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OB. GANIZING A CITIZEN COP, PS COUNCIL
<br />Communities all across America already embrace
<br />the principles of Citizen Corps. There are many
<br />elected officials, business leaders, and involved
<br />citizens already doing their part to make their
<br />community a great place to live. Many communities
<br />also already have an organization that promotes
<br />public health and safety, disaster preparedness, and
<br />crime prevention in the community. No doubt,
<br />there is a strong base already involved in this effort
<br />in your own community. These activities are at the
<br />heart of Citizen Corps.
<br />
<br />The Citizen Corps Councils will bring together
<br />leaders from the relevant sectors of your community
<br />to coordinate the Citizen Corps effort. The purpose
<br />of the council is to have all decision makers at the
<br />table to manage existing volunteer resources, to
<br />leverage mutually supportive endeavors among the
<br />represented groups, and to direct the overall local
<br />plans to implement Citizen Corps in the community.
<br />Each community should have only one group that
<br />has the lead role in implementing Citizen Corps.
<br />
<br />Each community and region will have to determine
<br />its geographic boundaries and its own membership.
<br />Suggested membership of the Citizen Corps Council,
<br />or similar entity, includes the following:
<br />
<br /> ~ Leadership from elected officials, such as the
<br />mayor, city council members, county commissioners,
<br />or the tribal government leaders;
<br />
<br /> ~ Leadership from emergency management and
<br />from the first responder community: law enforce-
<br />ment, fire, and emergency medical services, and
<br />health care providers;
<br />
<br /> :~ Leadership from volunteer, community service,
<br />and faith-based groups, including a local VOAD
<br />group and Volunteer Center, if you have one;
<br />
<br /> ~ Leadership from any existing community sub-
<br />structure, such as advisory neighborhood commissions,
<br />wards, voting districts, census tracts, water and sewer
<br />districts, or other groups that represent a large cross-
<br />section of the community; and
<br />
<br /> ~ Leadership from major industries or other groups
<br />in the area, such as community leaders from educa-
<br />tional institutions and school boards, the business
<br />community, environmental and transportation
<br />groups, including airports, and utility providers.
<br />Other representatives could be from specific segments
<br />of the community, such as the elderly, minority popula-
<br />tions, non-English speakers, and local media executives.
<br />
<br />The primary qualification to participating on the coun-
<br />cil is making a commitment to educate the public on
<br />safety, to help citizens take an active role in protecting
<br />themselves fi:om harm, to teach citizens what to do in
<br />the event of a crisis, and to expand volunteer opportu-
<br />nities that will make thc community safer. '
<br />
<br />You do not need to create a new organization to start
<br />Citizen Corps. Leveraging existing resources is strongly
<br />encouraged. If your community already has a strong
<br />team that brings together all sectors of your community,
<br />including first responders and volunteer groups, you
<br />may want to ask this group to take on the responsibility
<br />of promoting Citizen Corps and to acknowledge this
<br />group as atTxliated with Citizen Corps.
<br />
<br />There may be an existing group in your community
<br />that includes many of the appropriate participants,
<br />such as local emergency planning committees, that
<br />could take the lead in joining with additional rele-
<br />vant parties to implement Citizen Corps.
<br />
<br />There are a number of national organizations, such as the
<br />American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, that could
<br />be key participants in your local management structure.
<br />If your community does not have local representation of
<br />these groups, you may want to contact the national
<br />organization to sec how you can start a local affiliate.
<br />
<br />The purpose of the Citizen Corps Council, or similar
<br />coordinating group, is to develop a systematic,
<br />efficient, and effective method for providing public
<br />
<br />However you choose to establish the local manage-
<br />ment structure, this group should be charged with
<br />managing all aspects of Citizen Corps at the local
<br />level and with bringing Citizen Corps programs and
<br />principles to residents of the community.
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