This September, at the Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety in Jessup, the initial delegation of instructors within the Pennsylvania Youth Preparedness Initiative, MyPI Pennsylvania, completed a comprehensive certification and training workshop led by the MyPI National Coordination Team, and became the 32nd state/territory-level program to train instructors under the national project umbrella. According to Angie Smith, the MyPI Pennsylvania Program Manager and Extension Educator in Pike County, “MyPI is a 4-time national award-winning youth preparedness initiative that develops leadership skills through readiness training for teens. Students work with their families and community to prepare for and respond to disasters, reducing the stress on our already taxed EMS system. The program also connects youth to local first responders, creating a pipeline of future volunteers, and strengthening workforce development in emergency services. Safe communities are prepared communities, and this program empowers your constituents to become just that.” Added Smith, an Emergency Medical Technician who also serves as an Emergency Medical Services Captain for the Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department, “The number of volunteers in emergency services is dwindling across the state. This program introduces youth and their families to volunteer and career opportunities while simultaneously enhancing youth and family’s personal preparedness skills, which creates communities that are better equipped to handle disasters. MyPI embraces the hands-on ‘learning by doing’ philosophy of 4-H while also enhancing leadership and communication skills. In addition to the benefits of developing leadership and communication skills, students and their families will be better prepared to take care of themselves and their neighbors in the event of a disaster, thus reducing the strain on our emergency service providers and first responders.”

Over the next year, MyPI Pennsylvania will be offering this innovative and engaging youth preparedness program to teens who will assist families and communities in a variety of locations throughout Pennsylvania. This program, based on a national award-winning model developed and delivered in Mississippi through the Mississippi State University Extension Service enhances individual, family, and community preparedness for disasters, while at the same time, strengthening youth leadership, communication skills, teamwork, decision making, self-esteem, civic responsibility, and empowerment, along with family communication and cohesion. “The underlying missions of MyPI National are to reboot youth preparedness across our states and territories, to capitalize on the energy of our teens, and to set the new standard for how we engage our teens in sustainable preparedness endeavors as we move forward in the face of a variety of threats and hazards that we continue to see on seemingly a daily basis, regardless of geographic location.  From the large urban areas to the smaller rural towns and villages, emergencies and disasters do not discriminate. We must be aware of all possible risks and hazards and educate all citizens, including our youth. We have seen fantastic success for many years in Mississippi and have seen the same impact within our partners under the MyPI National umbrella. As our MyPI National team works with the initial cohort of MyPI Pennsylvania instructors, we will continue the process of fostering relationships and networks that will hopefully ensure the success of this program for years to come, which is yet another very achievable outcome and one that these great citizens, families, and communities deserve,” said Dr. C. Ryan Akers, MyPI National Project Director and MyPI Mississippi Program Coordinator.

Added Akers, “MyPI offers a tremendous, multi-faceted approach to youth preparedness with rich learning and leadership opportunities for teens and enhanced preparedness levels for families and communities. There is a definitive focus and energy necessary as we move into the next phase of MyPI here in Pennsylvania, where the real work is carried out and the real impact is seen. On a personal and a professional level, I look forward to seeing these new instructors respond to the challenge and become the catalyst for positive change and impact across this state. It was clear this week that the instructors have a strong passion for disaster education and preparedness, the development of their youth and safety of their families, and the livelihood of these communities, which is wonderful to see. These instructors have answered the call for their community repeatedly. I know they will continue to do the same through MyPI. Who knows when we will see the next emergency or major disaster? But we do know that it’s not a question of if…it’s a question of when. The program that our instructors will deliver and the work our teens will do provides an invaluable and perhaps life-saving service across their communities and for their people. We expect a positive impact for all involved and will continue to work with the instructors, the Program Manager, and community partners to ensure its success over the long-term.”

Lead Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor for MyPI National, Dave Nichols, added, “I truly enjoyed coming to my wife’s home state and helping them become better prepared in times of disaster. I am looking forward to seeing how MyPI Pennsylvania impacts the youth, adults, and preparedness community in the Keystone State. There is certainly a motivated, energized, and passionate instructor cohort to deliver the initial programs, motivated not just for youth and community preparedness but also for youth development, leadership, and empowerment.”

MyPI Pennsylvania is a component of the National Youth Preparedness Initiative, MyPI National, a partnership of 37 states and 3 US territories.  MyPI National’s Phase 1 pilot began in 2015 with 8 state-level programs. In September of 2017, MyPI National was awarded the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual and Community Preparedness national award for “Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness.” Capitalizing on program success and momentum, MyPI National began a Phase 2 expansion of the program which enabled the inclusion of 10 new states. In 2018, in addition to winning FEMA’s national CERT award for “Preparing the Whole Community”, MyPI National received additional federal funding for a Phase 3 expansion that added 11 new state partners and 2 US territories. In 2019, the MyPI model was recognized with the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals’ Citizenry in 4-H Youth Development national award, its fourth national award in five years. Finally, in 2022, MyPI National obtained federal funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a fourth expansion of the program, of which Pennsylvania is a partner.

Regarding Pennsylvania’s program, Akers stated, “Our MyPI National Coordination team has travelled to all corners of the nation and across the world with this project. This week, we were excited to be back in FEMA Region III, where we are always looking to enhance our
programmatic footprint and outreach in areas that have been hit hard by natural disasters. I can confidently say that the MyPI Pennsylvania instructors have displayed the kind of engagement and motivation that is characteristic of our most productive partners throughout MyPI National. We are looking for that definitive ‘zest’ and ‘passion’ to move these projects forward and that was the case here this week in Jessup with this instructor cohort and Angie Smith, the Program Manager. As a National training team, we hope to entertain the level of discussions that clearly project the instructors are thinking long-term, not just a focus on the early deliveries. That was certainly the case this week and I believe this program has quite a bright future. As the National Project Director, I can assert that this certainly makes administering this program and being a productive program incubator so much easier and more enjoyable when you have a cohesive unit that already has a vision for delivering MyPI. Pennsylvania teens, families, and communities are in for a treat on multiple levels due to the work of these great professionals, educators, and preparedness advocates. Much like their colleagues across the nation, the instructors in Pennsylvania truly exude a passion to change lives and to educate their communities, particularly their teens, through this program. It was indeed a pleasure for the MyPI National team to be able to spend some critical training time here this week. This initial cohort of instructors and the MyPI Program Manager will prove to be a great asset for our overall program goals and will guide the program with the motivation that we have come to expect, and that our program and stakeholders demand. We are excited about this great partnership with Penn State Extension and Pennsylvania 4-H, and we are already seeing a developing relationship and early ownership between the program and the instructors. We look forward to seeing the program eventually become a state-wide outreach campaign. It was quite clear among the National team members that once MyPI Pennsylvania takes root, it will progress and flourish in large part because of their efforts and dedication.”

The MyPI model offers a flexible and comprehensive, three-component program. In Component A, teenagers will complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency-certified CERT training and corresponding modules focusing on Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety and Utility Control, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search and Rescue, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, and Terrorism and CERT. In Component B, the Add-On Catalog features certification opportunities in CPR and AED usage, along with a technology track comprised of awareness programs focusing on HAM Radio, NOAA Weather Radio, Smoke Alarm Maintenance, and Smart Phone App and Social Media in Emergency Preparedness.  The Add-On Catalog also includes a disaster simulation, a school safety/active shooter awareness program, an extreme weather awareness program, a public health awareness and mitigation program, and a career track that focuses on public safety, fire service, and emergency management careers. The final element of the program, Component C, includes a comprehensive family and community service project entitled PREP+6 in which each participant helps develop emergency supply kits and emergency communication plans for their family AND 6 additional families or households. This component allows for significant enhancement in individual, family, and community preparedness and resilience. To graduate from the program, students must complete all components.

Tim Jayne, 4-H Youth Development Educator for Wyoming County, believes in the power of youth inclusion in emergency preparedness and in the benefits of the MyPI program specifically. According to Jayne, who also serves as a newly certified MyPI Pennsylvania instructor, “Our youth are our future and nurturing their confidence in the face of emergencies and developing positive volunteer traits and leadership will only benefit our communities. This program brings the conversation to the forefront for our youth and communities to become involved with their local emergency resources. Keeping calm in emergencies is the key to making prudent decisions in the heat of the moment. MyPI provides Pennsylvania youth with the knowledge and confidence to help and serve their communities and will prove invaluable when an emergency occurs. Our MyPI Instructor Certification and Training Workshop provided our cohort with the tools and knowledge to confidently educate our youth appropriately regardless of their current background. The entire program and its unique components, including the PREP+6 service project, will have a lasting impact on the youth and on their communities’ culture of preparedness.”

Christine Corl, 4-H Youth Development Educator in Huntingdon County, and a newly certified MyPI Pennsylvania Instructor, agrees with Jayne. According to Corl, “When people are prepared for emergencies, they are generally calmer when one occurs.  Teaching MyPI in our communities will bring awareness to individuals and families, which will ultimately result in our communities being more prepared for disasters.  It also has high potential to introduce our emergency responder communities to our youth who are interested in potential careers and can identify new volunteers through the interactions.  Some of these youth might identify a career path because of what they’ve learned in this program.  At the very least, this program has the potential to teach youth what it takes to respond to emergencies in their communities and give them a deeper appreciation of those in those roles in their communities. Youth programs like MyPI also encourage adults to see the good in our youth through their interactions, improving their outlook about future generations.”

Sandi Graham, 4-H Youth Development Educator in Lackawanna County, was initially attracted to the comprehensive nature of the program and its ability to engage, educate, and empower youth to become involved in their communities through leadership and emergency preparedness. According to Graham, “By helping our teens engage in youth preparedness, MyPI will help them gain confidence in keeping themselves, their families, their neighbors, and their communities safer. Additionally, learning about being prepared in emergencies will help teens decrease anxiety about being in emergency situations.” Graham also invites other adults to consider becoming certified to teach in the program as well. “Adults who train teens in emergency preparedness are helping to create a culture of preparedness,” added Graham.

The partners within MyPI National are replicating the model created and delivered in Mississippi. In 2014, the Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative was named FEMA’s national award winner for Outstanding Youth Preparedness program. It also received an Honorable Mention recognition for “Preparing the Whole Community.” In 2015, MyPI Mississippi was named one of the first entities to be named an official Affirmer of the new National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education. As such, MyPI is an engaged and recognized component of a nationally supported, progressive approach to preparing youth for emergencies and disasters. MyPI National is also recognized as an Affirmer of the national strategy.

For additional information regarding MyPI Pennsylvania, including areas where the program will be delivered initially, please visit the MyPI Pennsylvania website at https://mypipennsylvania.org and contact Angie Smith, MyPI Pennsylvania Program Manager at axs1397@psu.edu or 570.832.2804. For more information regarding MyPI National, please visit the MyPI National website at http://mypinational.extension.msstate.edu or contact Dr. Ryan Akers, MyPI National Project Director at cra20@msstate.edu or 662.325.5914.  You may also reference both programs on Facebook. Those profiles can be found by searching “My PI Pennsylvania” and “My PI National” respectively.