Housatonic Valley Medical Reserve Corps aims to provide exceptionally trained volunteers to assist with the needs of the district’s community. Housatonic Valley MRC serves the towns of Southbury, Woodbury, Oxford, New Milford, and Washington. The MRC works closely with local healthcare systems, emergency responders, vulnerable populations, and other nonprofit organizations to assist each other in our mission for improvement of public health in the community. With collaboration, adaptability, and equitable care, Housatonic Valley MRC seeks effective outreach today for a stronger tomorrow.
If you are interested in learning more about MRC Volunteer opportunities, please email Unit Leader Megan McClintock at mmcclintock@hvhd.us.
Flu Clinics
Interested in volunteering at an HVHD flu clinic this fall? Apply today!
About MRC
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
The National Medical Reserve Corps was founded in 2001 by The Office of the Surgeon General, part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. The need for a widespread network of volunteers came after the events of 9/11, 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.
Housatonic Valley MRC welcomes volunteers from all occupations: our Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) roster includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses, EMTs, and public health professionals, along with tradespeople, teachers, Information Technology specialists, stay-at-home-parents, retirees, and many other people looking to join our cause(s). While Covid remains at the forefront of Housatonic Valley MRC’s response efforts, volunteers are also needed to staff seasonal influenza clinics and help facilitate community health workshops, like Matter of Balance falls prevention and post-covid issues such as mental health or opioid awareness. We are always open to mitigating the needs of our community and adapt our efforts around them.
Our unit is part of a national network administered by the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness & Response.
We are also located in Region 5 for Connecticut’s MRC network which allows us to work closely with neighboring units Waterbury MRC, Danbury MRC, and Naugatuck Valley MRC for better response capabilities.
History of HVMRC
- Housatonic Valley was founded on February 14th, 2010
- Pomperaug District Department of Health has welcomed two additional towns into the district. With the addition, a more inclusive name was needed, so we’ve changed our name to Housatonic Valley Health District. We’ve expanded our service area from Oxford, Southbury, and Woodbury to include the towns of New Milford and Washington, CT!
- Formed due to H1N1 vaccination efforts and aneed in the community
- Have gotten NACCHO Operational Readiness Awards annually to increase volunteer capacity for missions
- 2014-Recognized by the MRC program director for the MRCs response to Ebola
- 2015: Partnership between red cross, Torrington Area Health District MRC, Southbury fire marshal, and CERT (community emergency response team)
- Home fires: installed free smoke detectors in the homes of underserved population
- 2016- MRC Serve Video Challenge Assistant secretary of preparedness and response: awarded honorable mention annually
- 2018- Very involved in national opioid response
- 2018 PHS (Public Health service) Commissioned Officers Foundation award for collaboration of prevention corps (division of americorps)
- Regional opioid awareness and response (ROAR) program
MRC Resources
- CT Responds
- National MRC page
- Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Network
- Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit Locations
MRC FAQ
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
The Medical Reserve Corps is a nationally recognized volunteer program that allows community members to assist with the needs of their community. To see more, please visit our about MRC tab
Do I have to be a medical professional to volunteer?
Housatonic Valley MRC welcomes all occupations and skills. The latest MRC National Network profile shows that nearly 40% of MRC members are non-medical volunteers: https://aspr.hhs.gov/MRC/Pages/index.aspx
What are some missions the MRC participates in?
Some missions that the MRC can be deployed to are, but limited to:
-Vaccine Clinics
-PPE and Medicant Distribution Sites
-Blood pressure clinics
-Assisting with non-profit organizations
-Food drives
-Drills (mass casualty, mass dispensing, radiation emergencies, etc.)
Do I have to have any experience?
We accept all volunteers from all walks of life. Whether you are in college or in retirement, the MRC has a spot for you. The only requirement is that you must be 18 years or older to be an active volunteer
What are some training opportunities you offer?
Some trainings that our unit provides, but are not limited to:
-CPR/ First Aid
-Narcan/ Opioid Awareness
-Matter of Balance/ Community Health programs
-FEMA IS Courses
-MRC Training Courses
What is the time commitment to being a volunteer?
The time you spend as a volunteer is completely in your control! All of our trainings and missions are voluntary and there is no obligation to sign up. We appreciate any time you give to help our community!
What will I get out of being a volunteer?
Being a volunteer is what you make of it. Some perks to being a volunteer are:
-Building networks and future opportunities for your personal and professional goals
-Meeting new people you may not have had the opportunity to if you were not a part of HVMRC
-Professional development through training and experience
-Resume building
-Community service hours
-The ability to give back to your community
How do I become a volunteer?
It’s easy! Email Unit Leader Megan McClintock at mcclintock@hvhd.us with email header “New Volunteer.” She will then direct you to a form with basic questions to find out a little more about who you are. We will then have an orientation for you to meet fellow volunteers and find out more details about being an HVMRC volunteer.
Is there a fee to become a member?
There is no fee to become a member. The only thing we ask for is your time.
Do MRC volunteers only help in disaster time (during emergency situations)?
Although MRC volunteers are ready to respond to disasters or emergencies, part of the MRC program’s mission is to foster disaster preparedness. MRC volunteers also are called to help during non-emergency times. During non-emergent times, MRC volunteers strengthen the overall health of Americans by participating in general public health initiatives such as flu vaccination clinics. MRC volunteers also promote improving health literacy, increasing disease prevention, eliminating health disparities, and supporting public health preparedness.
Click here for to read the National MRC FAQ
Updated: February 1, 2022