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Developing: Introduction

The success of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) as a national movement rests with the energy and dedication of its volunteers. The MRC is a volunteer-driven initiative.

The MRC is different from other volunteer-intensive efforts. The nature of its work can be highly technical. Close coordination is required between the MRC unit and the organizations that utilize its medical and public health volunteers with specialty skills.

In small MRC units, all volunteer-related activities will likely be coordinated by one person, perhaps by the same person who also is responsible for the external coordination activities and the internal organizational tasks. In larger units, these activities may be dispersed among several people. Regardless, these activities have the same strategic goal—to support the development of the volunteer corps, an essential mandate for every MRC unit.

Regarding the importance of volunteers to the MRC, people sometimes think of traditional community service and goodwill. However, the MRC cannot rely solely on the average citizen who wants to volunteer during times of need. The MRC needs specialized volunteers, people with training and commitment, people who can be relied on during emergencies. Developing an MRC is not as simple as gathering specialized medical and health volunteers and deploying them. Their skill sets must be carefully understood and matched to the various needs that arise in each community. They will likely require additional training and may need to exercise their roles with the MRC unit’s other response partners.

Medical and other health volunteers are the most important part of any MRC unit. Managing volunteer relationships is a key function of the unit director or designated volunteer coordinator. This begins before volunteers are solicited, progressing from initial contact to the various volunteer activities. It is important to structure each volunteer’s experience so it will be the best possible, and the MRC’s success relies on properly recognizing and retaining them.

Topics Addressed in This Publication

This publication discusses topics related to developing volunteer relationships and capabilities, including the following:

• Recruiting volunteers
• Interviewing and screening prospective volunteers
• Training volunteers
• Retaining volunteers

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Last Updated on 8/21/2006