Wisconsin Medical Reserve Corps
Volunteers building strong, healthy, and prepared communities
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) works to improve the health and safety of communities in Wisconsin and across the country. Volunteers donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies, as well as promote healthy living throughout the year.
MRC units organize and utilize medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Many community members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others—can fill key support positions.
Spotlight: Eau Claire City-County and St. Croix Valley Medical Reserve Corps receive national award
The Eau Claire City-County Health Department (ECCCHD) and the St. Croix Public Health were selected to receive the MRC RISE Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to support their local MRCs from December 1, 2022, to September 15, 2023.
In Eau Claire County, funding from this award will be used to support the Preparedness Specialist from the ECCCHD and the Eau Claire County Emergency Management Program Assistant to work together to update and improve volunteer management technology and processes which were identified as areas for improvement from the COVID-19 response. This funding will be used to strengthen, diversify, and grow the local MRC volunteer network to better serve communities and populations across the Eau Claire County area and continue to grow and meet local preparedness and response needs.
The St. Croix Valley MRC Unit covers St. Croix, Polk, and Pierce counties. The funding from this award will be used to educate and onboard the new MRC coordinator about the resources, tools, technology, trainings, and other resources available to build their competencies to promote, respond, and build awareness of the MRC program. The funding will also renew and update technology tools and processes to support evolving volunteer management needs and requirements, in partnership with Eau Claire County MRC. Lastly, the funding will allow the St. Croix Valley MRC Unit to purchase materials and supplies to support MRC surge response activities.
Learn more about the medical reserve corps awards.
Volunteer resources
Self-Care Pocket Reference Guide for Emergency Response Deployment, P-01435 (PDF) - A guide for volunteer responders that includes pre and post deployment checklists and self-reflection activities.
This resource was originally created for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health, and reprinted with their permission.
Additional information
- If you are interested in establishing a Medical Reserve Corps in your community, contact Warehouse and Logistics Supervisor James Oleson at James.Oleson@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- For more information on the National Medical Reserve Corps, visit the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
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 Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR). Wisconsin Medical Reserve Corps Units use WEAVR as their electronic registration system.