The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union address in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. MRC is a specialized component of the Citizens Corps, a National network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Peace Corp are all part of the President’s USA Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism and service throughout the nation.
MRC units are community- based and functions as a way to locally organize and to utilize volunteers, medical professionals and other who are willing to donate their time and expertise to promote healthy living throughout the year and to prepare for and respond to emergencies. MRC volunteers supplement existing local emergency and public health resources.
MRC volunteers include medical and public-health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Other community members, such as interpreters, chaplains, office workers and legal advisors, can fill other vital support positions.
TAHEC’s MRC was approved by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General in March, 2005 and became Alabama’s first MRC named the Black Belt MRC.
The Black Belt MRC is made up of a cadre of volunteers from a cross section of the community to include physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners, social workers, licensed practical nurses, mental health professionals, EMTs and paramedics, veterinarians, firefighters, police officers, public health workers and others.