Where Are They Now?
A Q&A with Joseph (Joe) Prewitt-Diaz
“I joined the National American Red Cross for $1 in 1953 when I was 10 years old.”
Q. What positions do you currently hold?
A. I am currently serving as the global mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) lead for the National American Red Cross, a volunteer role in International Services. I am also a member of the board for the newly formed Washington, D.C. Chapter. Currently I am on loan to the IFRC as the volunteer partner to the Health Sector.
Q. How long have you been with the American Red Cross, and which Red Cross position was or is your favorite?
A. I joined the National American Red Cross for $1 in 1953 when I was 10 years old.
As an adult, I served as a volunteer in the Puerto Rico Chapter in the 1970s, came to Connecticut as a Blood Services volunteer organizing blood drives among Puerto Rican migrants, and in 1978 moved to Pennsylvania, where I served as a local volunteer in Disaster Services in Central Pennsylvania. From 1972 to 1998 I served in the role of Disaster Mental Health (DMH) for Hurricane Andrew, the Oklahoma City bombing. and the 9/11 terrorist attack, among others. I have served as a regional program coordinator in the Hurricane Mitch/Central America response (1998-2000), the MHPSS representative after the Gujarat earthquake in India (2000-2002), the psychosocial regional lead for the Tsunami Response (2004-2007), and the India American Red Cross representative (2007-2009).
Q. What experiences did you bring to the Red Cross?
1. Take some time off to assess your skill set and how you can transfer those to civilian (volunteer) life.
2. Be an ambassador for the Red Cross in your communities and your regions. Become visible to emergency management agencies, churches, and local clubs.
3. Care for yourself. What are the skills that you can transfer to your new role if you are retiring?
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A. My major contribution to the American Red Cross has been to keep a record of MHPSS services we’ve undertaken all over the world. We’ve helped shape those services of the IFRC and other national societies.I’ve written a number of books about the MHPSS services we’ve offered in places like India, Sri Lanka, and Spanish-speaking countries, among others. I’ve written the first guide to MHPSS in Spanish, and it is used by many national societies.
