The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) invite you to a local Family Assistance Center workshop in VDEM Region 4. There will be two workshop location options taking place on August 5th and 6th. The workshops will be held in two locations to ensure that participants from the entire western region can attend without burdensome travel time and expense. However, if registration for either of the workshops are low, the entire western region may be held at one location. You will be given ample notice of this change of venue should it be necessary. You may attend both workshops if you serve localities represented in training locations.
These workshops will be both a learning and networking opportunity for those agencies in region 4 who are called upon to respond in the aftermath of a mass casualty incident (MCI) and/or the establishment of an FAC. Your agency will have the opportunity to identify and discuss resource availability and gaps with agencies that you would be working with in a real-world MCI. We have invited representation from local law enforcement, victim advocates, Commonwealth’s Attorney’s, Community Services Boards, the Red Cross, the Medical Reserve Corps, local and regional emergency management, social services, City Attorney’s Offices, and faith-based leaders from your region to take part in this learning and engagement opportunity.
Please RSVP by July 31, 2024. We ask that if you are unable to attend, you select a designee to attend on your behalf. The individual at your agency who would generally serve as the main point of contact for such events and have knowledge of the agency emergency operations plan should attend this workshop. We ask that each agency limit the RSVP to one or two people from your agency due to limited space. Please contact Dawn Bush at dawn.bush@dcjs.virginia.gov with any questions.