5.2. SR 01-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The five national Citizen Corps programs are: ~k The Neighborhood Watch Program, funded by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and administered by the National Sheriffs' Association, has been reinvigorated to increase the number of groups involved in crime pre- vention and homeland security and preparedness efforts. The goal is to double the number of groups participating in Neighborhood Watch by 2004. Additional informa- tion about registering a watch group or obtaining resources to support Neighborhood Watch efforts is available www. usaonwatch.org. ~k FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides training in emergency preparedness and in basic response techniques to local trainers who in turn train citizens, enabling them to take a more active role in personal and public safety. The goal is to triple the number of citizens who are CERT trained, increasing the number nationwide to 600,000 by 2004. Additional information on CEtI.T is available at www. training, fema.gov/emiweb/cert. ~k Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)is a pro- gram administered by DOl. The program, which was launched nationwide in spring 2002, provides training fbr volunteers to perform administrative and non-inter- vention policing activities to free up law enforcement professionals for frontline duty. Additional information is available at www. policevolunteers.org. · HHS will administer a community-based Medical Reserve Corps that will be launched in fall 2002. Through this program, currently practicing and retired volunteers trained in healthcare will be able to assist during large-scale emergencies and will augment the emergency medical response community. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers can also play a productive role in meeting pressing but non-emergency public health needs of the community throughout the year. Additional information is available at www. medicalreservecorps.gov. ~k Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS), under development by DOJ, Operation TIPS would provide a hotline and referral system for workers in the trucking, shipping, maritime, and mass transit industries to report suspi- cious, and potentially terrorism-related, activities occur- ing in public areas to local, state, and federal law enforcement. The initiafive's design is based on existing programs, such as Highway Watch and Coast Watch, that allow truckers and ship captains to report danger- ous conditions along their routes. There are also many other opportunities fbr participating in Citizen Corps. There is a vast array of educational and volunteer activities already underway across the country that fbcus on making communities safer, stronger, and better prepared. These activities are also part of Citizen Corps. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTATION Citizen Corps is designed to be tailored to each community and will be managed at the local level by Citizen Corps Councils, or a similar entity, comprised of leaders from: emergency management and the first responder community; volunteer, community service, faith- and community-based organizations; educational institutions; medical facilities; business and industry; and the community's neighborhood networks. Each community that is implementing Citizen Corps should consider creating a Citizen Corps Council. This guide will help your community join the many others across the country that have already started Citizen Corps Councils in order to be prepared to fully implement the Citizen Corps programs in their communities. The primary objectives of the councils are to: ~k Match the needs of first responders with the skills and abilities of volunteers to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters. ~k Educate the public on safety, help citizens take an active role in protecting themselves from harm, and teach citizens what to do in the event of a crisis. ~ Spearhead efforts to offer citizens new and existing volunteer opportunities, educational informa- tion, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, and natural disaster risks.