements to deploy with HHI.