Continuing Education Announces Summer Workshop on Crisis Management 
Communities deal with emergencies and disasters on a regular basis. Many communities have recently experienced natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods. Some communities have managed crises arising from large-scale criminal acts that affect our safety and security, such as September 11 or the sniper in Washington, D.C. How can communities be better prepared to respond when the time comes and also bounce back from tragedy when it does occur?

This workshop examines how the idea of resilience can support a community's ability to deal with crises and disasters when they occur. Resilience suggests a degree of preparedness or capacity that minimizes negative consequences or long-term effects. A number of factors that contribute to resiliency will be discussed, along with ways to strengthen awareness efforts, leadership, planning activities, and resource allocation.

Workshop facilitators will discuss actual case studies and help participants examine their own community's immediate concerns with an eye towards identifying appropriate strategies and actions to increase resilience. This workshop is designed to provide information and resources to individuals in crisis management roles in our governmental agencies, police and fire departments, and emergency management operations.

Jane Kushma, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Emergency Management at Jacksonville State University. Dr. Kushma has been teaching emergency management at the college level for nearly fifteen years. She has a Ph.D. in Urban Policy and Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and also a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. Her research areas are disasters and public policy, vulnerable populations, and volunteer management.

Before joining academia, Dr. Kushma spent many years with the American Red Cross national headquarters where she led the organization's catastrophic disaster planning efforts and served on many large disaster relief operations. She has also served as a consultant to the FEMA Recovery Division, National VOAD, and Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

Nancy Mellen, M.A., is an Instructor with the Jacksonville State University Department of Criminal Justice. Mrs. Mellen holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology. She has experience as both a Psychological Examiner with the Arkansas Department of Rehabilitation and as a Clinical Supervisor with the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

The registration fee is a nominal amount so that everyone can afford to attend. For one participant, the cost is $15.00; for two or more from the same organization, the fee is $10.00 each. There is an additional $5.00 fee for each continuing education certificate.

For additional information, or to register by phone, contact:
Jacksonville State University
Office of Continuing Education
Phone: (256) 782-5918
Fax: (256) 782-5983
E-mail: conted@jsu.edu

You can now register and pay on-line at www.coned.jsu.edu.

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