Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of local volunteer units that engage their local communities to strengthen public health, reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and improve preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.

NACCHO works in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Medical Reserve Corps Program Office to:

  • Build the capabilities of MRC units to meet needs during emergencies and disasters;
  • Identify and address barriers to the use of MRC units and volunteers during emergencies and disasters;
  • Support the sustainability of MRC units to maintain and develop response capabilities.

For more information, visit the ASPR MRC Program Office Webpage.

NACCHO's MRC Team has developed the following to support MRC units across the country including deployment readiness resources, funding opportunities, and information on the most recent Network Profile study.

Public Health Preparedness

Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps

This report presents the newest data on Medical Reserve Corps unit funding, partnerships, composition, activities, and capabilities.

Public Health Preparedness

Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps

Public Health Preparedness

MRC Deployment Readiness Resources

Check out the latest MRC deployment readiness resources available through NACCHO.

Public Health Preparedness

MRC Deployment Readiness Resources

Public Health Preparedness

MRC Funding Opportunities

NACCHO MRC team is pleased to offer funding opportunities for MRC units.

Public Health Preparedness

MRC Funding Opportunities

MRC Regional Workshops

MRC regional workshops are intended for MRC unit leaders and MRC state coordinators to foster collaboration between MRC units, stakeholders, and to facilitate integration of the MRC in local, statewide, or interstate deployments. In addition, this workshop will allow unit leaders and MRC state coordinators to connect with colleagues, share peer to peer best practices from deployments, and share about resources to that enhance unit capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies.

The following links contain PDFs of all slides used at the 2023 MRC Regional Workshops. Thank you so much to all of the presenters and attendees!

1.MRC Regional Workshop 1 :March 14-15, 2023- Richmond, VA (Region 1, 2, and 3)

    Exercise Documents:

    Presentation Slides:

    2. MRC Regional Workshop 2: May 16-17, 2023- Memphis, TN (Region 4 and 6).

    3. MRC Regional Workshop 3: June 13-14, 2023- Indianapolis, IN.

    Presentation Slides:

    4. MRC Regional Workshop 4: July 18-19, 2023- Salt Lake City, UT.


    E-Learning Opportunities

    MRC-TRAIN is a free, online e-learning platform with training modules for MRC unit leaders and volunteers. MRC units can also upload their own individualized training content to the TRAIN platform. For more information on MRC-TRAIN, check out "A Tour of MRC-TRAIN as a Unit Leader" or click here. Additionally, NACCHO recently published a series of six courses on MRC-TRAIN that were designed to provide resources and recommendations to MRC unit leaders on various foundational topics. To learn more, click here.

    NACCHO University is another e-learning platform with self-paced learning modules created for MRC units including Deployment Readiness, MRC Unit Factors for Success, and MRC Core Competencies.

    Fact Sheets

    NACCHO has developed the following Fact Sheets to highlight MRC units across the national network and encourage peer sharing:

    Communications

    NACCHO has developed resources to assist MRC Unit Leaders and Stakeholders with their communication and messaging strategies. The NACCHO MRC Strategic Messaging Guide provides a roadmap for MRC units as they conduct community outreach and media interviews. It touches on the history of the MRC and shares some of the facts and figures behind this extraordinary organization.

    NEW: NACCHO has recently updated the Social Media Toolkit: A Primer for Local Health Department PIOs and Communications Professionals. The toolkit helps local health departments get started and grow their social media programs, one tweet at a time. For beginners as well as experienced practitioners, this toolkit features a description of platforms; how to develop a social media policy; how to integrate social media with your emergency communications plans; social media strategy; and emerging trends.

    Advocacy

    Advocacy can build relationships with and educate policymakers; influence new and existing policies, laws, and budgets; and, encourage the creation of new programs. Learn how you can better collaborate and communicate with your local elected officials using NACCHO's Advocacy Toolkit.

    Psychological First Aid Resources

    PFA is an evidence-informed approach to respond to emotional and psychological needs after after a natural disaster or act of terrorism. Find Train the Trainer PFA Facilitators Guide and Field Guide below:

    The MRC InTouch e-Digest is a monthly e-newsletter. Each edition features unit activities, resources, announcements, and a calendar of events. All volunteers are eligible to sign up to receive the monthly e-newsletter via the MRC one-way and two-way ListServs.

    View back issues of MRC InTouch (2013-present) below.

    Year Month Featured Article
    2022 December MRC of Puerto Rico Responds to Hurricane Fiona
    2022 November Saying Thank You to Volunteers
    2022 October MRC Units Support Monkeypox Response
    2022 September Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the MRC
    2022 August Equipping the Community to Respond to an Active Shooter
    2022 July Partners in Community Response: Universities and the MRC
    2022 June Working with Your Elected Officials to Recognize Volunteers
    2022 May Leveraging the Talents of a Scalable, Multi-Functional Unit
    2022 April Celebrating MRC Volunteers
    2022 March Unit Develops In-Field Resource for Volunteers
    2022 February Helping Senior Citizens to Build Resilience
    2022 January Combating the Opioid Epidemic
    2021 December Partnering with Elementary Schools to Provide COVID-19 Vaccination
    2021 November Now Available Online: The 2020 Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps
    2021 October Vaccinating Underserved Communities
    2021 September Rapid Deployment of Northern Virginia MRC Volunteers Supports Evacuees Arriving from Afghanistan
    2021 August Diversifying Your Volunteer Base and Community Outreach Efforts
    2021 July Sustaining and Engaging Volunteers
    2021 June Addressing the Needs of Pets During an Emergency
    2021 May Meeting COVID-19 Vaccination Needs
    2021 April Celebrating MRC Volunteers
    2021 March Scaling Up to Meet COVID-19 Vaccination Needs
    2021 February Fostering Health Equity
    2021 January COVID-19 Response Mission Sets
    2020 December Combating Social Isolation
    2020 November Preparing for Mass Vaccination Whatever the Weather
    2020 October Fostering Volunteer Resiliency
    2020 September National Preparedness Month and Fire Response
    2020 August Preparing for Fall Vaccination Clinics
    2020 July Developing Unit Capabilities
    2020 June Onboarding MRC Volunteers during COVID-19
    2020 May MRC Responses to COVID-19: The Road to Recovery
    2020 April COVID-19 FAQs
    2020 March Albuquerque's Westside Emergency Housing Shelter
    2020 February Responding to Infectious Disease Outbreaks
    2020 January Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Models
    2019 December Cold Weather Sheltering
    2019 November Home Care and Hospice Month
    2019 October National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019
    2019 September Preparedness Month 2019: Prepared, Not Scared
    2019 August MRC Deployment Readiness
    2019 July Training Communities to Respond: Stop the Bleed and Until Help Arrives
    2019 June Integrating MRC Volunteers into Mass Fatality Response
    2019 May AFN Considerations During Shelter Operations
    2019 April Behavioral Health Services for Community Resiliency
    2019 March Opioids and the Ongoing MRC Response
    2019 February MRC Pharmaceutical Readiness
    2019 January Radiation Readiness in West Virginia
    2018 December Building All-Hazards Preparedness Capabilities to Strengthen Community Resilience
    2018 November Mass Shootings as a Public Health Crisis
    2018 October Flu Season
    2018 September National Preparedness Month
    2018 August Manasota MRC Responds to Port of Manatee Fire Amidst Unit Merge
    2018 July Developing and Enacting Animal Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans
    2018 May Lean on Me Project Serves Vulnerable Population for Disaster Preparedness Awareness
    2018 April Regional Readiness: Teaming Youth with MRCs for Multi-Generational Preparedness
    2018 March Developing Emergency Management Capacity Through Virtual Operations Support Team - Uncas Health District
    2018 February Building Community Resiliency by Enhancing Disaster Response for Special Needs Population
    2018 January Preventing Chronic Diseases in Richmond, VA
    2017 December Mass Fatality Incident Support & Traumatic Grief Counseling Regional Response Team
    2017 November The CCMRC Gear Up to Tackle the Opioid Crisis in their Community
    2017 October Historic Disasters Add Perspective to National Preparedness Month - MRC Volunteers Step Up
    2017 August Choctaw Nation MRC Unit launches the Indian Country and Cultural Sensitivity Program to Provide Culturally Relevant Preparedness Training
    2017 July Southwest Idaho MRC Engages Youth Through Their Summer ReadyKamp Program
    2017 June Vermont Medical Reserve Corps Units Conduct Statewide Summer Go-Kits Distribution
    2017 May Monroe County MRC Volunteers Address Radiological Preparedness
    2017 April An Annual Tradition: New Mexico and West Texas MRC Volunteers Provide Medical Care During the Annual Bataan Memorial Death March
    2017 March The Tulalip MRC Readiness and Resilience Preparedness Program
    2017 February The Sacramento MRC: Trained and Ready to Purify Water
    2017 January Rock Island County MRC Promotes Community Resiliency Through College-Based Zombie Run
    2016 December San Bernardino MRC Organizes Active Shooter Preparedness Event to Increase Community Resilience
    2016 November Clay County MRC deployed to conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)
    2016 October Lake County Health District MRC launches "Tobacco Free Living"
    2016 September Naloxone Training Saves Lives: MRC Addressing Heroin Overdoses in Portage County, Ohio
    2016 August New Jersey State Sponsors an Emerging Infectious Disease Summit for MRC in Region II
    2016 May MRC Units Prepare for Zika
    2016 April Alamo Area MRC Enlists Mascots to Teach Kids About Preparedness
    2016 March Rappahannock-Rapidan MRC Spices Up Winter Weather Preparedness with BINGO
    2016 February Marion County MRC Rebuilds Unit
    2016 January MRC Units Get Ahead of Flu Season
    2015 December Seattle & King County Mega Clinic Treats 4,000
    2015 November Kittitas County MRC Begins Youth for Truth Mentoring Campaign
    2015 October St. Louis Regional Radiological Response MRC Ramps Up Training Efforts
    2015 September New Orleans MRC Commemorates Hurricane Katrina
    2015 August Will County MRC Assists Neighbors After Tornado
    2015 July Harris County Gateway to Care MRC Responds After Historic Flooding
    2015 June Winnebago County MRC Supports Local Women's Crisis Clinic
    2015 May University of New Mexico MRC Supports Tomé Pilgrimage
    2015 April New Lenox MRC Trains Volunteers in Disaster Psychology
    2015 March Oklahoma MRC Volunteers Participate in Free Dental Clinic
    2015 February Contra Costa County EMS Condensed POD Exercise
    2015 January New York City MRC Members Conduct Tick Surveillance
    2014 December Cape Cod MRC Partners with Citizen Corps Council Agencies for Volunteer Reception Center Training
    2014 November Greater Prince William County MRC Training Shows that Active Bystanders Can Make a Difference
    2014 October New Castle MRC Raises Awareness about the Role of Volunteerism in Healthy Communities
    2014 September Utah County MRC Tests Skills in Point of Dispensing Drill
    2014 August Map Your Neighborhood Program Provides Valuable Preparedness Framework for the MRC
    2014 July Rhode Island MRC Naloxone and Overdose Prevention Education Program Saves a Life
    2014 June Maryland Responds MRC Pharmacy Volunteers Play Critical Role in SNS Exercise
    2014 May North Central Mississippi MRC Partners with Local Art Students for "Be the Key" Campaign
    2014 April Central New York MRC Supports State Special Olympics
    2014 March Marion County MRC Takes Action to Improve Residents' Eating Habits
    2014 February Arizona Animal Emergency Response MRC Aids Pets of Homeless Families
    2014 January Lessons Learned from the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services' Preparedness Month Flu Clinic
    2013 December Partnerships Allow Albuquerque-UNM MRC to Reach Nearly One Million at 2013 International Balloon Fiesta
    2013 November California MRC Units Participate in the 2013 Golden Guardian Exercise
    2013 October Wisconsin Disaster Medical Response Team MRC Assists with Successful Search and Rescue Mission
    2013 September North Central Mississippi MRC Participates in a Statewide Exercise
    2013 August ColoradoSTAR MRC Supports "Something Wicked" Competition
    2013 July Junior MRC Members Host a "Teddy Bear Clinic"
    2013 June MRC Units Respond to the Boston Bombings
    2013 May Minnesota Behavioral Health MRC Presents at the MinnesotaGovernor's Conference
    2013 April MRC * B * Ready Program Engages Children in Physical Activity andEmergency Preparedness
    2013 March Maui County Health Volunteers Contribute to Six Projects at theMartin Luther King Day of Service
    2013 February The SMART MRC Prepares for a Zombie Apocalypse
    2013 January Detroit MRC Participates in the National Prevention Strategy Meeting

    2022 MRC Leadership Summit

    The following links contain PDFs of all slides used at the 2022 MRC Leadership Summit. Thank you so much to all of the presenters and attendees!

    MRC Posters Presented at the 2022 Preparedness Summit

    2020 MRC Leadership Summit

    From August 24 – 27, 2020, NACCHO hosted the 2020 Virtual MRC Leadership Summit at the Preparedness Summit. This was an opportunity for MRC unit leaders, state coordinators, regional liaisons, and program office staff to convene for a series of peer-to-peer learning, facilitated discussions, and networking sessions.

    The following includes links to the recordings and presentation slides for each of the 2020 MRC Leadership Summit sessions. Please note, the recording links below include the audio to accompany the slides, as well as an option to view the chat box or audio transcript. You can toggle between the chat and audio transcript.

    Feel free to share this with other unit leaders, your volunteers, and partner organizations. If you have any questions or have issues accessing the links, please contact [email protected].

    August 24, 2020 - Main Session

    August 25, 2020 - Special Topic Session: Funding Strategies

    August 26, 2020 - Special Topic Session: Building Community Partners

    August 26, 2020 - Special Topic Session: Branding & Communications Strategies

    August 27, 2020 - MRC Unit Leader Wellness

    August 27, 2020 - MRC Closing Session

    MRC units work on a broad range of emergency preparedness and public health projects. We have highlighted select projects to celebrate the variety and creativity of our MRC units across the country.

    NACCHO also features a number of emergency preparedness blog articles through the Preparedness Brief. Some posts including MRC unit highlights, press releases, and general topics include:

    NACCHO loves hearing from MRC units about their successes and the resources they have developed. Please reach out to [email protected] to share yours!

    Learn More

    2020 Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps

    A report of findings from a landscape assessment of local MRC unit capabilities and capacity.

    Learn More

    2020 Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps

    2021 MRC Deployment Readiness Guide

    This guide builds on the 2019 Deployment Readiness Guide to provide a common set of tools for MRC unit leaders.

    2021 MRC Deployment Readiness Guide

    Learn More

    2022 Operational Readiness Award Final Report

    The 2022 Operational Readiness Award Final Report showcases the impacts of funding on local MRC unit capabilities, resources, and readiness.

    Learn More

    2022 Operational Readiness Award Final Report

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Promotes Active Bystander Training

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Promotes Active Bystander Training

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Supports Vulnerable Populations Preparedness

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Supports Vulnerable Populations Preparedness

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Units Address Opioid Overdoses

    Public Health Preparedness

    MRC Units Address Opioid Overdoses

    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Lean Abdelaziz

    Senior Program Analyst, Preparedness

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    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Beth Hess

    Senior Communications Specialist

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    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Akosua Ntiamoah

    Project Manager, Medical Reserve Corps

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    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Annaleigh Baremore

    Associate Project Manager-MRC

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    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Millen Tsegaye

    Senior Program Analyst

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    Public Health Preparedness Program

    Evelyn Zavala

    Senior Program Analyst

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