HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced 167 grants, totaling over $8 million to help community-based organizations develop local volunteer medical emergency and public health response capabilities. Among these Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units located across the U.S., 42 qualified for continuation grants by successfully demonstrating progress during their first year of operation. Today, 125 communities will join this national effort to answer President Bush's call to volunteer service and help make our communities better prepared to respond to emergency and other public health situations.

"After September 11, Americans were asking, 'What can I do to help?' The Medical Reserve Corps gives them a way they can help out in their local communities," Secretary Thompson said. "These awards will continue to support our communities in planning and establishing local, citizen-centered volunteer MRC units, which will include physicians, nurses and others with a broad range of skills in health and other support fields."

MRC units are comprised of local, citizen volunteers who are trained to respond to health and medical situations in support of established, local public health and emergency medical response systems. Volunteers' responsibilities may include emergency medical care and triage, logistic or backup support for trauma units and hospitals in the event of a disaster, immunization campaigns, and public health awareness efforts.

"Communities depend on the experience, knowledge and skills of medical professionals during times of disaster and emergency situations," said USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland. "With the help of these grants, communities will be able to strengthen new and existing Medical Reserve Corps units nationwide and coordinate the skills of health care professionals in order to better mobilize volunteers in times of need."

"By strengthening communities' response systems we are improving the overall health care infrastructure of the nation," Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said. "We know that in times of disaster the local community members will be the first to respond and the last to leave. We want to make sure that they have the resources, training and equipment they need to help out when help is needed."

In the program's first year, MRC units have begun to establish the infrastructure necessary for medical and health volunteer utilization. In addition to strengthening their communities' abilities to respond to terrorist activities and to other natural disasters, a number of MRC units have made substantial efforts to strengthen local public health capabilities.

Medical Reserve Corps, a component of Citizen Corps, will coordinate the skills of physicians, nurses, health professionals and others who are willing to volunteer and help out during emergencies and other times of community need. Citizen Corps was launched in January 2002 as part of President Bush's USA Freedom Corps to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility and help all Americans find ways to answer the President's call to service. Through a network of Citizen Corps Councils at the state and local levels, Citizen Corps brings together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and emergency management, local government, volunteer organizations and the private sector to engage citizens in homeland security efforts and strengthen programs such as Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

The Medical Reserve Corps program is headquartered in the Office of the Surgeon General, which administers the grant funds and offers technical assistance to all MRC communities. For more information visit our web site at www.medicalreservecorps.gov or call (301) 443-4000.

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