Florida Disaster Legal Resources

About This Manual

Dear Caregivers,

Realizing the important role Community Interfaith/Interagency Networks, CIINs, play in disaster recovery and mitigation, FIND has invested a great deal in understanding what works, and yes, what does not work, in the development and sustaining of these important organizations.

As CIINS emerge across Florida, mostly in response to disaster, FIND has been there to offer technical assistance, providing organization information, network connections, resource identification and mentoring.  FIND has gathered these helpful capacity building tools, many created by CIINs, into a Community Interfaith/ Interagency Network Manual. 

Community Interfaith/Interagency Network  “Tools of the Trade” is like a cafeteria of CIINS organizational development assistance resources.  We are pleased to include the Church World Service - Managing and Operating the Faith-Based Disaster Recovery Organization A Capacity Building Guidebook for Boards of Directors and Program Managers. It too is packed full of information, special documents, and forms gathered out of the activity and experience of CWS in its work with local partners to address needs of disaster survivors across the country.  We found its entire content too valuable to select only bits and pieces.

Choose and use what you like.  Feel free to copy anything in this manual and adapt it to your organizations unique needs.  Make it your own.

FIND would like to thank Seminole HEART, FRIEND, VIND, Lutheran Services Florida, Church World Service, NVOAD, BoardSource and the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Development for their significant contributions to this manual. 

And thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to nurture and fortify your Community Interfaith/Interagency Network.  You are alleviating disaster-generated pain and suffering.  You are helping to make Florida a safer place to live.  You are making a difference.

Jody Hill
FIND Director
352-796-8387
jodyhill@FINDFlorida.org

 *CAUTION:  Materials in this manual are provided as guide “samples.”  FIND does not warrant their full compliance to existing laws, rules, and regulations.  Please consult a “not-for-profit” attorney to review your incorporation and all other regulatory documents, especially if you intend to file for 501(c)(3) charitable status. What works today may not be applicable/compliant tomorrow.  Corporate laws vary from state to state.  What is necessary in Florida may not fulfill legal requirements in Minnesota or Oregon.