California State Citizen Corps Program

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California State Citizen Corps Program

• We oversee five volunteer programs throughout the
  state CERT, MRC, VIPS, Fire Corps, and
  Neighborhood Watch.

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Peace Corps
CNCS
National Citizen Corps Council
Citizen Corps Program Partners
Affiliate Programs
DHS / NVFC
DOJ / NSA
DHS / OSLGCP
DHHS / OSG
DOJ / IACP
Ready.gov / Are You Ready? / Safety -
Preparedness Awareness Programs
State Citizen Corps Councils
Tribal / Local Citizen Corps Councils
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California Service Corps/Office of the Governor

• Citizen Corps in California is a part of the
  Emergency Management Unit under the California
  Service Corps, established in 1994 by Executive
  Order.
• Promotes the service/volunteerism field
  administers AmeriCorps Citizen Corps Programs
  in CA
• Please visit our website to learn more about us,
  and about AmeriCorps, at www.csc.ca.gov, and our
  Citizen Corps section at www.citizencorps.ca.gov.

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The Citizen Corps program

• Since September 11, 2001 and more recently,
  Hurricane Katrina, Americans have and continue to
  demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving not
  only their own communities, but other communities
  across the nation.

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Citizen Corps Homeland Security

• Reduces burden on first responders
• Develops community action plans, empowers
  citizens, supports neighborhood coordination.
• Creates well trained, better informed prepared
  citizens to help themselvesespecially 1st 72
  hrs!
• Tribal areas can enhance self sufficiency
• Citizen Corps Councils coordinated
  volunteers!

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Citizen Corps Councils Who What

• Integrate
• Involve
• Build
• Develop
• Promote
• Organize
• Capture
• Support

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Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

• Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to
  enhance the capacity of state and local law
  enforcement to utilize volunteers. Funded by the
  U.S. Department of Justice, VIPS is managed and
  implemented by International Association of
  Chiefs of Police.
• Please visit www.policevolunteers.org to learn
  more.

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Fire Corps

• Fire Corps is a fairly new program in California,
  which consists of citizens helping the fire
  service from behind the lines.
• Please visit www.firecorps.ca.gov to learn more
  about California Fire Corps, and
  www.firecorps.org to see the national Fire Corps
  site.

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Medical Reserve Corps

• Medical Reserve Corps units coordinate the skills
  of practicing and retired physicians, nurses and
  other health professionals who are willing to
  volunteer during emergency situations and help
  with other public health matters. MRC unit
  volunteers also work to improve the overall
  health and well being of their communities.
• Please visit www.medicalreservecorps.gov to learn
  more.

10
Neighborhood Watch

• Neighborhood Watch is a volunteer program through
  USA on Watch, comprised of groups of citizens who
  keep an eye on their neighborhoods for safer
  communities.
• Please visit www.usaonwatch.org to learn more.

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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

• CERT provides training in emergency preparedness
  and basic response techniques, enabling citizens
  to take a more active role in personal and public
  safety. Please visit www.fema.gov to learn more.
• CERT is the program that your communities may be
  the most interested in.
• CERT addresses many community
• needs.

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California Service Corps and CERT

• Please check the FEMA website at www.fema.gov
  to get the phone numbers and emails of CERT
  program contacts in your area, if you are
  interested in taking the course and joining a
  CERT team, or in starting your own CERT team.

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CERT Training

• CERT training is a 20-hour course volunteers can
  take and become certified.
• See www.fema.gov for CERT training information
  and modules.

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Community Emergency Response Team Program

• A 20 hour CERT course that includes eight
  training modules
• - Disaster Preparedness - Light Urban Search and
  Rescue
• - Fire Suppression - Medical Principles and
  Treatment
• - Team Organization - Disaster Psychology
• - Terrorism - Final Exercise
• CERT Train-The-Trainer classes being offered
  statewide to increase the amount of CERT
  instructors, and the amount of CERT members who
  get trained. We will offer four T3 and four T4
  courses this year throughout the state.
• CERT Workgroup a subcommittee of the State
  Citizen Corps Council established to address
  policy and development issues.

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Use of CERT is diverse

• Above all help themselves and immediate
  neighbors!
• Various other ways

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Disaster Preparedness

• Recent disasters and emergencies
• Hazards
• Home and workplace preparedness
• Protection for disaster workers

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Fire Safety

• Fire hazards
• Fire suppression
• Fire safety

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Disaster Medical Operations

• Threatening and life-threatening conditions
• Treatment areas
• Treating burns, wounds, sprains, fractures, and
  hypothermia
• Triage

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Light Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations

• Search and Rescue Operations
• Conducting search operations
• Conducting rescue operations

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CERT Organization

• Organization
• Decision making
• Documentation

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Disaster Psychology

• Team well-being
• Working with survivors trauma

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Terrorism and CERT

• Terrorist targets and weapons
• Preparing at home and work
• CERTs and terrorist incidents

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Disaster Simulation

• At the end of the CERT course, there is a
  simulated disaster for the final exercise to test
  the participants responses
• Please visit our website at www.csc.ca.gov to
  learn more about CERT and other Citizen Corps
  programs.
• Now Elaine Viray will speak about how to prepare
  for disasters in your community