Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the MRC created?
What is the typical MRC unit?
What are the benefits of becoming an MRC unit?
How can I get information on how other MRC units operate?
What guidance or instructions are provided to local communities by the National MRC Program Office?
What funding is available for newly forming MRC units?
How are the USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps affiliated?

Why was the MRC created?

There was an outpouring of support for the emergency relief efforts after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Many Americans asked, “What can I do to help?” Medical and public health professionals were among those who wanted to volunteer their services, but many were not able to do so. Using public health and medical volunteers in emergencies requires an organized approach and these individuals were not known to the emergency management system. While they may have had very necessary skills and knowledge, they could not be used because they were not identified, credentialed or trained in advance.

The anthrax attacks in Fall 2001 reinforced the need for pre-identified and trained supplemental medical and public health personnel to assist with emergency operations such as mass antibiotic dispensing or mass immunization campaigns. The anthrax missions provided medications to almost 40,000 individuals. If these events were much larger, the Federal responders could have been overwhelmed and extra personnel may have been required.

To help meet these needs, the Medical Reserve Corps Program was formed in 2002, in cooperation with the White House’s USA Freedom Corps, as one of the charter programs of Citizen Corps. Pre-identifying, training and organizing medical and public health professionals to strengthen their communities through volunteerism is at the core of the MRC concept. MRC volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year by supporting local public health initiatives, such as immunization and prevention activities. When an emergency community need occurs, MRC volunteers can work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs.

Now, with the MRC in place, a formerly untapped community resource – medical and public health volunteers - is functioning and available for the community to access in emergencies and for ongoing efforts in public health.

What is the typical MRC unit?

There is no "typical" MRC unit. Each unit organizes in response to their area's specific needs. A region's hazard threats, health concerns, and the organization in which the unit is established (health department, faith-based organization, etc.), will dictate what an MRC looks like. With community resources and partners that span a spectrum from local voluntary organizations to private corporations, the "face" of each MRC community is unique. However, the goals of the MRC are similar; units work toward bettering their local area's public health infrastructure and strengthening their response capabilities in the event of an emergency. The differences can be found in how each community reaches these goals.

What are the benefits of becoming an MRC unit?

There are many benefits in becoming an MRC unit. A registered MRC unit receives immediate recognition in their community, in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, in Citizen Corps, in the White House's USA Freedom Corps, and nationwide. The MRC unit is offered technical assistance from the MRC National Program Office, which is housed in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. The local MRC unit can take advantage of our efforts to coordinate and collaborate with other federal agencies and the multitude of national medical, health, and emergency response organizations. Through these collaborative efforts, we identify the activities, research, and technologies that these other agencies and organizations are engaged in and pass information to the local MRC units through best practices, education and training, and technical assistance to help the local units continue to set their goals to meet the changing needs of their communities.

How can I get information on how other MRC units operate?

The MRC Web site offers a message board as an open forum for networking and knowledge-sharing purposes. By creating a username and password, you may login to post questions, answers, and information for other MRC units and those interested in the efforts of the MRC Program. If you would like to contact an individual community for a more pointed conversation, contact information for each unit can be found on the MRC Web site. Those with a username and password for the Web site also can view documents and presentations prepared by other MRC units, such as volunteer applications, brochures, and management plans, in the Clearinghouse. Units are encouraged to submit their own work for the Clearinghouse, allowing communities to learn-from each other-what has worked to make their organization stronger and more successful. These online features have been designed to better facilitate communication between MRC units and those interested in learning more about the MRC.

What guidance or instructions are provided to local communities by the National MRC Program Office?

The MRC National Program Office serves as a clearinghouse of information for MRC units. Although the National Program Office does not offer strict rules about how a community should reach its goals and objectives, we offer guidance through the Technical Assistance (TA) Series. The TA Series includes sections about how to start, organize, coordinate, develop, and maintain an MRC unit and offers examples of best practices from MRC units with success stories about education, training, and other topics. In addition to providing this document as a resource, the National Program Office also hosts the official MRC Web site, Listserv, and the Annual MRC National Leadership Conference, linking each community, interested person, or organization to more information and a strong network for communication. As MRC units face different challenges, serve varying groups of people, and are housed in a wide range of organizations, there can be no one way to form or run an MRC. The MRC National Program Office strives to provide best practices and sound advice, but leave any decision-making about how a unit should be run to the communities. MRC communities and those interested in forming an MRC are encouraged to e-mail or call the MRC National Program Office with questions, concerns, or comments (MRCcontact@osophs.dhhs.gov, 301-443-4951).

What funding is available for newly forming MRC units?

Availability of funds for Fiscal Year 2005 (October 2004 – September 2005) will be announced when the budget appropriation information is released. In the meantime, MRC units across the country are finding various other sources of funding, from Federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (through the Office of Domestic Preparedness and Citizen Corps) and the Department of Health and Human Services (through the CDC and HRSA). Others are obtaining funds from state and local agencies and organizations. Some are even receiving funds from private organizations.

We have created a document (available on this Web site at Private Funding Sources ) that lists various private organizations offering grants, a link to their Web sites, and a short description. Some resources will pertain more to one MRC unit than another because of location, population served, mission, and other factors. Although this document may not include every possible source for funding, it may help a community locate funds to facilitate growth and sustainability of the MRC.

A “one-stop shop” for Federal grants can be found at www.grants.gov.

How are the USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps affiliated?

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush announced the USA Freedom Corps, an initiative designed to promote and organize volunteerism and service in the United States. USA Freedom Corps is comprised of several organizations, including Citizen Corps, that work on different aspects of volunteerism. Citizen Corps is a national network of volunteers dedicated to making sure their families, homes, and communities are safe from terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), which organizes and prepares medical professionals for emergencies and works to strengthen the public health infrastructure, is a community-based and specialized component of Citizen Corps. MRC units, when possible, collaborate with their local Citizen Corps Council to better protect, prepare, and serve their communities. Other components of Citizen Corps include the programs Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). On the national level, the MRC Program Office, headquartered in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, functions as a clearinghouse for community information and "best practices." The MRC Program Office offers technical assistance and educational resources, as well as partners with the National Program Office of Citizen Corps and the USA Freedom Corps to build relationships and gain resources for the MRC Program as a whole.