On April 17-18, members of NACCHO’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Volunteer Core Competency Ad Hoc Workgroup met to continue its work with developing a conceptual framework for training and development activities for the MRC network. Members of the group took what was learned from the February in-person meeting and additional areas of research presented at its March conference call to recommend the following changes:
| Current Competency | Recommended Competency Revision |
| Domain #1: Health, Safety, and Personal Preparedness Describe the procedures and steps necessary for the MRC member to protect health, safety, and overall well-being of themselves, their families, the team, and the community. |
Demonstrate safe behaviors during MRC activities. Develop a personal and family Preparedness Plan. |
| Describe the impact of an event on the mental health of the MRC member and their family, team, and others. | Identify the impact of an event on the behavioral health of the MRC member and their family, team and community. |
| Domain #2: Roles & Responsibilities of Individual Volunteers Describe the MRC member’s communication role(s) and processes with response partners, media, general public, and others. |
Describe the member’s communication responsibilities and procedures. |
| Demonstrate the MRC member’s ability to follow procedures for assignment, activation, reporting, and deactivation. | Follow procedures to successfully activate, report, and demobilize. |
| Identify limits to own skills, knowledge, and abilities as they pertain to MRC role(s). | REMOVE Competency |
| Domain #3: Public Health Activities and Incident Management Describe the chain of command (e.g., Emergency Management System, ICS, NIMS), the integration of the MRC, and its application to a given incident. |
Describe the chain of command (e.g. EMS, ICS, NIMS) during MRC activities. |
| Describe the role of the local MRC unit in public health and/oremergency response and its application to a given incident. | Describe how MRC serves the community. |
The recommended changes were based on research and additional areas of inquiry which included the current and future focus of the MRC; needs of the MRC volunteer and unit leader; goal and purpose of the core competencies; discussion of other models that successfully frame the competencies and are adaptable; and the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of the MRC volunteer. These changes align with five value statements identified by the workgroup, which define the professional environment and standards of conduct expected of the MRC volunteer. These value statements include:
- Community: We honor the community-based nature of the MRC and recognize its spirit of volunteerism.
- Action: We seek opportunities to develop meaningful initiatives that support community medical and public health volunteerism and service.
- Resourcefulness: We maximize our potential to learn, and leverage relationships and assets to the fullest extent.
- Teamwork: We embrace collaboration and work collectively to achieve our mission.
- Diversity: Accept and respect the cultural identity of all MRC volunteers.
By December 2014, the group will finalize the domains that align with each of these competencies, pilot test the recommended changes to the competencies, identify evaluative measures and tools, and finalize and disseminate messaging to share with MRC unit leaders and volunteers, regional and state MRC coordinators, and DCVMRC staff. The next meeting for this workgroup is scheduled for May and will be held via conference call.
