Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: West Slope Foundation
Legal Name (if Different): West Slope Foundation, Inc.
Also Known As: WSF
Mailing Address: PO Box 521
City: Somerset
State: CA
Postal Code: 95684
Main Phone: 530-287-4710
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.westslopefoundation.org
Employer ID Number: 88-3095707
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 02/23/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Youth Rural Community Disaster Readiness and Response Teams
Project Description:

West Slope Foundation prepares young people on El Dorado County’s Western Slope to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors before, during, and after disasters. Our youth-centered model—Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT), Youth Readiness Ambassadors, and Disaster Readiness Workshops—builds practical skills, confidence, and leadership in a rural context where professional resources can be stretched during emergencies.

Teen CERT develops capable teen leaders who can act safely until responders arrive and support school and neighborhood preparedness. The curriculum covers local hazard awareness and personal safety; fire behavior, extinguisher use, and utility control; disaster medical operations including triage and bleeding control; light search and rescue with scene size‑up, safe lifts and carries, and team communication; and foundational incident organization and radio etiquette. Training is delivered through a focused sequence culminating in a realistic capstone exercise with role‑players and timed objectives. Safety is paramount: screened instructors, clear scope of practice, and documented risk assessments guide every evolution. Graduates support school safety efforts, assist at community events, and help run age‑appropriate drills under supervision.

The Youth Readiness Ambassadors program normalizes preparedness across households and neighborhoods while creating meaningful leadership roles for children and teens. Elementary‑age participants learn personal safety, household contacts, and kid‑friendly go‑bag essentials. Middle‑school youth practice evacuation planning, pet preparedness, basic first aid, and hazard spotting at home and school. High‑school Ambassadors step into facilitation and mentorship—leading peer talks, canvassing neighborhoods with simple checklists, and supporting drills—often co‑enrolling in Teen CERT. Adult Community Ambassadors reinforce youth efforts by hosting block‑level planning nights and coordinating communication trees.

Disaster Readiness Workshops translate skills into family action. One‑day sessions cover core planning, alerts and warnings, evacuation timing, and go‑bag basics; two‑day sessions add tabletop scenarios, evacuation simulations, shelter‑in‑place decision‑making, and recovery steps such as documentation and navigating resources. Workshops are offered at no cost with youth‑friendly stations, multilingual materials, and accommodations to promote participation. Together, these integrated programs create a clear pathway from awareness to action and service—cultivating trained, motivated teens who strengthen resilience across our wildfire‑prone rural communities.

Total Project Budget: $85,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: $65,000 (Pioneer Fire Protection District, Latrobe Fund, Listos California) Potential: $20,000 ($10,000 Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation Grant, $10,000 Sacramento Regional Community Foundation)

Project Duration: On going but the big expansion to reach more youth will be within the next 12 months.
Geographical Area Served: Primary focus on Western Slope communities centered around Somerset/Mt. Aukum, Outingdale, Omo Ranch, Fairplay, Mt. Aukum and Grizzly Flats, with services extended to surrounding unincorporated areas across the county as programs and partners require (workshops, CERT trainings, drills, and survivor support). During larger incidents, assistance may reach adjacent foothill communities when Western Slope residents are impacted or evacuated
Age Group To Be Served: Youth/Young Adult: 6 – 18 Adult: >18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Jennifer
Contact Last Name: McKim-Hibbard
Contact Title: Deputy Director
Contact Phone: 530-391-3140
Contact Email: jennifer@westslopefoundation.org