Volunteer Orientation

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Volunteer Orientation Presented by
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Ohio Citizen Corps

• A state program, rooted in local communities
  designed to engage citizens in hometown security
  through public education and training
• Our mission has two separate objectives
• 1.    Increase knowledge and skills through
  training and education, producing stronger
  citizens and safer communities.
• 2.    Establish a pool of volunteers who will
  supplement first responders in the event of a
  disaster, saving lives and property.
• The time to prepare is now before a disaster hits!

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• History of Ohio Citizen Corps
• State-level council developed in October 2002
  represents state agencies concerned with citizen
  preparedness
• County-level Citizen Corps Councils include first
  responders, community volunteers, elected and
  appointed officials
• Meet on a regular basis to manage existing
  resources and to direct the overall local plans
  for preparedness, response, and recovery
• Regional supervisors and coordinators provide
  technical assistance and training to registered
  councils

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• Community Emergency Response Team
• Federal Emergency Management Agency program
• 20-hour course
• Educates citizens about the hazards they face in
  their community
• Training sessions cover disaster preparedness,
  fire suppression, basic disaster medical
  operation, light search and rescue, disaster
  psychology, terrorism, and team organization

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• Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
• Support police departments by doing supplemental
  work
• Volunteers are trained in non-emergency tasks
• Example tasks include clerical tasks, safety
  education, traffic control, community
  presentations, searching for missing persons

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• Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP)
• Highly successful crime prevention effort that
  the National Sheriffs Association has sponsored
  for more than 30 years
• Offers citizens the ability to work with law
  enforcement to prevent and rid neighborhoods of
  crime and vandalism

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• Ohio Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC)
• Directed at health professionals
• Support medical services during emergencies
• Trained to provide care to victims in major
  emergencies
• Members include physicians, nurses, licensed
  social workers, behavioral health professionals,
  vets, dentists, pharmacists, etc.

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• Fire Corps (FC)
• Support fire and emergency service departments
• Volunteers are trained to help fire departments
  in non-emergency activities
• Provide more resources to the fire departments
• Examples of activities include promoting fire
  prevention, clerical/technical work, fire
  incident reports, grant writing, etc.

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• Ohio Responds (OR)
• Unique to the Buckeye State
• Developed to answer the call for additional
  resources by having willing Ohio Citizen Corps
  volunteers ready to respond to a disaster
• Utilizes the Ohio Citizen Corps Database to
  quickly and efficiently mobilize volunteers
  during an emergency speeds up the process
  because volunteers have already been
  pre-identified, credentialed, and trained

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Process Criteria
Becoming a Registered Citizen Corps Volunteer

• At least 18 years of age
• Sign up on the Ohio Citizen Corps
  database
• State-issued ID is verified
• Completion of approved training course
• Background check, if necessary

• Apply for registered status
• Complete approved training course
• Verify state-issued ID

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• After RegistrationThen What?
• An incident occurs
• You are contacted by e-mail or phone
• You are given reporting information
• Volunteer Reception Center (VRC)
• Designated site or agency
• Representative Tasks (pre-known sills, incident
  specific)
• Weather related, health related, administrative
  tasks, skilled trade or licensed operators
• During and After Service Tips

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Limited Liability Protection Ohio Revised Code
Section 121.404 grants registered volunteers
limited immunity for any tort or other civil
action while providing services within the scope
of the volunteers duties during a declared
emergency or during training and exercises.
(Civil action includes medical, dental,
chiropractic, optometric, veterinary or other
health claims.) Limited immunity also covers
property damage that may arise from an act or
omission of a registered volunteer. Limited
immunity will not extend to the willful or wanton
misconduct of any registered volunteer.
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Affiliate Programs Organizations

• Volunteers and members interested in helping to
  make their communities safer public education,
  outreach, training
• Offer communities resources some have volunteer
  opportunities to support first responders and
  disaster relief efforts
• Examples include
• The American Legion
• American Red Cross
• Civil Air Patrol
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Meals on Wheels Association of America
• National Crime Prevention Council
• Operation HOPE, Inc.
• Save A Life Foundation
• Veterans of Foreign Wars

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• Ohio Citizen Corps Trainings
• Volunteer Orientation
• NIMS / ICS
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Volunteer Reception Center (VRC)
• Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
• Weather Trainings
• Approved local trainings are listed on the
  www.serveohio.org website.

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How can you learn more?

• Attend a Franklin County Citizen Corps Meeting
• Contact Franklin County Citizen Corps
• http//sites.google.com/site/franklincountycitizen
  corps
• www.firstlink.org
• 614.221.6766 ext 205
• franklincountycitizencorps_at_gmail.com
• Social Media
• Twitter www.twitter.com/firstlink_em
• Twitter www.twitter.com/fccitizencorps
• Facebook Search FIRSTLINK
• Facebook Search Franklin County Citizen Corps

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Questions? For more information
contact Lee Foster Tessa
Mott lfoster_at_firstlink.org or
tmotts_at_firstlink.org 614.221.6766 ext 168
614.221.6766 ext 169