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Americans responded to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, with courage
and compassion, as well as a renewed commitment to doing good and desire to
help others. In January 2002, President George W. Bush created the USA
Freedom Corps to capture the spirit of sacrifice that emerged throughout our
communities and provide Americans with meaningful opportunities to serve
their communities and our country. Citizen Corps Councils bring together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and management agencies, local elected officials, volunteer organizations and the private sector to strengthen Citizen Corps programs at the state and local level and engage citizens in homeland security. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Training CERT provides training in emergency preparedness and basic response techniques enabling citizens to take a more active role in personal and public safety. Each CERT member completes 20 hours of training on disaster preparedness, basic disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, and other essential topics. The training also includes a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills they learned throughout the course. In the event of an emergency, CERT members can provide immediate assistance to victims, assist in organizing spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site and provide critical support to first responders.
Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services,
Established in 1988 to help reduce local crime, Neighborhood Watch now incorporates terrorism awareness and education into its existing crime prevention program and serves as a way to bring residents together to focus on disaster preparedness and training. Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, VIPS is managed and implemented by International Association of Chiefs of Police.
For additional information about Citizen Corps, visit www.citizencorps.gov. |
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