Emergency Management Program and Leadership Opportunities for Youth (EMPLOY)

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) under the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) proposes to increase the number of trained emergency managers to respond to disasters in American Samoa. Currently, 5% of emergency managers and coordinating officers are skilled in appropriately planning and responding to the needs of the aging and disability community in American Samoa.  Project E.M.P.L.O.Y. (Emergency Management Program & Leadership Opportunities for Youth) will develop and offer a career pathway multi-sector and interdisciplinary program at the local college and 15 trainees will increase their capacity to respond as an Emergency Manager and Disability Integration Advisor (DIA) by 80%. The cadre of Disability Integration within Emergency Management would fill the void of the American Samoa government in the Emergency Operation Center across all emergency and recovery support functions. In doing so, this will create a resilient community with increased support for people with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster.