Volunteer Orientation
Presented by
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:
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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!
History of Ohio Citizen Corps
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State-level council developed in October 2002 – represents state agencies
concerned with citizen preparedness
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County-level Citizen Corps Councils include first responders, community
volunteers, elected and appointed officials
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Meet on a regular basis to manage existing resources and to direct the
overall local plans for preparedness, response, and recovery
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Regional supervisors and coordinators provide technical assistance and
training to registered councils
Community Emergency Response Team
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Federal Emergency Management Agency program
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20-hour course
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Educates citizens about the hazards they face in their community
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Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic
disaster medical operation, light search and rescue, disaster psychology,
terrorism, and team organization
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
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Support police departments by doing supplemental work
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Volunteers are trained in non-emergency tasks
Example tasks include: clerical tasks, safety education, traffic control,
community presentations, searching for missing persons
Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP)
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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
Ohio Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC)
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Directed at health professionals
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Support medical services during emergencies
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Trained to provide care to victims in major emergencies
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Members include: physicians, nurses, licensed social workers, behavioral
health professionals, vets, dentists, pharmacists, etc.
Fire Corps (FC)
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Support fire and emergency service departments
Volunteers are trained to help fire departments in non-emergency activities
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Provide more resources to the fire departments
Examples of activities include: promoting fire prevention, clerical/technical
work, fire incident reports, grant writing, etc.
Ohio Responds (OR)
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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
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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
Becoming a Registered Citizen Corps Volunteer
Process
Criteria
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• At least 18 years of age
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Apply for registered status
Complete approved training
course
Verify state-issued ID
• Sign up on the Ohio Citizen Corps
database
•State-issued ID is verified
•Completion of approved training
course
•Background check, if necessary
After Registration…Then 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
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 volunteer’s 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.
Affiliate Programs & Organizations
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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:
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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
Ohio Citizen Corps Trainings
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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.
How can you learn more?
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Attend a Franklin County Citizen Corps Meeting
Contact Franklin County Citizen Corps
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http://sites.google.com/site/franklincountycitizencorps
www.firstlink.org
614.221.6766 ext 205
franklincountycitizencorps@gmail.com
Social Media:
Twitter
– www.twitter.com/firstlink_em
Twitter – www.twitter.com/fccitizencorps
 Facebook – Search FIRSTLINK
Facebook – Search Franklin County Citizen Corps
Questions?
For more information contact:
Lee Foster
lfoster@firstlink.org
614.221.6766 ext 168
or
Tessa Mott
tmotts@firstlink.org
614.221.6766 ext 169