View Research by Author - Carol J. De Vita

More about Carol J. De Vita's areas of expertise can be found on this Urban Institute expert's page.

Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/CarolJDeVita

This research brief examines the relief and recovery services provided by faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) in the Gulf Coast region after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The study included a telephone survey of 202 FBCOs that provided services and in-depth case studies of eight organizations. The brief explores how FBCOs functioned during this time-i.e., what they did, who they served, and with whom they collaborated-and offers lessons learned for planning for future disasters. The brief summarizes the findings from the full report "The Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Post-Hurricane Human Service Relief Efforts," available at http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=1001245.

This brief profiles community-based nonprofits in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that are helping newcomers adjust to their new social and political environment, while affirming their cultural identities. The brief focuses on nonprofit groups that serve Asian, Middle Eastern and African populations and examines the characteristics of these organizations in terms of their number, size, location, and scope of activities. The findings provide a unique picture of the community-based resources that are helping immigrants incorporate into American life.

Over the past decade the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has become increasingly diverse, driven in large part by the growth of the Latino population. By 2006, almost 610,000 Latinos lived in the region. Today's immigrants, like those before them, contribute to the development of civil society organizations and rely on them for services and activities. Yet little is known about these organizations and the ways they help newcomers build and engage in civil society. This brief provides an overview of nonprofits and religious congregations in the Washington, D.C. region that focus on providing services and support to the Latino population.

The extent of our nation's preparedness to address large-scale disasters will likely receive renewed attention around the anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina and the attacks of 9/11. This commentary recommends that disaster planning address not only the immediate and short-term responses to disaster, but also the longer-term social service needs of disaster victims, such as mental health services and case management. The Urban Institute's study of the American Red Cross September 11th Recovery Program provides a sense of the need for such services and their value to those affected by disaster. Integrating longer-term recovery services into disaster planning can help ensure their availability in the wake of future disasters.

Nonprofit organizations are a crucial link in our nation’s emergency preparedness and disaster response efforts, but their role is not always well integrated into disaster planning. After both Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, nonprofits provided immediate and longer-term assistance to help people cope with devastating life changes and the emotional aftermath, but the importance of long-term services is not well understood or even acknowledged by victims and policymakers alike. This brief highlights the lessons learned from the Urban Institute’s assessment of the American Red Cross September 11th Recovery Program, which provided grants to community-based organizations to provide longer-term case management, mental health services, and other services to facilitate recovery to eligible individuals.

This volume of essays presents the thoughts of leading researchers and policy experts regarding models and policies that can help guide the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region. The essays focus on six issue areas: affordable housing; services for children and families; strengthening the arts and culture community; public and environmental health concerns; rebuilding financial assets; and the role of nonprofits in preparing for the next disaster. Together, the essays lay an important foundation for developing action plans to address the underlying issues of poverty, inequality, and weak social infrastructures that have been persistent in the region for decades.

Nonprofit organizations affect every facet of our lives through a wide array of services and programs ranging from health care to civic participation to education and beyond. Despite their prevalence, nonprofits are poorly understood and often undervalued for their economic contributions. This study of nonprofits in Erie County, Pennsylvania, takes a systematic look at the county's nonprofit sector, examining its size, scope, and financial underpinning. The report analyzes the dependence of Erie’s nonprofits on government funding, their financial strengthens and vulnerabilities, their concentration in the Erie metro area, and the availability of services in rural parts of the county.

This report examines the implementation of grants issued in 2004 under the American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Grants Program. Using telephone surveys of the grantees, site visits, and a telephone/online survey of clients, the study found that clients were very satisfied with the services and reported positive outcomes. However, more than half said that they needed additional service to continue their recovery. The report discusses six critical lessons that can inform planning for future long-term recovery programs: (1) the stigma attached to receiving mental health services, (2) the need for culturally appropriate services; (3) the importance of outreach efforts; (4) the special challenges of providing services to children; (5) mechanisms for minimizing staff burnout; and (6) establishing simple and effective reporting systems.

This report presents findings of a telephone survey of 1,500 clients who received services under the American Red Cross September 11th Recovery Program. The program provided longer-term assistance, such as case management, financial assistance, and mental health services, to individuals and families with continuing needs related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Over 80 percent of those who received mental health services said that it helped them cope with stress and other issues, although two-thirds indicated grief continues to interfere with their lives to a large or moderate extent. Additionally, 43 percent said they or their families still needed services to further their recovery.

This issue brief draws lessons for public administrators from a study of the devolution of federal policies in HHS programs covered by "Charitable Choice" legislation--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT), and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)--and the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF). Contracting with FBOs in three cities studied (Birmingham, Boston, Denver) changed little since Charitable Choice, though perceptions about what was permissible had changed. Contracting with congregations and faith expression were more prominent in CCF. The role of faith in services was largely unmonitored, and implementation of the right to an alternative provider was problematic.

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