Kansas Care & Share / Disaster Fund
The Kansas Care and Share and Disaster Fund are programs within ESA that assists our membership in times of need. Our Kansas membership supports the Kansas Care and Share program that targets our Kansas members. Internationally, the Disaster Fund supports members everywhere and is supported by all of the membership of ESA. These programs make ESA unique among organizations.
Kansas Care and Share Fund
The Kansas Care and Share Fund was established to aid members in good standing in financial difficulties over which the member has no control, i.e., loss of income due to illness, death or accident of member's immediate family or extreme personal hardship that would cause loss of member's income. This fund can be used as a supplement to the Disaster Fund in cases where the amount received from the Disaster Fund does not cover member's loss.
FACTS
1. This fund will depend solely on donations from the individual members, Chapters, and Districts.
2. Approved claim to member will not exceed $3,000.00 per case.
3. Request for aid must originate with the member applying for aid.
4. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson and Committee shall investigate, approve and determine amount of each claim. The Care & Share Fund Committee shall consist of the Care & Share Fund Chairperson (to be appointed by the State President), the State President, and the State First Vice President.
5. In cases of extreme emergency, the Committee, upon investigation, may advance funds with the understanding that a formal claim will be filed.
6. All expenses incurred by the Care & Share Committee will be paid from interest accrued (if available) from the Care & Share Fund.
7. The Care & Share Fund books shall be audited by the State Auditor.
8. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson shall be bonded.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
1. The member shall complete and mail three (3) copies of the Care & Share Fund application form and requested documentation to the Care & Share Fund Chairperson. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson will contact the other members of the committee and together they will review the application.
2. Enclose a letter explaining why member is in need of assistance. A detailed letter with this information will eliminate telephone calls and speed up processing of claim.
3. In extreme emergencies, call the Care & Share Fund Chairperson giving them all the facts surrounding the case. Then, proceed as in Step #1 above.
Due to HIPPA Guidelines, applications no longer have to be signed by chapter presidents, they go straight to the Care & Share Fund Chairperson.
1. This fund will depend solely on donations from the individual members, Chapters, and Districts.
2. Approved claim to member will not exceed $3,000.00 per case.
3. Request for aid must originate with the member applying for aid.
4. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson and Committee shall investigate, approve and determine amount of each claim. The Care & Share Fund Committee shall consist of the Care & Share Fund Chairperson (to be appointed by the State President), the State President, and the State First Vice President.
5. In cases of extreme emergency, the Committee, upon investigation, may advance funds with the understanding that a formal claim will be filed.
6. All expenses incurred by the Care & Share Committee will be paid from interest accrued (if available) from the Care & Share Fund.
7. The Care & Share Fund books shall be audited by the State Auditor.
8. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson shall be bonded.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
1. The member shall complete and mail three (3) copies of the Care & Share Fund application form and requested documentation to the Care & Share Fund Chairperson. The Care & Share Fund Chairperson will contact the other members of the committee and together they will review the application.
2. Enclose a letter explaining why member is in need of assistance. A detailed letter with this information will eliminate telephone calls and speed up processing of claim.
3. In extreme emergencies, call the Care & Share Fund Chairperson giving them all the facts surrounding the case. Then, proceed as in Step #1 above.
Due to HIPPA Guidelines, applications no longer have to be signed by chapter presidents, they go straight to the Care & Share Fund Chairperson.
The Kansas Care & Share Fund is not intended to be an ongoing source of assistance for the same disaster. In the event a member requests additional help for the same circumstance, the following procedure shall be followed:
A new form with accompanying supporting documents shall be filed with the Kansas Care & Share Fund Chairperson. The Committee shall investigate the claim fully and notify the member of approval or denial.
Send all contributions to the Care & Share Chairperson
Disaster Fund
The purpose of the ESA International Council Disaster Fund is to assist an ESA member whose home and/or personal belongings are destroyed or damaged extensively by one of nature’s causes -fire, flood, etc. Assistance may also be given when a member incurs heavy financial responsibility due to a debilitating illness or accident, which involves the member or their spouse or immediate family who resides in the home due to physical or mental impairment whom they have legal guardianship over and are legally responsible.
FACTS
The need for assistance must have occurred in the current ESA year from June 1 to May 31. This timeline is NOT the same as the International Council ESA year which is August 1 to July 31. However, the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Committee works together to ensure that any claims submitted after May 31 will be reviewed and whether approved or denied, will be listed on the following year’s report.
Following receipt of an application, the International Council Disaster Fund Chair will review with the Committee, comprised of the IC Disaster Fund Chair, the IC President, and the IC First Vice President/President-Elect, and will make the final determination regarding the claim. In the event a member requests additional help after one claim has been paid, the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Committee MUST investigate the application thoroughly. The Disaster Fund is not an on-going source of assistance; a second claim will not be paid for the same illness or accident. If the International Disaster Fund Committee establishes that the additional need is valid, the application must be submitted (along with the information regarding the reasons for the additional claim) to the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Chair.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
$5,000.00 is the maximum amount given to a member of a Disaster Fund claim. Every consideration will be taken when determining the total amount that will be paid to the claimant. The ESA International Council Disaster Fund Chair will determine the total amount to be paid based on the nature of the claim. The International Council Disaster Fund Committee will review the claim and make the final decision if there is some doubt as to the amount to be paid.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Due to HIPPA Guidelines, applications no longer have to be signed by chapter presidents, they go straight to the ESA IC Disaster Fund Chair.
ESA IC DISASTER FUND GUIDELNES
The member should send all claims directly to ESA IC Disaster Fund Chair for review. (To comply with HIPAA guidelines, DO NOT send Applications to the Chapter or State President.) All claims must be submitted on a valid form in compliance with the IC Disaster Fund Chair Guidelines.
Things that do not qualify for assistance under these guidelines:
NOTE: The ESA IC Disaster Fund Application should be completed according to the guidelines listed above. Once the Application Form is completed and has been signed by the member, the Application Form, and any additional information (e.g., proof of the reason for the claim) should be sent to the International Council Disaster Fund Chair (currently the IC Junior Past President).
The need for assistance must have occurred in the current ESA year from June 1 to May 31. This timeline is NOT the same as the International Council ESA year which is August 1 to July 31. However, the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Committee works together to ensure that any claims submitted after May 31 will be reviewed and whether approved or denied, will be listed on the following year’s report.
Following receipt of an application, the International Council Disaster Fund Chair will review with the Committee, comprised of the IC Disaster Fund Chair, the IC President, and the IC First Vice President/President-Elect, and will make the final determination regarding the claim. In the event a member requests additional help after one claim has been paid, the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Committee MUST investigate the application thoroughly. The Disaster Fund is not an on-going source of assistance; a second claim will not be paid for the same illness or accident. If the International Disaster Fund Committee establishes that the additional need is valid, the application must be submitted (along with the information regarding the reasons for the additional claim) to the ESA International Council Disaster Fund Chair.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
- Active Members of 90 days or more.
- Members-at-Large who are in good standing with Headquarters.
- Life Active Members will be determined by the IC Disaster Fund Chair in agreement with the IC President and First Vice-President/President Elect.
$5,000.00 is the maximum amount given to a member of a Disaster Fund claim. Every consideration will be taken when determining the total amount that will be paid to the claimant. The ESA International Council Disaster Fund Chair will determine the total amount to be paid based on the nature of the claim. The International Council Disaster Fund Committee will review the claim and make the final decision if there is some doubt as to the amount to be paid.
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
- An application MUST originate from the member involved, even if the member is MAL. See #3 for additional information.
- All information requested on the application MUST be completed or the application will be returned. Dollar amounts must be given as requested on the application form. Additional pertinent information, which would help the IC Disaster Fund Chair in reaching a decision, should be included in an accompanying letter.
- If assistance is needed due to a terminal illness, it is recommended that the request be made as early as possible. A claim initiated before or within 30 days following the death of a member will be paid to the surviving family providing it meets all other criteria.
Due to HIPPA Guidelines, applications no longer have to be signed by chapter presidents, they go straight to the ESA IC Disaster Fund Chair.
ESA IC DISASTER FUND GUIDELNES
The member should send all claims directly to ESA IC Disaster Fund Chair for review. (To comply with HIPAA guidelines, DO NOT send Applications to the Chapter or State President.) All claims must be submitted on a valid form in compliance with the IC Disaster Fund Chair Guidelines.
Things that do not qualify for assistance under these guidelines:
- anything in the home damaged or needing repair that does not pertain to a Natural Disaster,
- broken pipes, flooding in home,
- remodeling for medical issues,
- co-payments other than medical bills,
- divorce,
- unemployment,
- furnace/air conditioning replacement,
- funeral expenses,
- housing (house payments, hotel bills) etc.
NOTE: The ESA IC Disaster Fund Application should be completed according to the guidelines listed above. Once the Application Form is completed and has been signed by the member, the Application Form, and any additional information (e.g., proof of the reason for the claim) should be sent to the International Council Disaster Fund Chair (currently the IC Junior Past President).