Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer program is a national initiative aimed at promoting public health and emergency preparedness through volunteerism. The program brings together medical, non-medical, public health professionals, and community members, to support local public health department and emergency preparedness efforts in times of need.

The overall goal is involvement in an emergency is to supplement public health and medical responses to that emergency when existing capacity is exceeded. Volunteers may participate in the following types of emergency responses:

Mass dispensing of medication or immunizations
Alternate care sites
Case contact investigation
Radiological response
Public “hotline” for information
Behavioral health support
Provide cultural competence services

Eligibility and registration

By joining the Hennepin County Public Health MRC Volunteer Program (MRC-HC), you can become an important part of the public health response team in Hennepin County. Whether it’s responding to natural disasters, supporting vaccination efforts, conducting case investigation, or behavioral health support, volunteers play a crucial role in promoting public health and safety.

You do not have to have a medical background but must be passionate about public health and emergency preparedness. Additional program eligibility criteria include:

Must live in Hennepin County and outside the city of Minneapolis, Edina, Richfield, and Bloomington (these cities have their own MRC volunteer program)
Currently not a Hennepin County employee
18 Years of age and older

Registration

Volunteer deployment

In the event of a public health or medical emergency, volunteers will receive information from the Minnesota Responds Auto Notification System and/or direct email from the MRC Coordinator. All contact sources you provide will receive a message from this system with instructions on next steps. Information will be provided about the volunteer opportunity, location and work schedules.

Advisory committee

The Medical Reserve Corps Advisory Committee was established to promote a culture of volunteerism in the Hennepin County Public Health Department by building a relationship between the public health programs and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.

The advisory committee’s actions are focused on identifying common interests of volunteers which overlap current service gaps in the Hennepin County Public Health Department. This partnership will build ongoing relationships between volunteers and Hennepin County Public Health in non-emergency times and improve Hennepin County’s overall ability to respond during a Public Health emergency.