Economic Impact in the Social Sector of Southern Indiana

Profile:  Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross

The Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross
Serving Clark and Washington Counties Since 1917
1805 East 8th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone (812) 283-8416
Website: www.clarkredcross.org

Agency Mission Statement or Description:

Clara Barton and a circle of acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. in 1881. The Red Cross received its first congressional charter in 1900 and a second in 1905, the year after Barton resigned from the organization. This charter – still in effect today – sets forth the purposes of the organization that include giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation.

While closely associated with the federal government, the Red Cross is an independent, volunteer-led organization, financially supported by voluntary public.

Mission: The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The Clark County Red Cross provides services including disaster response and preparedness; CPR & First Aid training; blood and biomedical services; services to the Armed Forces; and pet therapy programs.

Start your career and become part of American Red Cross nursing history! Recently, the Clark County Red Cross became the first Chapter in Indiana to be certified by the Indiana State Health Department to teach the American Red Cross Nurse Aide (CNA) Training Program. Classes are held monthly and all students who successfully complete the course are eligible to take the Indiana State exam for the Nurse Assistant certification.

Impact on Community:

From July 2008 to April 2009, our volunteers gave over 35,000 hours to the Clark County Red Cross providing services to our community, valued at $708,750 real labor.

Red Cross training allows companies to meet OSHA requirements, and individuals to qualify for new jobs in our community.

Recipients of disaster relief receive financial assistance for to shop for food, clothing and medical supplies from local merchants, as well as rental assistance allowing them to remain in our community.