Volunteer

Dear Potential MRC Volunteer:

Thank you for your interest in the WEST TEXAS MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS!

The West Texas MRC achieved recognition by the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General in November 2006 and received our welcome kit over the holidays in December 2006.   The Medical Reserve Corps is a nationally recognized program that is locally owned.  Individual MRC units support their local communities in times of disaster and work towards improving local community health and community preparedness.

Leading up to our application and approval a steering committee met to initiate discussions and work on the “administrative” paperwork and details of this new organization.  The steering committee has continued to work and accomplish the following milestones:

  • Official recognition as a Unit by the Office of the Surgeon General.
  • Initiation of cooperative working relationship with the Southern New Mexico MRC in Las Cruces. (Note: Original intent had been to form a joint MRC but recommendation was to apply separately and establish a collaborative agreement).
  • Establishment of a web site:  www.westtexasmrc.org  through funding of the web site domain by the Far West Texas &Southern New Mexico Regional Advisory Council on Trauma. 
  • Submissions of a National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) grant application for funding in December 2006.
  • Award of a $10,000 NACCHO grant for MRC Capacity Building in April 2007.  Funds are pending receipt.  Also, awarded a $1000 NACCHO training stipend for Coordinator’s attendance at the 2007 MRC National Leadership & Training Conference, April 17-21, 2007 in Providence, Rhode Island.  Funds are pending receipt. 
  • Inclusion of steering committee members on Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants subcommittees.  This collaborative work has resulted in establishing beginning collaborative activities with the American Red Cross, the Tigua Tribal Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Horizon City CERT Team, and other partners. 
  • Award of two Americorps volunteer positions through a grant partnership with United Way, American Red Cross, and the Far West Texas & Southern New Mexico Regional Advisory Council on Trauma. Positions will start in May 2007 for 10 months.  Positions will include an Outreach Volunteer and an Information Specialist.
  • Purchase of the EMCredential software package by the Far West Texas & Southern New Mexico Regional Advisory Council on Trauma to assist with credentialing of MRC Volunteers.  This package will eventually be compatible with the Texas credentials process as well and will link licensure updates!
  • Meeting with various community groups to solicit support and participation.
  • Drafting organizational chart and committee structure.
  • Drafting procedures and handbook for volunteers.
  • Planning and organizing the first open organizational meeting of the West Texas Medical Reserve Corps. Meetings are scheduled for June 7 and 9, 2007.  Attendance is required at one of the two dates (June 7 or June 9, 2007) to become a registered and credentialed member of the West Texas MRC! More specific information about this meeting will be sent in future correspondence and posted on our web site.

A Unit Information sheet is also attached for your reference.

Next steps for you as a future member of the West Texas Medical Reserve Corps:

    1. If you have not yet done so, complete the interest form on our website at www.westtexasmrc.org .
    2. Register at the MRCTrain website (www.mrc.train.org ). This nationally supported website  (developed along with the Public Health Foundation) will ask you to provide some personal and professional data.  Please make sure you select your organization as West Texas MRC!  If you have already completed any disaster-preparedness training, you may enter it into your portfolio.  The site provides for a method for tracking training completed through this website as well as adding training completed elsewhere.  Use of this site will allow future communication as well as assist our Unit in tracking education. (Note: If you are already a member of TX TRAIN, you do not need to create a second account. Select “My Account”. Select the “Groups” tab and select “Edit”).
    3. Sign up for the mandatory training courses through MRCTrain (www.mrc.train.org ): IS100 Introduction to the Incident Command System and IS700   National Incident Management System if you have not already completed these through another agency.  These are FREE courses prepared by FEMA. And you will receive a certificate of completion.  Note:  There are many, many other very good courses available through this site---free!  If you register for the courses through the MRCTrain website, it will track your enrollment and completion for you (and for the West Texas MRC!)
    4. If you have not yet done so, check out the following websites for other information:
    5. Share this information with other health care providers!
    6. Watch your e-mail, mail, newspaper, and/or the local website (www.ewesttexasmrc.org for information about the specific dates for our meeting!

Again, thank you for being interested in the Medical Reserve Corps.  The new slogan for 2007 as introduced by Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, Acting Surgeon General at the 2007 MRC National Leadership and Training Conference is “Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy, Prepared Communities.” West Texas (especially, El Paso, Hudspeth, and Culberson Counties!)  needs YOU to help us meet this goal!  Please share this information with other health care providers and support staff who may be able to assist us in meeting our goals.

Sincerely,

 

Paula Mitchell, Ed.D., M.S.N., R.N.,C.
West Texas MRC Coordinator

 

 

 




Comments to website@westtexasmrc.org