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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Medical Reserve Corps
MRC Coordinator
- 850-983-5200
- MRC.SantaRosa@flhealth.gov
-
Fax
850-565-8019 -
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 929
Milton, FL 32572-0929
Physical Address:
Milton Location
5527 Stewart St.
Milton, FL, 32570
850-983-5200
Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Santa Rosa County’s Medical Reserve Core (MRC) Unit 556 was established in 2006 in order to help plan, prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters of all kinds with specific emphasis on Public Health Preparedness. Aside from assisting the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa (DOH-Santa Rosa) with the Special Needs Shelter, Unit 556 works closely with DOH-Santa Rosa and other partners to provide the community with preparedness education, assists with Points of Distributing, and numerous other Public Health Preparedness activities that ensure resiliency.
The community is not the only benefactor. MRC volunteers have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities through classes, trainings, exercises, drills, and real-world disaster response that can help them grow personally and professionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
Who is eligible to volunteer for the MRC?
Do I have to have medical experience to become a volunteer?
If I volunteer, what is the time commitment?
What if I am a full-time member of a hospital staff?
What are the benefits of volunteering for the MRC?
Do volunteers receive any monetary compensation?
Are volunteers covered by the county’s insurance?
How do I become a volunteer?
Download the volunteer packet (PDF-447KB), fill it out, sign and return using one of the following:
- Scan and email to mrc.santarosa@flhealth.gov
- Fax to 850-565-8019 with a cover sheet addressed to the MRC Coordinator
- Mail it to MRC, P.O. Box 929, Milton, FL 32572-0929
- Hand deliver to the Santa Rosa County Health Department, 5527 Stewart Street Milton, FL 32570
You shall have your fingerprints taken for the Level II Background Screening at our expense. Please contact the MRC Coordinator at 850-983-5200, extension 2278 to schedule your screening after receipt of your completed application.
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers that are locally organized to improve the health and safety of their communities. The mission of the MRC is to engage volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response and community resiliency. The MRC, established in 2002, is a partner program with the Citizens Corps, both of which are under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The MRC network comprises 1001 community-based units and 207,783 volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories. MRC units identify, screen, train, and organize the volunteers, and utilize them to support routine public health activities and augment preparedness and response efforts. The Division of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (DCVMRC) is the national program office of the MRC and is housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically under the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) established the Florida MRC Network in 2004. The state program provides resources, technical assistance and information to local units for building capacity and responding effectively. Today there are over 32 MRC units that serve the State of Florida, and each works together to create a safer community.
Who is eligible to volunteer for the MRC?
Anyone from a licensed or certified health professional to the average person that lives or works in Santa Rosa County can join the MRC Unit 556. Your expertise, licensure or certification will help determine the role you may be asked to fill during an emergency.
Do I have to have medical experience to become a volunteer?
No, all backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome. Participants must be 18+ to volunteer.
What might I be asked to do?
In general, volunteers are asked to contribute in several different ways, including:
- providing medical treatment or evaluation
- assisting with volunteer management
- providing education
- administering vaccines
- distributing medication
We will do our best to ensure that the role you are asked to play is appropriate for your level and area of expertise, but volunteers must be flexible.
If I volunteer, what is the time commitment?
It depends on the type and scale of the event. For example, during non-emergency events (i.e. attending training or administering vaccines to the homeless community), a volunteer could expect to participate between 2-6 hours or more. In the event that the Medical Reserve Corps is activated for a large scale emergency, volunteers must be flexible and commited and may be asked to work rotating shifts of 12 hours on duty and 12 hours off duty, perhaps for several days.
What if I am a full-time member of a hospital staff?
Full-time hospital staff members who register to participate in the Medical Reserve Corps during a public health emergency must be released by their hospital administration before they are able to volunteer. The MRC Staff will coordinate with the various hospital administrations where the MRC volunteers regularly work for emergency deployment.
What are the benefits of volunteering for the MRC?
As stated in the introduction to the MRC, volunteers have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities through classes, trainings, exercises, drills, and real-world disaster response that can help them grow personally and professionally.
Do volunteers receive any monetary compensation?
No, you will be volunteering to help the County in a time of need.
Are volunteers covered by the county’s insurance?
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are covered by workers compensation laws. Additionally, liability is covered by state laws regarding Sovereign Immunity (768.28), Good Samaritan (768.13), Volunteer Protection Act (768.1355) and Volunteer Benefits (110.504). Please note, MRC volunteers are only covered by this insurance during official MRC activities.
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