Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR): Frequently Asked Questions

WEAVR is an acronym for Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry. WEAVR is a secure, password-protected, electronic database residing within the Wisconsin Health Alert Network (HAN) and the Public Health Information Network (PHIN). WEAVR is owned and managed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health.

Wisconsin Stat. ch. 257 provides liability and worker's compensation for specified licensed health professionals deployed as volunteers during a declared emergency. To be considered for this coverage, you must join WEAVR.

WEAVR is multipurpose. It provides health care and behavioral health professionals with an easy way to indicate their interest in volunteer service following a catastrophic emergency incident. Volunteers have the ability to update their individual contact information at any time. The registry also provides the Department of Health Services with a mechanism to house volunteer information in a central location.

WEAVR is designed for health care and behavioral health professionals. The skills profile section of the registry asks volunteers to indicate their expertise by degree, licensure, certification, and by specific skills.

WEAVR volunteers will be contacted after a catastrophic emergency incident if all other local, regional, or statewide primary responder resources are not sufficient to meet the need for response and recovery efforts resulting from that incident.

The WEAVR system is designed so that the database of volunteers can be queried for the specific health professions needed following an emergency incident. The query will take into consideration the distance and number of days that volunteers have indicated in their registration information and include those individuals in the final list available to the local or State Emergency Operations Center. The list will include volunteer contact information, licensure, certification, degree, and skills indicated.

WEAVR enhances primary responder efforts by having back up health care and behavioral health professional volunteers if and when needed. In the event that local or state primary responder resources are insufficient or need relief, WEAVR volunteers will be called upon to assist. During the registration process, WEAVR volunteers also have the option of indicating consent to be contacted by the local Public Health Preparedness Consortium Coordinators to receive information about local training opportunities.

At a minimum, WEAVR volunteers must update their contact information in the registry if and when it changes. Periodic reminders are sent by e-mail.

Health care and behavioral health professionals that are not currently affiliated with a health care organization or related business through employment or membership are able to register by choosing WEAVR Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry - DPH from the drop down list in "Select Organization" when signing on.

The local or State Emergency Operations Center will provide all of the information about where to report, credentials to bring, and any other requirements necessary.

WEAVR volunteers will receive "Just-In-Time" training at the site where they will be directed to report. WEAVR volunteers have the option, indicated during registration, to be contacted by their local or regional Public Health Preparedness Consortium Coordinator about training opportunities that may be available. Contact with volunteers is made through the e-mail address provided during registration.

The registry asks if you are registered with other volunteer or military organizations and if so, which is the primary organization. Following an emergency incident, the local or State Emergency Operations Center may call upon other volunteer organizations. However, details of the specific health care and behavioral health professionals needed, post emergency incident, will not be known until that time. Therefore, registering with more than one volunteer organization is acceptable and encouraged.

Funds from the 2003-2004 Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to develop and create the electronic database and system for query within the Health Alert Network (HAN) and the Public Health Information Network (PHIN).

WEAVR is live and ready for you to register to become a member. WEAVR benefits you as a health professional volunteer and those with other skills who may be called upon to respond to a public health emergency. Your health professional license, certification, or registration information can be verified by state and national databases. Integration of Medical Reserve Corps Unit members as well as members of the WI-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) into WEAVR provide a more central system to locate the licensure and skills needed for response to a public health emergency. Verification of credentials will make the response to an emergency more efficient and timely. In short, volunteers can be deployed faster.

If you'd like more information about WEAVR, email the Division of Public Health.