Texas MRC-STTRONG - the texas department of state health services (DSHS) seeks to strengthen the capacity and capability of the medical reserve corps (MRC) units in texas through the MRC state,…

Texas MRC-STTRONG - the texas department of state health services (DSHS) seeks to strengthen the capacity and capability of the medical reserve corps (MRC) units in texas through the MRC state, territory and tribal nations, representative organizations for next generation (MRC-STTRONG) award funding. DSHS will invest in the people and systems that are a part of the texas MRC network. We aim to increase the capacity of our units to recruit new volunteers, provide community outreach for emergency preparedness to vulnerable populations, and build relationships with new partners. On the systems side, we will strengthen our volunteer management system to meet the needs that have been expressed by our units. Primarily, this includes an automated background check system to increase efficiency of onboarding and a means to create improved mission sets based on training levels of the volunteers. DSHS will accomplish the following the following goals and objectives: enhance the texas disaster volunteer registry (TDVR) to fully meet the needs of the MRC units in texas. The MRC units in texas have expressed the need for improvements to the TDVR system to make processes more efficient. With a new version of the system due out later this year, funding through this award will allow for enhancements to this updated version. These include the creation-connectivity to TX train, hosted by the public health foundation and administered by TX DSHS. Objectives revise existing contract with juvare to provide needed enhancements to the TDVR system by 6/1/23 integrate TX train into TDVR by 8/1/23 provide and/or augment staffing support to MRC units in texas MRC units have long struggled to find consistent funding support for staffing. And many unit leads are often in positions that have many other responsibilities. Using funding from this award for staffing will allow the units more time and focus to be put towards recruitment, outreach, and engagement with partners. Objectives create sub-contract and statement of work with MRC units to support staffing needs by 6/1/23 provide funding to support the state MRC coordinator position and community outreach specialist position by 7/1/23 strengthen the capacity and capability for MRC units to recruit volunteers and conduct community outreach and emergency preparedness efforts MRC units will use funding through this award to travel to an in-person statewide workshop. The workshop will primarily focus on community outreach techniques, development of recruitment campaigns, and other trainings to help strengthen the mission sets within each unit. Objectives execute sub-contract and statement of work with MRC units that provides funding to attend a statewide MRC workshop by 6/1/23 plan and conduct two-day statewide MRC workshop before 2/1/24