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New Jersey Citizen Corps volunteers help their communities prepare for and respond
to all types of disasters through education, training and volunteer service. Based on the tradition of "neighbor helping neighbor,"
Citizen Corps programs build strong communities, enhance the capabilities of emergency services organizations, and
empower individuals to act responsibly and respond appropriately during critical times.
There are over 10,000 Citizens Corps volunteers in 208 New Jersey communities. These dedicated individuals have helped
search for missing children, served as community relations field officers after disasters, worked in local emergency operations centers
during disaster simulations and emergency events, assisted with shelter operations, aided coordination at community events and helped
other community members be better prepared for disasters.
Join our team - there are a variety of opportunities to meet your skills and interests.
Join our team poster (16mb pdf)
Citizen Corps Programs
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) - http://www.nj.gov/njoem/emb_cert.html
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program coordinates the skills of practicing and retired physicians, nurses and other health
professionals as well as other citizens interested in health issues, who are eager to volunteer to address their community's
ongoing public health needs and to help their community during large-scale emergency situations.
Local community leaders will develop their own Medical Reserve Corps Units and identify the duties of the MRC
volunteers according to specific community needs. For example, MRC volunteers may deliver necessary public health services during
a crisis, assist emergency response teams with patients, and provide care directly to those with less serious injuries and other
health-related issues. MRC volunteers may also serve a vital role by assisting their communities with ongoing public health
needs (e.g., immunizations, screenings, health and nutrition education, and volunteering in community health centers and local
hospitals). Once established, how the local MRC Unit is utilized will be decided locally. The MRC unit will make decisions,
with local officials, including the local Citizen Corps Council, on when the community Medical Reserve Corps is activated \
during a local emergency.
NJ Medical Reserve Corps Page
National Medical Corps Home Page
Neighborhood Watch Program
The Neighborhood Watch Program is a highly successful effort that has been in existence for more than thirty years in cities
and counties across America. It provides a unique infrastructure that brings together local officials, law enforcement and citizens
to protect our communities.
Around the country, neighbors for three decades have banded together to create Neighborhood Watch programs. They
understand that the active participation of neighborhood residents is a critical element in community safety - not through vigilantism,
but simply through a willingness to look out for suspicious activity in their neighborhood, and report that activity to law enforcement
and to each other. In doing so, residents take a major step toward reclaiming high-crime neighborhoods, as well as making people throughout
a community feel more secure and less fearful.
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the need for strengthening and securing our communities has become even more
critical, and Neighborhood Watch groups have taken on greater significance. In addition to serving a crime prevention role, Neighborhood
Watch can also be used as the basis for bringing neighborhood residents together to focus on disaster preparedness as well as terrorism
awareness; to focus on evacuation drills and exercises; and even to organize group training, such as the Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT) training.
Many neighborhoods already have established Neighborhood Watch programs that are vibrant and effective. For those that do
not, Citizen Corps and the renewed emphasis on citizen preparedness may provide the incentive for them to participate in this important
community-based effort on behalf of their friends and neighbors. And when you help your neighbors, you help the nation.
National Neighborhood Watch Program -
http://www.usaonwatch.org/
For NJ Neighborhood Watch info, contact SFC Stephen Kearney at 609-963-6996
Volunteers in Police Service
Since September 11, 2001, the demands on state and local law enforcement have increased dramatically. As a result, already limited
resources are being stretched further at a time when our country needs every available officer out on the beat. Some local police
departments are turning to civilian volunteers to supplement their sworn force. These vital efforts will receive new support through
the Volunteers in Police Service. VIPS draws on the time and considerable talents of civilian volunteers and allows law enforcement
professionals to better perform their frontline duties.
The Program will provide resources to assist local law enforcement officials by incorporating community volunteers into
the activities of the law enforcement agency, including a series of best practices to help state and local law enforcement design strategies
to recruit, train, and utilize citizen volunteers in their departments.
National Volunteers in Police Service Home Page - http://www.policevolunteers.org/
For NJ National Volunteers in Police Service info, contact Howard Butt at 609-963-6995
Fire Corps
The mission of Fire Corps is to enhance the ability of fire departments to utilize citizen advocates and provide individuals with
opportunities to support their local fire departments with their time and talent.
Fire Corps is a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer Combination Officers
Section (VCOS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the White
House's USA Freedom Corps Office. The program's ultimate goal is to support and supplement resource-constrained fire departments
at all levels, volunteer, combination, and career.
This will be accomplished through the use of civilian advocates for non-operational related activities. The program
will educate fire departments on how to implement a non-operational citizen advocates program, or improve existing programs. Fire
service input to the program is provided through the Fire Corps National Advisory Committee which gives strategic direction and
important feedback from the field to Fire Corps.
National Fire Corps Home Page - http://www.firecorps.org/
New Jersey Fire Corps info - contact Howard Butt at 609-963-6995
News Releases
"Gifts for the Givers"
http://www.njsp.org/news/pr071305.html
"500+ State Workers Graduate CERT Training in Ceremony at State Police Headquarters"
http://www.njsp.org/news/pr072304.htm
"When Disaster Strikes, Your First Responder May be Your CERT-ified Neighbor"
http://www.njsp.org/news/pr071603.html
Links
National Citizen Corp Home Page
http://www.citizencorps.gov
Citizen Corp Councils
http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/
New Jersey Network's Citizen Corps Page
http://www.njn.net/community/projects/emergency/
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