Affiliated Team Volunteers (ATVs)
An Affiliated Team Volunteer ("ATV") is a volunteer who associates with and is assigned to a Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) but does not possess full "Active" NET volunteer status. They are not deployed or indemnified by the City of Portland, though they have a profile in the NET volunteer database. ATVs appear on NET rosters only as prospective resources for an earthquake response. They are not required to log volunteer hours (though encouraged to do so) or meet the Minimum Service Contribution.
A volunteer may join their local NET as an ATVs if they are either:
- An active NET who wishes to reduce their involvement but not leave the program entirely; or,
- A neighbor who resides in a team's Service Area and wants to help the team, but has not completed Basic NET training and may have no intention of doing so.
ATVs are envisioned as neighborhood-local volunteer resources to supplement a NET team in the aftermath of an earthquake. They appear on NET team rosters only for earthquake response frameworks, and fall under the response structure of their NET. The Team Leader of the NET in their neighborhood, therefore, is also their Team Leader.
Part of the objective of the ATV policy is for NETs to build relationships with neighbors before a disaster happens. It is better to build that relationship ahead of time instead of in the midst of an immediate response, and reduce the responsibility of managing Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers.
Access and General Expectations of ATVs
The following expectations and policies apply to all ATVs:
- A volunteer in ATV status is not indemnified by the City of Portland. However, Good Samaritan laws apply to everyone.
- ATVs agree to the PBEM Volunteer Code of Conduct applies to ATVs when affiliating with a NET and participating in any volunteer activities.
- A volunteer in ATV status is never deployed by the City of Portland. ATVs may opt to self deploy in the event of an earthquake.
- An ATV must be affiliated with a Neighborhood Emergency Team and named on the team roster.
- ATVs are not required to attend team meetings or to log hours, and their membership is not tied to fulfilling the annual Minimum Service Contribution. However, they can do these things if they wish and are encouraged to.
- ATVs are required to confirm their status with their Team Leader at least twice a year, and any time the Team Leader conducts a review of the team's roster. Team Leaders will have access to the personal contact information of ATVs on their team.
- All ATVs declare a Volunteer Support Function position appropriate for a non-NET volunteer. This declaration is made to their Team Leader and it appears on the earthquake response plan.
- The assigned role (VSF) of an ATV is tied only to a NET's earthquake response plan. ATVs are envisioned assisting only in the aftermath of an earthquake. ATVs should be familiar with the latest edition of their NET's earthquake response framework.
- ATVs are tracked in the PBEM Volunteer database (as ATVs). This reporting is important for PBEM in assessing neighborhood earthquake readiness.
- ATVs are subscribed to ATV volunteer communications (such as occasional bulletins). Because of the need to be aware of key program news, an ATV cannot opt out of email communications. Communications will include training opportunities for ATVs.
- ATVs are permitted access to some low-risk NET advanced trainings if seats remain after they are offered to NETs.
- Occasionally, ATVs receive priority access to advanced training seats for training in their chosen VSF.
- Team Leaders should encourage ATVs to participate in team exercises, even if simply as "volunteer patients" or observers.
- At present, ATVs are not badged for their role as an ATV or issued NET PPE. Those policies may change in the future. There are also some exceptions. For example, BEECN ATVs and HAM radio operator ATVs are issued NET badges because they have blue skies roles that require special access. Otherwise, ATVs should either acquire their own PPE or arrange with their Team Leader to receive it from the team cache in the event of an activation.
- If deploying in the event of an earthquake, ATVs should follow the same pre-deployment protocols that NET volunteers do.
ATV Intake Process
For former Active NET volunteers
A NET volunteer may opt to downshift from Active NET status to ATV status. Many NET volunteers consider this move for personal reasons that impact their availability (e.g. don't have as much time as they used to, health concerns, etc). Going to ATV status is available as a medial point between full Active status and withdrawing from the program entirely. In this case, the volunteer can re-activate at any point in the future.
A NET wishing to move to ATV status should take the following actions:
- Inform the NET Team Leader: The NET should first inform their TL that they plan to downshift to ATV status and what their declared VSF will be. The change should be reflected in the TL's team roster and earthquake response framework.
- Inform PBEM: Next, the volunteer must email net@portlandoregon.gov to report the change in status and the declared VSF. PBEM will update the volunteer database accordingly.
- If the volunteer wishes to return to Active status, they follow the steps above in reverse. Depending on the length of their absence from Active status, they may need a renewed background check and ID, and possibly need refresher training.
- They may retain their NET vest, hard hat, and ID if they wish. Otherwise, they should shred their ID and turn in their PPE to their Team Leader for storage in the Team's equipment cache.
For non-NET trained neighbors
NET volunteers often meet neighbors who want to be part of their NET's mission, but do not have the time and/or inclination to complete Basic NET Training. Having them sign up as an ATV is ideal in this situation. NETs will find these neighbors have specific skills or interests that correspond well to VSFs. For example, a medical professional who lives in the area is ideally suited to enlist under VSF 08. A neighbor who possesses a HAM license (or wants to get one) should enlist under VSF 02. And so on.
Team Leaders should view these ATVs as opportunities to round out the skillsets available on their teams. More importantly, ATV policies allow Team Leaders to turn prospective SUVs into effective team resources.
A new volunteer wishing to sign up as an ATV should take the following actions:
- Confirm with their Team Leader that they can join the local NET roster (look a TL up HERE). They should work with their Team Leader to decide on a VSF, encourage them to prepare their household for a disaster, and share the team's earthquake response framework with them. The Team Leader should also identify what training the ATV will need in order to be successful in their VSF role.
- Complete the online ATV application HERE. They should use the form on the left side for a new application.
- Contact PBEM: Once the application is complete, the Team Leader (not the ATV) should email net@portlandoregon.gov and make PBEM staff aware of the application so that it can be adjusted to ATV status (otherwise, they'll remain in a status limbo). PBEM staff will send a reply confirming the activation of the ATV and their chosen VSF.
- Complete a criminal background check: ATVs are subject to criminal background checks and follow the same policies as NET volunteers. As with NETs, this is done at no expense to the ATV, and PBEM will contact the ATV to complete the process.
- Team orientation: The ATV should expect an orientation to their team from the Team Leader. This may be done in the form of a one-on-one meeting or at a team meeting. Topics should include (but are not limited to):
- The Team's Earthquake Response Framework and the ATV's place in it;
- Information about optional team meetings;
- Why it's important to log hours;
- How to get further training on their VSF of choice.
- Learn how to log hours (optional): The newly minted ATV will have a profile in the NET database. Though not required, we highly encourage ATVs to log any volunteer hours. Their Team Leader should instruct them on how to do that. There is also an instructional video at XXXXXXXXX.
ATV Termination of Service
An ATV who has not responded to direct communications from their Team Leader will be assumed as terminating their service. They will be removed from the NET database and the team's roster.
Preferably, an ATV will inform their Team Leader and/or PBEM that they intend to separate from the program and terminate their service. Once PBEM is informed, their volunteer record will be removed and they should expect all further communications from PBEM to cease. They may rejoin at any time, provided PBEM did not dismiss them from service.
ATV Program History
"ATV" was first coined and suggested to Jeremy Van Keuren (PBEM) by NET volunteer David Given. David worked with Boy Scout volunteers and requested a volunteer status that kept a non-NET disaster response volunteer "in the loop" of NET activities and encouraged forming a planning relationship with local teams.
PBEM implemented the ATV status as a solution to two problems:
- It offers exiting NET volunteers an alternative to separating from the NET program completely. If a NET volunteer is unable to meet/uninterested in meeting their Minimum Service Contribution but would like to remain a part of their local team, they can do so as an ATV. ATV status is an alternative to making a NET volunteer "Inactive" and completely discharging them from the program.
- It encourages non-NET neighbors to volunteer with their local NET team by giving them a status in the program. A neighbor may be interested in disaster response activities with their community and want to plan ahead, but do not have the time and/or inclination to complete Basic NET training. Becoming an ATV gives them a team role to fill by declaring a VSF (e.g. radio operator) and makes them more ready to participate with a NET team than a spontaneous volunteer (SUV) would be.
NET volunteer provided suggestions to the policy that appear in this policy article.
ATV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How will ATVs be distinguished from SUVs in an activation?
A: That will be up to a team's SUV Coordinator. The SUV Coordinator should plan for receiving ATVs, and possibly through a pre-issued ID band or other device with the ATV's name on it.
Q: What roles/VSF's are suitable for ATVs?
A: Looking at the lists of VSF position summaries, note the column headed as "NET/CERT req?". If "No" appears in the corresponding row, that indicates a position that may be suitable for an ATV. However, training requirements do apply.
