Before we begin, let me first take a moment to thank you for joining our Hostage US team and taking the step toward contributing your knowledge and expertise to our mission. The work that we do isn’t easy, and oftentimes can be quite frustrating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Those we serve are often family members who are living through the most terrifying experience of their lives, and former captives who are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after enduring some of humanity’s most inhumane conditions.
As a strategic member of our team, we ask that you take the time to learn about our programs, and how we operate. In this orientation training course, you will be introduced to all aspects of our organization and work, including the “hostage enterprise space” both inside and outside the US government. We will also examine common challenges faced by beneficiaries, and how our network can help overcome specific situations.
Our work is quite nuanced, and the challenges that we encounter are vast, unique and oftentimes unpredictable. No family or individual should have to tackle this situation alone, and for this reason, Hostage US exists to step in and help carry some of the burden. With your help, we can take some of the weight from their shoulders and provide some much needed breathing room so they are prepared, both mentally and physically, to tackle the numerous challenges that lay ahead.
This training is split into 6 sections:
- Hostage US Overview: An introduction to the organization
- The Support Program: An introduction to the Support Coordinator volunteers and how it fits within the overall Support Program.
- Needs & Challenges of Families: An outline of how we work with families, addressing their unique needs.
- Needs & Challenges of Returnees: An outline of how we work with returned captives addressing their unique needs.
- Working in Stressful Environments: Information that will help you identify and understand the types of stress our beneficiaries face.
- U.S. Government Response: An overview of the U.S. government’s response
network.
Again, from all of us at Hostage US, we thank you for your willingness to give your time in support of the work that we do.
