Awards will strengthen MRC Network’s ability to deploy a ready, capable, and responsive volunteer workforce to address COVID-19 and other emergencies
Washington, DC, December 21, 2022 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the country’s nearly 3,000 local health departments, is pleased to announce a second round of funding in the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) COVID-19 Respond, Innovate, Sustain, and Equip (RISE) Awards. These awards, made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s Medical Reserve Corps Program Office, will provide resources to the MRC network to support COVID-19 response efforts. Awards totaling $3,425,000 will support 73 local units and state MRC coordinators to build the capacity for the MRC to respond, innovate to evolving requirements, sustain staffing, and equip units with resources needed to support their missions. This is in addition to the $9.5 million awarded through the first round of RISE Awards earlier this year.
The MRC is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises approximately 200,000 volunteers in roughly 800 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories. In COVID-19 response alone, from March 2020 through March 2022, MRC volunteers contributed approximately 3.8 million hours of service, resulting in a workforce savings of $132 million.
According to NACCHO’s 2020 Network Profile of the Medical Reserve Corps, more than half of units (63%) expressed that additional unit funding was their greatest need. Funding for these awards comes through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and is a direct result of NACCHO’s advocacy work to expand support for the Medical Reserve Corps.
- Tier 1 Awards ($25,000) – Intended for local MRC units or state coordinators with program plans at the $25,000 level that address their needs to support COVID-19 response efforts at the local, regional, or state level.
- Tier 2 Awards ($50,000) – Intended for local MRC units or state coordinators with program plans at the $50,000 level that address their needs to support COVID-19 response efforts at the local, regional, or state level.
- Tier 3 Awards ($75,000) – Intended for local MRC units or state coordinators that demonstrate a strong background in MRC operations, demonstrated response/resource needs at the $75,000 level, and the expanded capacity to effectively develop and implement a program plan at this level.
Round 1 RISE Awards granted to each of the following local MRC units or state coordinators:
Tier 1 Awards MRC – $25,000
California – Berkeley MRC, California Emergency Medical Services Authority, San Luis Obispo County MRC
Connecticut – Milford Health Department MRC
Georgia – Southwest Georgia Regional MRC
Idaho – Southwest Idaho MRC
Iowa – Cherokee County MRC
Kansas – Shawnee County Health Department
Kentucky – Hopkins-Muhlenberg MRC
Nebraska – Eastern Nebraska/Western Iowa MRC, Nebraska State Coordinator, Panhandle MRC, Southeast Nebraska MRC, Three Rivers MRC
New Hampshire – Upper Valley MRC
New Jersey – Atlantic County Public Health MRC, Middlesex County, Morris County MRC
New York – Monroe County, Putnam County MRC, Rensselaer County Department of Health MRC
North Carolina – North Carolina Baptist Men MRC Central Region
Ohio – Crawford County MRC, Warren County MRC
Oregon – Nehalem Bay MRC
Vermont – Southeastern MRC VT
Virginia – Chesterfield Health District MRC, Crater MRC
Wisconsin – St. Croix Valley MRC
Tier 2 Awards – $50,000
Alabama – Twenty First Century Youth MRC
Arkansas – Arkansas State Coordinator
California – Stanislaus County MRC
Colorado – Front Range Veterinary MRC of Colorado
Connecticut – Sacred Heart University MRC, Stratford-Trumbull-Monroe MRC, Torrington Area Health District MRC
Georgia – West Central Health District MRC
Illinois – Bond County MRC, Monroe County MRC, Schuyler County MRC
Louisiana – Louisiana State Animal Response Team Veterinary MRC
Missouri – Perry County MRC
Ohio – Greene County MRC, Madison County MRC, Seneca County MRC
Oregon – Cannon Beach MRC
Rhode Island – Rhode Island Junior MRC, Rhode Island Veterinary MRC
South Carolina – South Carolina Public Health Reserve Corps
Virginia – Greater Prince William MRC, Southside Health District
Washington – MRC of Eastern Washington
Wisconsin – Eau Claire County MRC
Tier 3 Awards – $75,000
Alabama – PROJECT H.E.L.P. USA/MRC
California – Long Beach MRC, San Diego MRC
Illinois – Adams County MRC
Kansas – Sedgwick County MRC
Louisiana – New Orleans MRC
Massachusetts – Central Hampden County MRC
Minnesota – MRC of Ramsey County, Minnesota Behavioral Health MRC
Missouri – Pettis County MRC, Saint Louis County MRC
New York – New York State Department of Health
Pennsylvania – Philadelphia MRC
Texas – Brazoria County MRC, Coastal Blend, Fort Bend MRC, Williamson County MRC
Utah – Salt Lake County MRC, State of Utah MRC
Washington – Public Health Reserve Corps of Seattle and King County
###
About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.
