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Unit Spotlight - December 2005

Unit Name:	Rappahannock-Rapidan Medical Reserve Corps
Contact Information:	640 Laurel Street Culpeper, VA 22701
Point of Contact:	RRMRC Coordinator - Claudia Vento
Phone:	540-829-7350, Ext. 132
E-mail:	rrmrc@vdh.virginia.gov

When was the Unit Founded?

The unit was founded in 2003 under the Virginia Department of Health and the Rapahannock-Rapidan Health District. It has an advisory board that includes representatives from local emergency management, country administrators, first responders, law enforcement, Red Cross, hospitals, social services, and nursing homes.

What Drives the Unit?

The vision of the Rappahannock-Rapidan MRC (RRMRC) is “Volunteers Protecting Virginia’s Public Health." The mission is to serve the public health district (including the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock) by establishing local teams of public health volunteers to strengthen the public health infrastructure and improve emergency preparedness and response.

Training is a very important aspect of the unit. RRMRC Coordinator, Claudia Vento, thinks that volunteers are retained through training. RRMRC members “attend trainings, so they can be ready to assist when needed.” Training is offered 10 months per year. Volunteers are required to attend one training event a year, though many attend more. The unit provides varied courses to allow volunteers to attend training based on their interests. Ms. Vento said that “the success of the unit can be attributed to the enthusiasm of volunteers. Their enthusiasm about the courses offered helps to recruit additional volunteers."

How Many Volunteers Does the Unit Have?

The unit has 300 volunteers—of which, one-third are non-medical volunteers.

How Large is the Unit’s Staff?

The staff consists of the MRC coordinator who devotes 28 hours per week to the MRC program.

Why was the Unit Selected for the Spotlight?

The unit was selected by the Region III Coordinator, Carla Holder. She describes the unit as “being an all-encompassing MRC unit, because it focuses on the Surgeon General’s public health initiatives and emergency preparedness.” “The unit also has integrated itself within the community by forming partnerships with local organizations, such as the Points of Light Foundation, the United Way, and senior programs.”

What are Some of the Unit’s Achievements?

The unit established its own Web site and brochure.
Within a year, the unit recruited 100 new volunteers.
The unit has increased its newsletter distribution from 450 to 600, which is distributed on a quarterly basis to community leaders and volunteers.
The unit has signed up with the 1-800-Volunteer network through the Points of Light Foundation.
The RRMRC Coordinator is joining the county Chambers of Commerce, so the unit can recruit volunteers through businesses.

What are Some Recent Events that the Unit has been Involved in?

The unit partnered with local schools to send out 4,000 packets that included need-to-know cards for a public health emergency.

The unit had 28 members ready to assist with the fall 2005 hurricane response effort. Six volunteers were deployed through the local American Red Cross, the National MRC/ARC mission, and the Health and Human Services Mission. Volunteers also were ready to deploy through the state Emergency Operations Center, if needed.

The unit performs outreach by giving presentations to community groups and devoting time to health, community, and emergency preparedness fairs.

In 2004, the unit participated in a full-scale drill. Since then, MRC Volunteers have participated in various drills for botulism, monkey pox, and anthrax.

Last Updated on 5/25/2006