Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps
General Information
The Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps (OCMRC) is organized within the Public Health Preparedness Program at the Ottawa County Health Department. The OCMRC was established in 2007 to enhance local emergency preparedness and coordinate volunteer response that will be needed during a public health emergency. OCMRC volunteers will act as a supplement for existing local emergency and public health resources. Locally-based MRC volunteers can assist during large-scale emergencies, such as an influenza epidemic or an act of terrorism.
The Ottawa County MRC unit is one of fourteen Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units in the State of Michigan. The MRC is recognized as part of the White House’s USA Freedom Crops initiative and the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps. MRC units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who not only want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies but help in promoting healthy living throughout the year as well.
How to join the OCMRC?
The success of this program is paramount for the safety and protection of our citizens and relies heavily on volunteers such as you. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please complete the online application form and submit it to the Ottawa County Health Department. After we receive your form, we will contact you to schedule an appointment/orientation session. Service is always voluntary. If you are interested, but have additional questions, please contact the OCMRC Coordinator at 616-393-5655.
Submit the Application
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Why should I become an MRC volunteer?
Communities benefit from having MRC volunteers ready to respond to emergencies. People volunteer for many reasons, but some volunteer for the MRC because:
- It's a way to offer their skills which have not been utilized in prior events due to being not adequately prepared to be part of the response effort.
- It's a significant benefit to communities because skilled volunteers offer services during the year to augment existing public health efforts or provide emergency backup that would not otherwise be available.
- It's a chance to belong to a group with a strong sense of mission and purpose.
- It's a chance to qualify for special incentives (e.g., free training).
Why should we register prior to an event?
Studies have indicted that advanced registration of volunteers will provide hospitals, public health, and emergency authorities immediate access to qualified, credentialed and support personnel that may be needed in the event of an emergency.
What are the commitments for a member?
You may be wondering about the time commitment for a service of this nature. Currently, the Ottawa County Health Department will ask you to attend a 2 hour orientation session where you can learn more about the organization and our mission. Then each volunteer will be provided resources for training and education opportunities from the health department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Presently volunteers are only required to partake in a few online courses, many of which healthcare professionals may already have taken.
What kind of trainings will volunteers receive?
All OCMRC volunteers are encouraged to take advantage of the training opportunities offered.
Required Trainings include:
- New member orientation
- Online course for Incident Command System (ICS)
- Online course for National Incident Management System (NIMS)
What are the requirements for membership?
- Complete and submit an OCMRC Application
- Attend an Orientation Session
- Attend one meeting, training, drill or exercise per year.
- Complete Member Forms (4 Forms provided at Orientation Session)
- Register with MI-Volunteer Registry
- Complete the Personal/Family Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Report to a staging area to be dispatched when activated in the event of an emergency.
- Complete 2 online classes (classes will also be offered in classroom form), with the option to complete more depending on the level of commitment selected by volunteers. For additional information on courses, click here.
Navigating the FEMA Training Website:
- Go directly to the FEMA website to obtain course information and take the exams.
- Click in the right hand corner for the ISP course list.
- Scan through the options and click on the course of your choice.
- You may read over the overview for the CEU’s available and course length to ensure this is the course you wish to take.
- To begin the course, click in the right hand corner where it reads, TAKE THIS COURSE, click on the Interactive web-based course link.
- Simply go through each lesson by clicking the next button and answering the
questions that may appear.
NOTE: Once an activity is completed if the next screen does not just pop up please close the screen with the red X box in the upper right corner and then the next screen should appear. This will only happen on a few internet systems. - Once you have completed the course, you may click on close to bring you back to the course overview or click take the final exam. You must complete the final exam to get credit for completing the course.
- Click on Take Final Exam in the box under TAKE THIS EXAM on the right hand side of the window.
- You must check the box to agree that you are completing this exam on an individual basis, then click on continue to begin the exam.
- After completing the questions on each page, click on next to bring to you to the next page of questions.
- Please review your answers and when you are ready to submit the exam, click on the continue button and complete the online enrollment form for the course.
- You will then receive an e-mail confirming submission of the materials, please forward this e-mail to Jennifer Brown, OCMRC Coordinator.
- In a few weeks you will receive the certificate in the mail or via e-mail, please make a copy of it and mail it to or e-mail it Jennifer Brown, OCMRC Coordinator.
Preparing for Emergencies
Emergency Preparedness applies to natural as well as man-made disasters. In the County of Ottawa examples of public health emergencies include large scale disease outbreaks caused by contaminated food, water or air. Natural disasters, emerging diseases, and potential terrorist threats involving biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear exposure are areas of focus for public health collaboration, planning and response.
Examples of Public Health Responsibilities
| • Mass Vaccination or Antibiotic Distribution | • Drinking Water Safety |
| • Quarantine/Isolation Authority | • Food Safety |
| • Waste Disposal | • Communicable Disease Containment and Surveillance |
| • Mass Casualty Mortuary Services |
If mass immunizations or medical services are needed for the residents of our community, the health department may set up a dispensing site to give vaccines, antibiotics, or antidotes. Sources of information include news reports giving instructions from officials about who should receive services, and where and when services are provided in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who can volunteer?
The Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps (OCMRC) is looking for two types of volunteers:
- Medical and health care professionals from all health occupations, including those who are practicing as well as those who are non-practicing
- Support volunteers who do not perform medical care, but who are essential to emergency health care response (e.g., legal assistance, computer technology, clerical assistance)
What exactly does a MRC volunteer do?
Volunteers are needed for both emergency and non-emergency purposes. During a public health emergency, MRC volunteers would assist in staffing an emergency clinic. Efforts will be made to match volunteers’ skill levels and interests to the need. Clinic functions include: vaccinating or distributing pharmaceuticals to citizens, medical screenings, running patient education sessions, directing people-flow, providing mental health consultation, registering patients, entering data from forms, stocking supplies, etc. There may also be a need to staff Acute Care Centers, Neighborhood Emergency Health Centers, and assist the American Red Cross in their sheltering efforts
During times of non-emergency, volunteers may be asked to act as local “ambassadors” for public health. Activities may include: assisting with flu clinics, children’s health screenings, providing education sessions or presentations on special health topics, assisting patients with specific health-related programs, helping with health fairs, promoting immunization campaigns, as well as other possibilities that may be presented.
Can I get Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for training?
Possibly; this depends upon the acceptance of the training course by your discipline’s state board. The MRC will provide the necessary documentation to accompany your request for CEUs, such as course objectives, completion certificates, etc. MRC volunteers will need to individually submit their request for CEUs to their discipline’s state board for approval. Because of the non-profit nature of the MRC, the cost for CEUs for will be the responsibility of the volunteer.
What is the difference between Medical Reserve Corps and other emergency support organizations, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army?
The Medical Reserve Corps volunteers in Ottawa County will be called to support the emergency system during a public health emergency. MRC volunteers may staff clinics during such an emergency, providing critical staffing needs in the medical area.
Other emergency support organizations would have a different role according to the Ottawa County Emergency Operations Plan. For example, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army would primarily provide feeding and mass care during a public health emergency.
Both the MRC and the Red Cross would also offer mental and emotional support provided by licensed mental health professionals.
What is an “Active” status volunteer?
Only volunteers who are “Active” status will be called to volunteer in an emergency. To be considered active status, an MRC volunteer must: Complete an application process, attend the required MRC Orientation, complete the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) training in Incident Command (IS 100 & 700), and sign up for the MI Volunteer Registry.
Once those initial requirements are met, you are badged and ready for deployment. In order to maintain "Active" status, volunteers must attend at one meeting/exercise per year. Throughout the year OCMRC members will also be provided the opportunity to participate in the training exercises. If you are currently licensed, maintain licensure or notify the MRC Coordinator if the license has expired.
How will I be compensated for my participation?
MRC volunteers are not paid. Volunteers willingly give of their time for the benefit of our community. As an MRC volunteer, you will be provided training opportunities with the possibility of CEU hours, and opportunities to increase your skills and provide an important preparedness function for our community. Also, in the event of a public health emergency, active MRC volunteers and their immediate family members will receive emergency prophylaxis.
How many hours will I be volunteering?
During a public health emergency, it will depend on the magnitude of the situation and the need. For example only one clinic may be sufficient to fulfill the emergency need, or several clinics may be needed. It will also depend on how many hours the emergency clinic may operate in a 24-hour period. Shifts will be scheduled for all clinic workers and volunteers.
Non-emergency volunteer opportunities will vary in the amount of hours a volunteer is needed; however there is room for flexibility to accommodate volunteers’ schedules.
Will there be any travel involved?
At this time, the Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps will serve primarily the communities in Ottawa County. Travel to assist other counties is elective; the Region 6 includes the following counties: Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Osceola and Ottawa. Volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to local volunteer activities.
Are tax credits possible for volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps?
Yes. Volunteers in the United States may receive tax deductions from the federal government on many costs associated with volunteering, such as mileage and other travel expenses, parking, uniforms if the volunteer purchases his/her own, etc. These deductions apply only if you are not getting reimbursed for these expenses, and you are itemizing on your tax form (not using the 1040EZ form). When volunteers drive their own vehicles to carry out volunteer duties, including to and from trips to their volunteer service, the IRS permits a deduction of 44 cents per mile. MRC volunteers who want a tax deduction should keep good records of mileage in performing volunteer duties, and ask their tax preparation specialist for information on deducting volunteer expenses. For more information go to www.irs.gov, to review Publication #526 Charitable Contributions.
Will being an MRC volunteer interfere with my regular job?
Non-emergency volunteer activities should be done in accordance with the volunteer’s schedule, and should not interfere with a volunteer’s regular employment. During a public health emergency, volunteers may be needed during times that they would normally work at their job. Volunteers should discuss this possibility with their employer and understand their employer’s policies and procedures for outside volunteering, so that an MRC volunteer will be prepared to respond in an emergency. Should you request additional help with your employer, the MRC Coordinator will be happy to work with them and Ottawa County Emergency Management to outline your program.
Do you have to live in Ottawa County to be a volunteer?
No. Residents of the surrounding counties are welcome to apply for membership. However, we recommend you visit the federal MRC site, www.medicalreservecorps.gov to determine if there is an MRC unit closer to your work or home than the Ottawa County unit.
What if I’m not available?
Volunteer availability is discussed during the MRC volunteer application process. MRC volunteers do not have to be available all the time. Some volunteers may only be interested in making a minimal commitment during times of crisis or for other specific community needs. These preferences are respected, given that they can be accommodated by the MRC unit's mission and work plan.
MRC Unit Coordinators match community needs for emergency medical response and public health initiatives with volunteer capabilities. They also determine prospective volunteers' availability and whether they have other obligations, such as regular work responsibilities, that might conflict with serving the MRC in times of limited advanced notice. Different people will have different amounts of time to give. Some may not be available year-round, and others may need to be utilized throughout the year to remain engaged with the MRC.
Preparing your Family:
Family Preparedness Plan
(PDF)
Bill’s Pamphlet Family
Preparedness Guide (PDF)
Preparing for a Public Health Emergency (PDF)
Orientation Evaluation Form
Related Resources:
Medical Reserve Corp Brochure(PDF)
Michigan Department of Community Health
MI Volunteer Registry
Medical Reserve Corps
FEMA: Emergency Management Institute Independent
Study Program
Contact Information
Jennifer Brown
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator
Ottawa County Health Department
12251 James Street, Suite 400
Holland, MI 49424
616-393-5655 Direct
616-393-5624 Fax
jdbrown@miottawa.org
