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Sustainability: MRC Sustainability Work Group

The MRC Sustainability Work Group (SWG) was formed at the Region III meeting in November 2005 to identify sustainability needs that MRC units have and to provide guidance on how to address them.

The SWG’s objectives are to:

Address financial health and sustainability of all MRC units
Assist MRC units with monitoring their individual financial health
Target the future financial needs of the MRC nationally
Supply recommendations for future sustainability with additional funding sources

The SWG surveyed 363 MRC unit and state coordinators, and 108 individuals participated. The results were shared at the 2006 MRC National Leadership and Training Conference.

Some of the SWG’s recommendations are to:

Build stronger relationships with your health department, emergency service agencies, local hospitals, health insurers, and pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies
Secure the time and effort to research and write grants. Without paid staff or a nonprofit partner that has paid staff responsible for these activities, it is unlikely an MRC will be able to secure grants.
Hire a professional grant writer/manager or find a volunteer with the background and time.
Develop a strategic alliance or partnership with a strong nonprofit or governmental entity to act as a fiduciary entity and to be responsible for the grants writing and management task.
Work on a regional level with other MRC units to secure regional funds.

The SWG engages MRC leaders in sustainability. The SWG intends to collect best practices and lessons learned about sustainability and will provide more guidance and resources to the MRC.

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Last Updated on 8/28/2006