State fiscal year 2024/2025 MRC strrong grant - RE-designing and continuing to build a public health volunteer network has been the shared goal for federal, state and local response agencies for…

The Missouri Department of Public Safety received a $2,830,242 Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response under the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Small Grant Program (CFDA 93.008). The goal of this 2-year project is to bolster Missouri's MRC capabilities statewide to enhance public health emergency preparedness and response. Key strategies include developing a volunteer level system, credentialing and badging volunteers, utilizing emergency communication platforms, expanding MRC unit coverage, and supporting staff and resources needed to grow the program. Expected outcomes are expanded mission capabilities, increased volunteer deployment capacity, and broader recognition of MRC as a valuable resource during public health incidents and disasters across Missouri.

State fiscal year 2024/2025 MRC strrong grant - RE-designing and continuing to build a public health volunteer network has been the shared goal for federal, state and local response agencies for many years. Missouri's medical reserve corps (MRC) program proved to be an invaluable resource during the covid-19 pandemic. While volunteers supported specific mission assignments during response phases, IT is evident that additional resources are needed to create a more coordinated and robust network. The goal of this project is to bolster missouri's medical reserve corps (MRC) capacity throughout the state to become better prepared for public health emergencies and disasters. These following strategies will be utilized to achieve the project goal: 1.) develop a volunteer level system; 2.) develop mission sets with training and exercises; 3.) institute credentialing through the emergency system for the advanced registration of volunteer health professionals (esar-VHP) and badging through salamander; 4.) utilize webeoc (missouri's emergency communication platform) for situational awareness during incidents; 5.) create visibility and awareness of the MRC program locally and state-wide; 6.) develop additional MRC units in underserved communities; 7.) expand workforce development and recruiting efforts; 8.) support the development of an MRC association; 9.) provide funding for staff and resources required in the expansion of MRC unit capabilities. Expected outcomes for the project are 1.) expanded mission capabilities for local units; 2.) ability to deploy more volunteers within a service area, as well as to deploy and support missions state-wide; 3.) recognize MRC units as a valuable and requested resource during public health incidents and disasters.