The MRC was created in 2002 and established local units of medical and non-medical volunteers capable of supporting public health needs in communities and to assist in responding rapidly to disasters and public health emergencies in their communities. Since then, the network has grown; originally supporting 42 units the MRC network now reaches approximately 717 units nationwide including in 48 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Units across the country have dedicated more than 3 million volunteer hours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that isn't all that MRC has accomplished over the past 20 years. The network has been instrumental in responding to other national emergencies like hurricanes, wildfires and even the opioid crisis. Volunteers have even helped respond to infectious disease outbreaks, including H1N1 in 2009, Ebola in 2014, and Zika in 2016, and Hepatitis A in recent years.

Hear from volunteers, unit leaders, and other members of the MRC network to get their firsthand accounts of what it has been like be a part of the MRC - especially during the COVID-19 response.

Inspired by their stories? Find out how you can become a volunteer in your own community!

Are you an MRC Network Volunteer and have a story to share? Contact us at MRCcontact@hhs.gov

Recruiting volunteers is a critical function for the leader of a local MRC unit. With a deep understanding of your community and your team, your outreach is focused on those volunteers who can best fill the skills gaps in your unit and effectively contribute to specific local needs, public health initiatives, and emergency response activities.

To aid your recruitment efforts, below are an MRC program history fact sheet, an MRC informational brochure, and MRC recruitment flyers that you can distribute at community events and conferences as well as a presentation you can use to build awareness of the MRC and generate potential public interest in volunteering.

Also provided is a template certificate of appreciation for recognizing your volunteers, which is critical to retaining volunteers: volunteers who feel valued will be more motivated to continue with your unit.

Finally, MRC logo guidelines and instructions for requesting and using the logo are included in this toolkit. The use of the MRC logo helps strengthen the identity of the MRC nationwide and that of local units. The MRC logo is a trademarked logo; therefore, units must request logo authorization prior to using the logo on items. Some examples of where to use the MRC logo include: local unit website, signage, brochures, letterhead, apparel, and items such as pens, pins, and coins.

Recruitment Toolkit

MRC Fact Sheet: The History of the Medical Reserve Corp Program

 

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MRC Fact Sheet: Promising Practices for Social Media Use - A Communications Resource for Medical Reserve Corps Units

 

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MRC Fact Sheet: Promising Practices for Photo & Video Use on Social Media - A Communications Resource for Medical Reserve Corps Units

 

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MRC Brochure: Creating Prepared & Resilient Communities Through Service (Bi-Fold)

 

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MRC Flyer: Local health, safety, and preparedness begins with you

 

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MRC Flyer: Creating prepared and resilient communities through service

 

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MRC Videos: The Medical Reserve Corps 20th AnniversaryPlaylist

 

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MRC Certificate: Volunteer Appreciation

 

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MRC Guidelines: Logo Use and Promoting the Medical Reserve Corps Identity

 

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ASPR Awards $50 Million from the American Rescue Plan to 33 States or Jurisdictions

Thirty-three awardees in states and jurisdictions across the country have just received a total of $50 million under the MRC State, Territory and Tribal Nations, Representative Organizations for Next Generation (MRC-STTRONG) grant program. Funding for the first-ever MRC-STTRONG is from the American Rescue Plan.

States and jurisdictions will use these funds to strengthen the MRC network - focusing on enhancing emergency preparedness and response. The awardees have all proposed projects that will bolster community response capabilities around the nation.

• Arizona

  $2 million

  The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will utilize the funds to increase the number of volunteers across the state by 25%, and to expand MRC units by establishing six MRC units including three new units in tribal jurisdictions.

  

• Arkansas

  $575,000

  Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will use the funds to expand the number of MRC units statewide from five units to 14 units to help ensure that all regions of the state have MRC units. Additionally, ADH will provide equipment and training for new units so that they have the resources and capabilities to respond to public health emergencies and disasters.

  

• Colorado

  $969,140

  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will build and strengthen the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units in Colorado communities by providing funding for the MRC unit coordinators and the purchase of supplies so that MRC units are prepared for public health emergencies, such as a disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

  

• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

  $1.7 million

  The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) will utilize the funds to expand community partnerships with a focus on those that address at-risk populations. CHCC will engage partners and communities on assessments, outreach, recruitment, and volunteer planning.

  

• Georgia

  $2.1 million

  The Georgia Medical Reserve Corps will utilize this funding to upgrade, advance, and reconstitute the recruitment of new MRC members and sustain existing skilled volunteers statewide. This will be accomplished by increasing skills through training for volunteers and expanding a mentorship program.

  

• Hawaii

  $376,287

  The Hawaii Department of Health will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to build preparedness and response capacity throughout the state by providing education, training, and outreach to community members. Additionally, MRC will increase capacity through volunteer recruitment and build teams based on preparedness and response focus areas.

  

• Illinois

  $2 million

  The MRC of Illinois in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health will use the funding to strengthen MRC's capacity to response by developing and implementing standardized training, grow and develop 4 new MRC units throughout the state in areas with greatest need and offer subawards to 50 MRC units in Illinois.

  

• Kansas

  $1,658,644

  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will utilize the funds to provide a robust volunteer management platform for local units, fund a full-time MRC state coordinator to support local units, and refine local plans based on best practices and successes.

  

• Kentucky

  $2.25 million

  Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) will utilize the funding to increase overall capacity of Kentucky's MRC program to ensure long-term sustainability. This will be done by increasing recruitment and retention and strengthening the skills through innovative training and exercises.

  

• Maryland

  $2 million

  The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) will use the funding to improve MRC readiness and capacity. MDH will accomplish this by volunteer recruitment and retention through targeted outreach to communities, including MRC response in existing response plans and implementation of regional training and exercises that are available to volunteers statewide.

  

• Massachusetts

  $838,680

  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will use the funding to improve volunteer coordination and response capacity across the state by building a collaborative, comprehensive training program for both leaders and volunteers; developing recruitment and retention strategies and materials to strengthen MRC capacity. These activities will ensure that MRC units can meet the ongoing needs of the people of Massachusetts.

  

• Michigan

  $733,701

  The Michigan Department of Health will utilize this funding to standardize background checks statewide, make available training across the state, and expand recruitment and volunteer management at the unit level.

  

• Minnesota

  $2.44 million

  The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will utilize this funding to expand the disaster response and recovery capacity of Minnesota's MRC units and the volunteer management system called MN Responds. Additionally, MDH will update existing and develop new training materials to support the operational needs of the MRC units. Through this funding, local MRC units will be able to support recruitment, training and exercises.

  

• Missouri

  $1.4 million

  The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will use the funding for projects focusing on health emergency preparedness and response. They will strengthen the capacity of existing MRC units and build new MRC units in regions of the state with underserved populations. Additionally, SEMA will expand public health and related workforce development and recruitment efforts.

  

• New Hampshire

  $1,239,080

  The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) will use this funding to implement a volunteer training program, conduct exercises for medical surge and survivor and family assistance center planning.

  

• New Jersey

  $1.5 Million

  The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) will use the funds to expand recruitment of volunteers, standardize core training curriculum for MRC volunteers, and provide funding to local MRC units to purchase equipment and supplies to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities.

  

• New Mexico

  $750,000

  The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) will use the funding to support current MRC unit leaders, expand services to less populated rural areas of the state, and extend services to frontier and tribal communities. Additionally, this funding will be used for training and equipment to better serve communities throughout the state.

  

• New York

  $1.5 million

  The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Health Research, Inc. (HRI) will use the funding to enhance the state's existing system for volunteer registration and verification of credentialing medical professionals. In addition, they will provide existing MRC units with support for centralized background checks, building surge capacity and recruitment for long-term MRC growth and sustainability.

  

• North Carolina

  $1.8 million

  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will use the funding to recruit and retain volunteers for North Carolina's MRC units, develop standardized training requirements, and provide psychological first aide and improved mental health resiliency for state medical response system staff.

  

• Ohio

  $ 2.5 million

  The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to strengthen the state MRC program through the development of a pipeline of volunteers and specialist occupations, investment in data modernization for the state's volunteer management registry, and bolstering partner and volunteer engagement by enhancing existing skills. Training will include equipping local volunteers with community-informed interventions to support at-risk populations and providing opportunities for volunteer network-building.

  

• Oklahoma

  $1.2 million

  The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) will use MRC-STTRONG funds strengthen MRC statewide capacity and capabilities, and equip MRC units with the necessary supplies, resources, and training to best serve their local communities. OSDH will make subgrants available to local MRC units to carry out MRC-STTRONG goals of supporting activities that address the needs of individuals and areas impacted by more frequent or more severe disasters.

  

• Oregon

  $2.5 million

  The Oregon Health Authority will use the funding build a collaborative project management system to advance volunteer and MRC Coordinator readiness. As MRC units shift their focus from continued response into recovery and long-term volunteer engagement, there is a significant need for responder outreach and development, community outreach and education, and recovery initiatives.

  

• Pennsylvania

  $2 million

  The Pennsylvania Department of Health will use the funding to recruit and develop new MRC units in underserved areas where no MRC units exist. These funds will increase training and development opportunities and provide supplies for MRC units to ensure Pennsylvania's MRC capabilities and responses are ready for new and evolving situations.

  

• Puerto Rico

  $1,392,644

  The Puerto Rico Department of Health will use MRC-STTRONG funds to continue providing leadership and necessary resources for volunteer recruitment, increase partnerships, and strengthen emergency response capabilities. Specifically, project activities will focus on addressing the needs of at-risk individuals; serving areas impacted by more frequent and or more severe disasters and expanding MRC of Puerto Rico capabilities through volunteer recruitment and specialized training.

  

• Rhode Island

  $2.2 million

  The Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to provide a collaborative regional training center available to all learners in conjunction with increased mobile education and emergency medical response capacities that support community healthcare initiatives and enhance Rhode Island's ability to respond to emergencies and public health crises. The funding will also develop the units' emergency response and public healthcare capacity through medical equipment and mobile asset modernization and focus on culturally competent recruitment and retention of MRC volunteers.

  

• South Carolina

  $1.5 million

  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control will use the funding to build efforts to increase preparedness levels of persons with access and functional needs during natural or technological disasters as well as core public health emergencies. DHEC will also grow MRC units' capacity to support potassium iodide (KI) distribution following nuclear emergencies.

  

• Texas

  $1.5 million

  The Texas Department of Health Services (DSHS) will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to address gaps in volunteer management processes identified in the agency after action reviews. DSHS will enhance and streamline the registration process and improve the overall functionality of the volunteer management portal and provide funding to the local MRC units to support staffing, training, recruitment, and community outreach efforts.

  

• Utah

  $1.65 million

  The Utah Department of Health and Human Services will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to strengthen the overall readiness of MRC volunteers across the state of Utah. Statewide activities will focus on identifying new opportunities to engage with existing partners to promote the MRC, working with MRC to engage with large health systems, as well as providing overall administrative and technical support to the local MRC units within Utah.

  

• Ventura County, CA

  $600,000

  Today, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced $600,000 for Ventura County to strengthen the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) network - focusing on emergency preparedness and response. Funding for the first-ever MRC State, Territory and Tribal Nations, Representative Organizations for Next Generation (MRC-STTRONG) grant program is from the American Rescue Plan.

  

• Vermont

  $1.2 million

  The Vermont Agency of Human Services will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to expand statewide programming to include initiatives aimed at promoting public health preparedness. Efforts will focus on updating MRC training to support expanding needs and supporting local units by providing subawards to Vermont's 9 units to promote localized preparedness and response activities.

  

• Virginia

  $1.5 million

  The Virginia Department of Health will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to increase recruitment, retention, and utilization of MRC volunteers in targeted health districts within the state and utilize MRC volunteers to address the needs of at-risk populations and reduce resource gaps throughout Virginia through targeted outreach events and provide ongoing training and professional development for MRC Coordinators and staff as well as MRC volunteers throughout Virginia.

  

• Washington, DC

  $1.5 million

  DC Health will use the funds to implement a robust recruitment campaign to increase the number of DC MRC volunteers, develop enhanced training materials for specific MRC response capabilities and ongoing training and exercises to ensure response readiness. Additionally, DC Health will partner with Serve DC to provide needed medically oriented train-the-trainer sessions in the community including Stop the Bleed, CPR/AED, and naloxone administration.

  

• Wisconsin

  $908,202

  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will utilize MRC-STTRONG funds to place a renewed focus on building and expanding MRC unit preparedness and response capabilities and supporting MRC unit operational needs. This will be accomplished by providing funding and operational supplies to units to help in volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention; engaging in outreach and promotion to recruit new MRC units. The result will be a strengthened and revitalized MRC program in the state that will be ready to prepare for and respond to future public health emergencies at the local level.

  

Across the country, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers step forward every day with a single mission: to protect, support, and uplift their communities in times of need. This nationwide network of trained volunteers brings skill, heart, and resilience to public health and emergency response.

In 2024 alone, MRC volunteers dedicated over 300,000 hours of service, contributing an estimated $11.5 million in value. But the true impact of the MRC goes far beyond numbers. These are neighbors helping neighbors - providing vaccines, supporting emergency shelters, aiding during disasters, and filling critical gaps in local health systems. Their actions save lives, restore stability, and bring communities closer together.

The stories featured in these State Highlight Fact Sheets shine a light on the myriad and meaningful ways MRC units are making a difference in every corner of the country. From rural towns to urban centers, MRC volunteers show us what's possible when compassion meets commitment.

Find out what the Medical Reserve Corps has done for your state and in other communities across the country. As you explore each state's contributions, we invite you to see not only what the MRC has accomplished - but to imagine what we can achieve next, together.

Select a State Please Select a State AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV  

MRC Program Email

MRCcontact@hhs.gov

MRC Program Mailing Address

ASPR / Office of Emergency Management & Medical Operations / Medical Reserve Corps 
C4H09 - O'Neill House Office Building 
Washington, DC 20515

The MRC network comprises more than 2680,000 volunteers in roughly 717 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories. MRC units organize and utilize local volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to support ongoing preparedness initiatives. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds who want to improve the health and safety of their communities.

Why the MRC is Needed

The need for the MRC became apparent after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when medical and public health professionals, eager to volunteer in support of emergency relief activities, found that there was no organized approach to channel their efforts. As a result, the MRC was established to provide a way to recruit, train, and activate medical and public health professionals and other volunteers to respond to community health needs during disasters and other public health emergencies.

MRC Office Staff

OMRC Regional Liaisons

OMRC STTRONG Staff