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Unit Spotlight - October 2005

Unit Name:	Cape Cod MRC: Dennis Church of the Nazarene
Contact Information:	209 Upper County Road South Dennis, MA 02660
Phone:	508-394-6811
E-mail:	Cheryl.bushnell@capecodmrc.org

When was the Unit Founded?

This unit was founded in September 2002. The director, Cheryl Bushnell, has been with the Cape Cod MRC since its formation. She saw the MRC program as a wonderful opportunity for the church community to serve the larger community. She recognized it as a great opportunity for the church’s large congregation of medical professionals.

What Drives the Unit?

This unit's mission is to unify medical healthcare professionals and auxiliary staff that want to volunteer in an emergency event and contribute to the public health needs of the community. Ms. Bushnell stressed the importance of working with existing systems to prevent from duplicating the roles other organizations play. Therefore, they work with organizations such as the Nurses Association to support one another.

Ms. Bushnell works full time with the Massachusetts Department of Health, and she says that it is worthwhile to devote weekends and vacations to the MRC because volunteering serves the local community. However, she believes the Cape Cod MRC would not be where it is today without the support of the Church Board, Community Advisory Group, and CCMRC staff. She states, “They have been the thing that moves it forward!”

How Many Volunteers Does the Unit Have?

The unit has 89 volunteers; approximately 50% are clinical volunteers, and the other half are non-medical.

How Large is the Unit's Staff?

The staff is composed of the interim coordinator, director, and volunteer training coordinator. The Church of the Nazarene’s pastor serves as the staff supervisor.

What are Some of the Unit’s Achievements?

The Cape Cod MRC was selected by Jennifer Frenette, the Region I Regional Coordinator. She stated the unit “has recently been working hard on the SNS Program for their community and has used consultants to run a functional exercise in June with State, county, and community involvement. This has led to the generation of Memorandums of Understanding from the municipal public health and emergency services departments, leading to an institutionalization of their MRC, which is vital to their sustainability, as their pilot funds end in September.”

The Cape Cod MRC has established itself as a legitimate resource in the community through its designation as a formal town-dispensing site, an advantage for recruitment and visibility. Because the CCMRC meets the needs of surrounding communities, it can help establish other MRC units.

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

In February 2005, they held an off-season flu clinic, where 103 people received vaccinations.
In June 2005, the Cape Cod MRC participated in a school screening clinic conducting physicals.
In November 2005, the director will be participating in a panel at the Massachusetts Service Alliance Conference. The conference is for faith-based organizations that provide community service.
In August 2005, the Cape Cod MRC was selected by the Massachusetts State Health Department to provide volunteers for the Hepatitis-A Clinic.

Fun Facts

This unit is unique because its infrastucture is faith-based, and the legal entity is the Church board. This unit can work as a team with various facets of the community supporting public health needs. The leadership involves collaboration between the Church board and the Community Advisory Group.

This unit is currently applying for a “Service Corporation Grant," or Next Generation Grant. Volunteers would act as mentors for at-risk youth. This would expand the number of volunteers, as they would gain additional clinical staff to assist at-risk youth.

Last Updated on 4/22/2008