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Homeland Security Conference to Highlight Importance of Citizens In Nation's Preparedness

Mencer to address national network of Citizen Corps representatives

Release Date: July 26

The Honorable C. Suzanne Mencer, Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Government Coordination & Preparedness (SLGCP), will address national and state Citizen Corps representatives and members of affiliate programs at the third National Citizen Corps Conference in Denver, Colorado tomorrow.

Created by President George W. Bush in January 2002, Citizen Corps mobilizes citizens across America to prepare, train, and volunteer to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. "After September the 11th, we created the Citizen Corps, a grassroots effort spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security, and the USA Freedom Corps, to help Americans learn how to be prepared for and respond to attacks on our homeland," the President said in recent remarks.

Fifty percent of the U.S. population is now served by nearly 1,300 state or local Citizen Corps Councils, which coordinate the program's homeland security activities.

"Citizens Corps is a critical part of our national effort to secure our hometowns and our homeland," Mencer said. "Because citizens are likely to be first on the scene of any emergency, we need to ensure that they are prepared-whether it's in first aid, CPR, search and rescue, or the many other ways volunteers are contributing to the safety of our communities."

In her remarks, Director Mencer will highlight the significant growth of the Citizen Corps program in less than three years. There are now more than 1,250 Community Emergency Response Team programs and more than 44,000 citizens have taken Community Emergency Response Team training classes since January 2002. These citizens are now equipped to take an active role in personal and public safety. There are now more than 900 Volunteers in Police Service programs, with over 65,000 volunteers giving 1 million hours of service. In addition, 194 Medical Reserve Corps units engage volunteers in public health issues and there are now nearly 10,000 registered Neighborhood Watch groups.

The focus of this year's National Citizen Corps Conference is "Prepare, Train, Volunteer." A strong turnout is expected-fifty-one out of fifty-six states and territories will be represented. Conference attendees will explore ways to improve grass roots public education and outreach, training delivery, volunteer programs, how to integrate activities throughout the Citizen Corps network, as well as new resources from the Department's Ready campaign, "Ready for Business" and "Ready for Kids." Director Mencer will deliver opening remarks and remain available to the press on Tuesday, July 27 until 9:30am.