# Presentation: 698947

## Citizen Corps Mission

**To have everyone in America participate in making themselves, our communities, and our nation safer**** ****	**

**We all have a role in hometown security**
**a **_**personal responsibility**_** to be prepared;**
**to get **_**training**_** in first aid and emergency skills; and**
**to **_**volunteer **_**to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.**

##      The Need to be Ready 

- bystanders or victims themselves are the first to provide
- emergency assistance or
- to perform a rescue

*Los Angeles Fire Department*

-      The Need to be Ready

## First Responders Per Capita 

_**1 firefighter for every 265 people**_
- 1.1 million firefighters – 750,000 volunteer
_**1 sworn officer for every 334 people**_
- 436,000 sworn law enforcement personnel
- 291,000 sworn sheriff’s office personnel
_**1 EMT/paramedic for every 325 people**_
- 890,000 all levels of pre-hospital services:
- basic EMT, intermediate EMT, paramedic

- First Responders Per Capita

*Journal of Emergency Medical Services (2004); National Fire Protection *
*Association (2003); National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (2003)*

**National **

**Citizen Corps Council**

**Affiliate**

**Programs**

**Are You Ready?**

**Citizen Corps Council**

**State Citizen Corps Councils**

**Tribal / Local Citizen Corps Councils**

***American Public***

***American Public***

**Federal Partner Programs**

**Affiliate**

**Programs**

**Citizen Preparedness ~ Training & Exercises ~ Volunteer Service**

**Are You Ready?**

**DHS**

**DOJ/NSA**

**DOJ/IACP**

**DHS/G&T**

**DHHS/OSG**

**DHS/USFA**
**NVFC/IAFF/IAFC**

**Office of Grants and Training**

## Citizen Corps Programs

- The **Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) **program educates and trains citizens in basic disaster response skills

**Fire Corps **promotes the use of citizen advocates to provide support to fire and rescue departments

- The** Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program **helps medical, public health, and other volunteers offer their expertise

**Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch **incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission

**Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)** works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers

**Notes:**
Program partners and Affiliates to provide training, resources, expertise

## Citizen Corps Affiliates 

- Programs and organizations that provide:
- 	- materials and resources for public education or training;
- 	- volunteer service opportunities to support first responders,
-       disaster relief activities, and community safety efforts; or
- 	- represent volunteers with an interest in homeland security
- Coordination and mutual support of respective activities

**Notes:**
The interest level that Citizen Corps has sparked since it’s announcement and the breadth of activities that are already taking place across the country encouraged us to develop an affiliate program to work formally with those programs and organizations that support the mission of helping citizens prevent, prepare for, and respond to crime, disasters, pressing health needs, and other emergencies.

## Citizen Corps Affiliates

##        Citizen Corps Approach

-    **National network of state/local/tribal **
**Citizen Corps Councils to: **
**	****   ****- tailor activities to the community **
**	****   ****- build on community strengths to develop and **
**	****     ****implement a local strategy for **_**all**_** to participate****  **

**National Voice – National public **
**awareness and media campaign **

##   Citizen Corps CouncilsMembership

**First responder/emergency management**
**	***(law, fire, EMS/EMT, public works)*
**Volunteer community**
**Elected officials**
**Business leaders**
**School systems representatives**
**Transportation sector**
**Media executives**
**Minority and special needs representation**
**Leadership from community sub-structure**

## Citizen Corps CouncilsResponsibilities 

**Build on community strengths to develop **_**strategic plans**_** for  the whole community, including special needs groups**
**Focus on **_**public education, training, and volunteer**_** opportunities for community and family safety**
**Ensure citizens are connected to **_**emergency alert systems**_
**Promote and oversee **_**Citizen Corps programs**_
**Provide opportunities for **_**special skills and interests**_
**Organize **_**special projects/community events**_
**Capture **_**smart practices**_** and report accomplishments**

## Citizen Corps Councils

## Engaging the PublicCitizen preparedness and participation may begin differently for each person.     

- Engaging the PublicCitizen preparedness and participation may begin differently for each person.

**Taking Independent **
**Action**

**Training &**
**Exercises**

**Surge Capacity Volunteer**

**Ad Hoc / Year Round**
**Volunteer**

**Aware of steps to take **

## Citizen Corps Local Strategy and Implementation

- Increased collaboration between government and community leaders.

- =

- x

- x

**P**
**R**
**E**
**P**
**A**
**R**
**E**
**D**
**C**
**I**
**T**
**I**
**Z**
**E**
**N**
**S**

- +

-  Terrorism

-  Natural  Hazards

-  Household

-  All Hazards

-  Crime

-  Public Health

-  Medical

- Emergencies

- Emergencies

- +

-  Collaboration & Planning
-  Public Ed &
-   Outreach /
-  Alerts-Warnings
-  Training and
-    Exercises
-  Volunteer
-   Opportunities

- (Year round and in crisis)

**S**
**P**
**E**
**C**
**I**
**A**
**L**
**N**
**E**
**E**
**D**
**S**

-  Neighborhoods /
-    HOAs
-  Schools/Univ
-  Places of worship
-  Critical Infrastr
-  Private Sector
-  Public Sector
-  Military Bases
-  Recreation
-  Shopping Malls
-  Hospitality
-  Transportation

## Citizen Corps:Community Benefits

**Greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control**
**Builds community pride, unity and patriotism**
**Promotes risk reduction, mitigation, and preparedness practices**
**Prepares us all for helping others in a crisis **

## Citizen Corps: Benefits for Emergency Responders

**Year round support through volunteer programs **
**Reduces burden on first responder services by promoting mitigation and preparedness measures**** **
**Creates well trained, better informed, and better prepared citizens to take care of themselves and others during times of crisis -- allowing first responders to address the most critical needs**

## National Citizen Corps Council

- 	**Leaders of national organizations promote the Citizen Corps mission, foster collaboration, and support State, tribal, local levels. **
**	**_**Subcommittees**_**:**
**	****- Emergency Management & Public Works**
**	****- Emergency Medical and Public Health Services**
**	****- Fire Service**
**	****- Law Enforcement**
**	****- Intergovernmental Organizations**
**	****- Volunteer Service**
**	****- Private Sector and Trade Associations**
**	****- Disabilities Advocacy Organizations**

## Citizen Corps Councils

**Tribal/Local Citizen Corps Councils**

**State Citizen Corps Councils**

**National Citizen Corps Council**

**Emergency Medical**

**Law Enforcement**

**Fire Service**

**Volunteer Service**

**Private Sector**

**Intergovernmental**

**Individuals with Disabilities**

**Emergency Management**

## Citizen Corps in National Policy

- 	**- Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8**
**	****  *****(paragraphs 22 and 23)***
**	****- National Preparedness Goal**
**	****  ***** Vision Statement**
**	****  ***** National Priorities**
**	****- Target Capabilities List**
**	****- State and Urban Strategies**
**	****- Homeland Security Grant Program**
**	****- Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program**
**	****- National Response Plan**

## Slide 20

## Office of Community Preparedness2006 Goals

**AWARENESS**: elevate understanding and call to action for community preparedness
**PARTNERSHIPS**: build and enhance relationships between government and non-governmental entities at all levels
**DHS INTEGRATION**: include community preparedness in all policy, guidance, and evaluations
**TOOLS and BEST PRACTICES**: technical assistance, products, and recognition to support Councils
**ACCOUNTABILITY**: to the American public
**ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE**: workforce, environment, and performance

##      What YOU Can Do

**Be personally prepared. **
**Learn about your school / workplace / community emergency response plans. **
**Help form Citizen Corps Councils and start the programs in your community**
**Partner with volunteer organizations, first responder and emergency management leadership, elected leadership, private sector and educational groups**
**Help your neighbors and your community with public education, risk assessment, training, and volunteer participation**
**Mentor others**

**Notes:**

After discussing these and other areas where the audience can help, transition to the next slide by saying something like ...

I hope that you now have a clear understanding of the Citizen Corps mission and some clear ideas for ways you can contribute your skills and energy making our country safer.  

In closing, I want to reiterate the urgency of our mission to have everyone participate in their own safety and the safety of their community.

## www.citizencorps.gov 

- Contact us at: _[citizencorps@dhs.gov](mailto:citizencorps@dhs.gov)__ _

- Includes preparedness materials, information on programs
- and affiliates, and a listing of all Councils nationwide.