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.

Program Overview

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

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.

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	October	MRC Units Support Monkeypox Response
2022	September	Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the MRC
2022	August	magnetmail.net/actions/email_web_version.cfm?ep=-L6oG3Xi_jaqgGk26F7TRDSSfrGge107RBmA-XJ0WDmId7bxZGAWU71_itffzEdmNKU-yJeKCAkQQe9f0MIIKBRob1O_Ku6vXzUPagtswCE54V7PLFujRvcs02JQc0W4"target="_blank">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

Main Session Meeting Recording
Main Session Slides

August 25, 2020 - Special Topic Session: Funding Strategies

Funding Strategies Webinar Recording
Funding Strategies Slides

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

Building Community Partners Webinar Recording
Building Community Partnerships Slides

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

Branding & Communications Strategies Webinar Recording
Branding & Communications Strategies Slides

August 27, 2020 - MRC Unit Leader Wellness

Unit Leader Wellness Webinar Recording
Unit Leader Wellness Slides

August 27, 2020 - MRC Closing Session

Closing Session Webinar Recording
No meeting slides.

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.

South Hadley/Granby/Northampton MRC, Sheltering Residents with Substance Dependency
Richmond City MRC, Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease
Bureau Putnam MRC, Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Siouxland District Health Department, Iowa MRC, Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program
Greater Monadnock, New Hampshire MRC, Prescribe for Health
LeFlore County, Oklahoma MRC, Mass Fatality Training
King County MRC, Enhancing Community Collaboration & Coalition

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!

News & Updates

Public Health Preparedness

2020 Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps

A report of findings from a landscape assessment of local MRC unit capabilities and capacity before and during COVID-19.

Public Health Preparedness

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

2021 Operational Readiness Award Final Report

The 2021 Operational Readiness Award Final Report showcases the impacts of funding on local MRC unit capabilities, resources, and readiness.

Learn More

2021 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

MRC Photo Gallery

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042417 Naccho Mrc Leadership Summit 2017

Leadership Summit
Unit Leaders gather at the 2017 MRC Leadership Summit.

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Marin County MRC (CA)
MRC volunteers in California participate in an emergency preparedness exercise.

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Manasota MRC (FL)
Manasota MRC volunteers support response to a fire at Port of Manatee in Palmetto, Florida by setting up a firefighter rehabilitation station in their Medical Aid Station Trailer (MAST).

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