There are two opportunities to volunteer with the Essex County Health Department. Find out specifics and sign up below!
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of more than 300,000 volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. Essex County MRC volunteers step up to keep their family, friends and neighbors safe and healthy.
County Animal Response Team (CART)
When emergencies happen, our animals need us! Learn about local hazards & how they affect animals; the role of County Animal Response Teams (CART); how volunteers are activated and how they can help pets & livestock. Leave the training ready to serve Essex County! We can also connect you with Clinton and Franklin County CARTS.
Who can volunteer?
Anyone! You do not have to have a medical or healthcare background to be an MRC volunteer.
We are also always looking for practicing or retired licensed, registered or certified
healthcare workers, such as:
- CNAs EMTs
- Nurses Healthcare
- Students
- Physicians NPs/ PAs/ CNMs
- Dentists
- Pharmacists
- Counselors
- Therapists
- Veterinarians
Why should I volunteer?
By volunteering you can:
- Directly impact the health of our community
- Connect with other volunteers, and
- Keep skills current after retirement.
What do Essex County MRC volunteers do?
Volunteers help local emergency and the health department in a variety of settings,
Including:
- Large health emergencies
- Public outreach activities
- Health Department drills and trainings
- Vaccine clinics
- Interested volunteers may also assist with the operation and deployment of other volunteers
To Join the Essex County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps: Complete the steps below ⬇️⬇️
Communication is through email, you must have an email address to join the MRC.
Create a NYSDOH ServNY account (NYS’s standardized volunteer registration program for for disaster and public health emergencies)
**ALL of our communications comes through ServNY**
Complete Essex County Health Dept Agreements
- Intro to MRC
- Incident Command System 100
- HIPAA Training
- MRC Code of Conduct & Confidentiality
County Animal Response Team (CART):
When emergencies happen, our animals need us! Learn about local hazards & how they affect animals; the role of County Animal Response Teams (CART); how volunteers are activated and how they can help pets & livestock. Leave the training ready to serve Essex County! We can also connect you with Clinton and Franklin County CARTS.
Join the MRC ⬇
Step 1
Step 1 – 3 will take approximately 15 minutes.
Need help along the way or have questions later? Call Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrea Whitmarsh at 518-873-3500.
Check out this quick guide using your ServNY account
Check out this quick guide using your HCS Account
Before you move on to Step 2 – Be aware that to be an MRC – Volunteers are REQUIRED to:
1. Use email;
2. Review the MRC Overview
3. Set up an account online using the New York State Department of Health ServNY application; NY.gov to ServNY account set-up
4. Agree to the Statements of Agreement Read the Statements of Agreements: (Confidentiality Statement; Code of Conduct;)
5. Email a Photo ID Submission to andrea.whitmarsh@essexcountyny.gov
6. Complete the MRC 101 independent training course;.MRCindependent training
7. Participate in quarterly email drills/exercises; – Most drills are virtual – email or text messages regarding the ability of volunteers to respond given a mock scenario. Drills allow the MRC Coordinator practice in sending alerts and scheduling volunteers and allow volunteers to practice receiving & replying to deployment requests. There is also typically at least 1 opportunity per year for MRC volunteers to participate in a larger public health emergency response exercise.
Step 2
Fill out this form
Step 3
Following the events of September 11, 2001, it became clear that there was a need for coordinating the services of thousands of well-meaning volunteers who showed up at disaster scenes wanting to help. There was a need for a mechanism for checking credentials, assigning volunteers where they could do the most good, and pre-planning to ensure their safety. It was evident volunteers needed to be trained to work effectively as a team while interacting with other agencies at a scene.
The Office of the U. S. Surgeon General announced the formation of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program in 2002. The overall goal of the national initiative is to establish teams of local volunteer medical professionals and laypersons to contribute their skills and expertise during times of public health emergencies.
Learn more about the National Profile of the MRC in this 2017 Network Profile Report.
The County Animal Response Team (CART) is made up of volunteers trained and ready to respond to emergencies affecting pets and livestock. Volunteers can declare their interest in small animals (household pets) and/or large animals (horses, and livestock). Activities include animal care, transport, sheltering, uniting and more.
The CART is a specialty team of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), so CART volunteers must first join the MRC. CART members also need to complete 4 additional trainings. Get started today!
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The CART is a specialty team of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), so CART volunteers must first join the MRC. CART members also need to complete 4 additional trainings. Get started today!
STEP 1 – Join the MRC By filling out the form above.
- County Animal Response Team Orientation
-
IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
Additional helpful CART training (not required):
5. IS-10.A: Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness
6. IS-11.A: Animals in Disasters: Community Planning
STEP 6 – Update your ServNY account with completed trainings!
Need any help along the way – contact
Jessica Darney Buehler at 518-873-3518 or Jessica.DarneyBuehler@essexcountyny.org