By Crystal McGough
Clay Mayor Ed McGuffie announced Thursday that the city is in a joint partnership with Lutheran Ministries of Alabama. The purpose of the partnership is to assist survivors of the 2012 tornado through Alabama Recovery Enterprise for Survivors of Tornadoes, a disaster case management program operated by LMA
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According to a press release from LMA and the City of Clay, “RESTore is designed to provide help, support and advocacy for survivors of the 2012 tornadoes as they recover from the disaster. RESTore case managers work in partnership with tornado survivors to assess their disaster-related needs, develop long-term recovery plans, and connect survivors to available resources to meet their disaster-related needs.”
The press release defines case management as “an in-depth assessment of a survivor’s disaster related unmet needs. Case Managers work in partnership with survivors to develop a recovery plan and to serve as advocates for survivor needs.”
Beginning July 16, an LMA representative will be present at the Municipal Annex Building at 6757 Old Springville Road, the former City Hall building, on Mondays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“We’re providing them a place where they can talk to some of our residents,” McGuffie said. “We hope that those in need will take advantage of it and go there. I’m hoping that they’ll go there and utilize their services.
LMA will provide survivors with a recovery plan, which will outline steps the survivors can take to move toward recovery. The case manager and survivor will work together to create a document that will identify the survivor’s related unmet needs, help set goals, and provide actions steps and timelines for meeting the survivor’s needs.
In order to qualify for RESTore disaster case management services, one must be a survivor of the 2012 tornadoes and currently live in Jefferson County. To sign up for assistance, call (205) 378-8051 or select the Request Assistance tab at www.lmal.org.
LMA asks that anyone applying have a current address, pre-disaster address, current phone number and alternate contact information available.
From the press release: LMA was established in 1990 and acquired non- profit IRS 501(C)3 status in 1992. Statewide programs implemented during 1992-1994 include a training program for mothers to provide home care nursing and Family Counseling Centers in several cities. Through this effort, LMA began its pilgrimage into case management in the family counseling centers and was also recognized as the official affiliate for Alabama of the national Lutheran Disaster Response Organization.