The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.
The Citizen Corps mission is accomplished through a national network of state, local, and tribal Citizen Corps Councils, which bring together the expertise of leaders from the first responder disciplines with the energy and spirit of volunteers, the private sector, elected leadership, and other community stakeholders. These Councils build on community strengths to develop a local strategy to increase awareness and participation in hometown security by promoting:
The local strategy developed by the Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps Council includes conducting public education presentations, implementing the Citizen Corps programs (CERT, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police, and Fire Corps), and providing opportunities for volunteers with special skills and interests. The Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps Council also helps to develop targeted outreach for special needs groups, works with the community to create awareness about emergency alert systems, organizes special projects and community events, encourages cooperation and collaboration among community leaders, and evaluates and reports accomplishments.
After September 11, 2001, America witnessed an outpouring of selflessness and heroism. People in every corner of the country asked, “What can I do?” and “How can I help?” Citizen Corps was created to help everyone in America answer these questions by promoting an understanding of our personal responsibilities for preparedness and by providing training and volunteer service opportunities to foster citizen participation to help make our communities and our nation safer.
Coordinated nationally by the Department of Homeland Security, Citizen Corps integrates programs and activities that engage everyone in hometown security. Led by the local Citizen Corps Council, Citizen Corps implementation is tailored to the community and focuses on community-specific public education and outreach, training, and volunteer opportunities. Citizen Corps Programs include four charter federal programs, Citizen Corps affiliate programs, and other organizations and activities that promote the mission.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is hands-on education about disaster preparedness. CERTs are trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood, school, or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security.
To register for current and upcoming CERT classes, please contact: Cathy Lafaive-Markstrom, SE WI Citizen Corp Coordinator Volunteer Center of Racine County, (262) 886-9612 Ext. 103, CMarkstrom@VolunteerCenterofRacine.org
www.citizencorps.gov/programs/cert.shtm
New! School Emergency Response Team (SERT) training is based on the CERT training curriculum but is geared for youth ages 13-18 years old. In addition to disaster preparedness, SERT also emphasizes team building and leadership skills. SERT is designed to enable youth to handle their own needs and then to respond to their home and schools’ needs during and after an emergency situation. This program is administered by the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance (OJA) and the Wisconsin Citizen Corps Program.
To register for current and upcoming SERT classes, please complete the SERT registration.
New! READY Camp (Responding to Emergencies and Disasters with Youth) is a four day camp that provides training to middle and high school students and their teachers to help them learn and develop the skills to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from serious unexpected situations. Students receive Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED training and Leadership Development training in addition to fire safety, team organization, terrorism awareness, mock disaster exercises, and more. This camp is held at Volk Field, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin. For more information or to register for the camp: http://ready.cehss.org
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program strengthens communities by helping medical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year as well as during local emergencies and other times of community need. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs and also supplement existing community public health initiatives, such as outreach and prevention, immunization programs, blood drives, case management, care planning, and other efforts. The MRC program is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Southeast Wisconsin Medical Reserve Corps (SE WI MRC) covers eight counties: Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha. If you are interested in joining the SE WI MRC, please contact: Linda Botts, SE WI Medical Reserve Corp. Coordinator (262) 446-5077, SEWIMRC@yahoo.com
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
The new Neighborhood Watch Program incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission, while also serving as a way to bring residents together to focus on emergency preparedness and emergency response training. Funded by the Department of Justice, Neighborhood Watch is administered by the National Sheriffs’ Association.
For more information on a Neighborhood Watch program in your area, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
www.citizencorps.gov/programs/watch.shtm
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by the Department of Justice, VIPS is managed and implemented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
www.citizencorps.gov/programs/vips.shtm
Fire Corps supports and supplements fire departments through the use of citizen advocates for non-operational related activities. This enables departments to devote more time and resources to critical needs, such as operations and training.