The Medical Reserve Corps
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is national network of local groups of volunteers engaging the local communities to strengthen public health, reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and improve preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. The MRC network comprises nearly 800 community-based units and more than 200,000 volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories.
In Connecticut, MRC counts with 25 units made up of over 5,000 volunteers, grouped into the five Emergency Support Function-8 – Public Health (ESF-8) regions of the state.
MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other members outside of the healthcare profession. MRC units engage these volunteers, as well as local and state-level partners to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build community resiliency. They prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, and other emergencies affecting public health, like disease outbreaks.
The MRC is a program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Readiness Division, Office of Emergency Management and Medical Operations. In Connecticut, The Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR), working in conjunction with the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), serves as the MRC Coordinator.
CT Responds!
CT Responds! is the State of Connecticut’s web-based volunteer management system. If you are interested in volunteering, click the “Register” button to create your account profile. You can sign up for any MRC Unit in the State of Connecticut, and you do not have to be a resident of the town the unit is in. It is suggested that you sign up for an MRC unit that it is based in your town or a town near you, so that you are close to the area where your unit would activate.
Connecticut MRC Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan establishes the Connecticut Medical Reserve Corps’ vision, mission, core values, and goals with corresponding objectives and strategies. The purpose of the plan is to prioritize the strategies and describe a path for implementation over the next three years. The Plan will be drafted by a strategic planning team, which will include MRC Coordinators, emergency management and public health professionals, volunteers, and other stakeholders from throughout the whole community.