Tips

Announcements

CALENDAR

09/01-09/30- September is National Preparedness Month

09/08- 09/11 - NEMA 2008 Annual Conference

Portland, OR

09/09- 09/12 - ASTHO/NACCHO Annual Conference

Sacramento, CA

09/15 - Deadline for CBA Applications

09/17- 09/19 - Region IX and X Conference

Ketchikan, AK

LINKS

MRC at NACCHO

MRC Program Office

Capacity Building Awards

The Albuquerque- University of New Mexico MRC unit received both a $10,000 Capacity Building Award (CBA) in 2006-07, and a $5,000 award in 2007-08.  The original award was used to fund a partial salary and small items, while the funds from the second year went to travel reimbursements, deployment funds, medical supplies, conference attendance, and food. 

Kitty Juul, Unit Coordinator and New Mexico State Coordinator, says “it would be very difficult as a unit to function without these awards.  We use the funds primarily during responses, where it’s hard to predict what needs may come up.  Flexibility is priceless in disaster situations.  I recommend that units explore other sources of grants and partnerships that may be limited to specific uses, and then use the CBA funds to fill in the gaps.” 

Also a member of the CBA Workgroup, Juul adds that the group has attempted to continue to streamline the application process and implement user recommendations, while promoting that units give themselves more time to complete the application process.

Tips

• Capacity Building Awards will be available online through September 15. Access the application here.
• Award amounts are $10,000 for new applicants and $5,000 for returning applicants
• Eligible applicants must be the leader of a registered unit as of July 31, have updated their unit's profile, and be housed in an organization which is not barred from receiving federal funds
• Applications will be evaluated on the basis of letters of support, projected activities, a realistic budget, training plans, adaquate volunteer recruitment, engagement, recognition, and retention, responsiveness to requests and participation in activities.
• Previous award recipients recommend applicants give themselves more preparation time, especially in regards to requesting letters of support, pay close attention to the instructions, conduct a needs assessment, and ask other units what they have used their funds for before applying
• Questions about your application should be addressed to Chicquita Hairston at (202) 507-4224 or chairston@naccho.org.

Announcements

Public Health Preparedness Summit

Registration for the 2009 Public Health Preparedness Summit being held February 18-20 in San Diego, CA is now open.

Training Opportunities

Looking for additional trainings specific to MRC volunteers? Information is available through the Program Office, MRC-TRAIN, and NACCHO's Toolbox.

FEMA's Interim Comprehensive Preparedness Guide

The interim guide, "Producing Emergency Plans: A Guide for All-Hazard Operation Planning for State, Local, and Tribal Governements" is the first of FEMA's efforts to update their long-standing series of state and local planning guides.

Pandemic Influenza Planning Information

Planning information for school closures, at-risk populations, and home health care during an influenza epidemic is now available.