Establishing statewide Citizen Corps programs
Abstract
Answering the President's "call to service" resulted in the Ohio Community Service Council partnering with other lead service organizations in creating Citizen Corps in that state. County Citizen Corps Councils bring together local leaders, citizen volunteers, and the network of first provider organizations, such as fire, law enforcement, and emergency personnel to identify volunteer roles and mobilize resources. The ultimate goal is to form a county-level Citizen Corps Council in each of Ohio's 88 counties. This project was highlighted in the National Service News, Issue No. 201, March 2004, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.Issue
Mobilizing resources locally to respond to homeland security needs.Action
In 2002, The Ohio Community Service Council, in partnership with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Volunteer Center Association, and the Ohio Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Directors Association, received a federal grant of $450,000 from the Corporation for National and Community Service to launch Citizen Corps in Ohio. Since the initial grant, the partnership has added the Ohio chapter of the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD).Effective practices include:
- A committee was formed from among members of the State of Ohio Security Task Force. This committee is responsible for:
- Facilitating the start-up of County Citizen Corps Councils
- Coordinating citizen involvement efforts
- Integrating citizen involvement into the state's homeland security efforts
The Task Force is comprised of representatives from: State Highway Patrol, State Fire Marshal's Office, Attorney General's Office, Department of Health, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), RSVP, and Ohio Community Service Council
- County Emergency Management Agency Directors (EMA):
- Serve as a bridge between First Responders and community volunteer support
- Identify volunteer tasks to support First Responders
- Nine lead Volunteer Centers, which represent regions throughout the state, have been selected to:
- Assist in the identification of volunteer tasks
- Provide training and technical assistance for the effective utilization of volunteers
- Coordinate the recruitment of local volunteers
- Assist in the formation of local Citizen Corps Councils
- Collect and process volunteer information
- Work with local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) directors
- RSVP volunteers work collaboratively with lead Volunteer Centers to recruit Citizen Corps volunteers
- County Citizen Corps Councils bring together local leaders, citizen volunteers, and the network of First Provider organizations, such as fire, law enforcement, and emergency personnel to identify volunteer roles and mobilize resources.
- Call-to-Service Campaign
- To meet an aggressive recruitment goal, an integrated, statewide public awareness campaign to educate Ohioans about Citizen Corps was developed. The campaign focuses on three key messages: the importance of citizen involvement in homeland security; the benefits of volunteerism; and how to get involved in Citizen Corps.
- A vital function of the campaign is to support volunteer recruitment efforts at the county level, so all communications materials have been developed to allow customization for targeted, local use.
- Mass media resources for the call-to-service campaign have so far included four waves of 50 billboards throughout the state, with messages such as "Homeland Security Begins at Home," "Don't Just Live Here, Do Something," "Heroes Aren't Born, They Volunteer."
- In addition, a series of television public service announcements, which highlight real-life Ohio volunteers and the benefits of getting involved, were sent to TV stations around the state.
- Coinciding with the call-to-service campaign, a statewide database was developed to track Citizen Corps volunteers, match volunteers with homeland security needs, and track service.
- Ohio Citizen Corps has also established a relationship with the Points of Light Foundation and has integrated its 1-800 VOLUNTEER hotline as an alternative method for volunteer recruitment.
- The website of the Ohio Community Service Council was redesigned to provide a simple volunteer registration process, serve as the Citizen Corps Council information resource, spotlight volunteer accomplishments, and to provide direct links to representatives of the State of the Ohio Security Task Force. Resources on the website include:
- Volunteer registration forms
- Posters and certificates
- Logos
- Sample press releases
- Fact sheet
- PowerPoint presentation
- Advice on media relations
- Media contacts
- Brochures
- Billboard information
- Sample radio public service announcements (PSAs)
- Key messages for marketing and communication.
Context
Citizen Corps, an integral component of USA Freedom Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a variety of ways to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.
Citizen Corps is coordinated nationally by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In this capacity, FEMA works closely with other federal entities, state and local governments, first responders and emergency managers, the volunteer community, and the White House Office of the USA Freedom Corps.
The responsibilities of Citizen Corps Councils are to:
- Build on community strengths (local programs) to develop action plans to involve the whole community, including special needs groups
- Focus on public education, training, and volunteer opportunities for community and family safety
- Promote and oversee Citizen Corps programs such as Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), and the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
- Provide opportunities for special skills and interests
- Organize special projects/community events
- Capture best practices and report accomplishments
2004 marks the Ohio Community Service Council's (OCSC) 10th Anniversary of strengthening Ohio's communities through service and volunteerism. The Council was established in 1994 by the state legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. OCSC staff share office space with the Corporation for National and Community Service State Office. Ohio is the first state in the country to have this arrangement, known as the "blended model."
Outcome
Ohio Citizen Corps, which is comprised of state agency representatives, volunteer organizations, and professional associations, has been closely integrated into the state's homeland security strategy and initiatives.
Community benefits of Citizen Corps include:
- Instilling a greater sense of security, responsibility, and personal control
- Promoting pride, unity, and patriotism
- Developing risk reduction, disaster mitigation, and preparedness practices
- Preparing community members for helping others in a crisis
Benefits for First Responders include:
- Supplying year round support through volunteer programs
- Reducing burden on first responder services by promoting mitigation and preparedness measures
- Helping citizens to be better trained, better informed, and better prepared to take care of themselves and others during times of crisis, allowing first responders to address the most critical needs
The partnership of OCSC, OEMA, Ohio Volunteer Center Association, Ohio VOAD and RSVP has been successful in creating the infrastructure that supports Citizen Corps in Ohio. The primary strategy of the OCSC was to develop an Ohio Citizen Corps Council that provides state level administration and logistical support to the County Citizen Corps Councils.
In addition to the five grant partners, the Ohio Citizen Corps Council's membership includes representatives from agencies such as the State Attorney General's Office, Health Department, American Red Cross, American Amateur Radio Relay League, National Guard and State Fire Marshal's Office. This group plays an integral role in funding and supporting the lead Volunteer Centers that facilitate the development of local Citizen Corps Councils throughout the state.
Other accomplishments include:
- Integration of Ohio Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) into the partnership
- 60 registered County Citizen Corps Councils
- 18 RSVP volunteer projects with volunteer recruiters
- Volunteer database/TV public service announcements/billboards/poster
- Development of volunteer reception center (VRC) to incorporate unaffiliated volunteers in response and recovery
- Expanded OCSC website
Evidence
In 2002, the state of Ohio set a goal to establish a county-level Citizen Corps Council in each of the state's 88 counties — including 4,000 volunteers. As of 2004, nearly 60 County Citizen Corps Councils have been established, as well as four local councils, and more than 2,000 volunteers have been recruited to serve.Posted On
May 5, 2004For More Information
Related Practices
Related sites
State of Ohio Security Task Force