Medical Reserve Corps Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2006

CONTACT: Debra Quackenbush, Community Information Coordinator
PHONE: 815-334-4510

"MRC Coordinator to Present at National Conference"

Pam McGraw, Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator for McHenry County's Department of Health will share her experiences on motivating and retaining volunteers to serve the County in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.  The 4th annual Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) National Leadership Conference takes place April 18-21, 2005 in Dallas, Texas.  U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona will give the keynote address to the 450 registered participants.  The Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness are among the presenters. 

Sessions include the training of physicians, health professionals and volunteers.  Safety plans for families, the critical role of community partnerships, participation in mass vaccination clinics and emergency communications will also be discussed. McHenry County is among several local Medical Reserve Corps chapters who have been invited to share best practices and strategies through presentations and break-out sessions. 

McHenry County's Medical Reserve Corps has grown to over 300 active volunteers in 2 years of operation.  The Medical Reserve Corps has 400 units throughout the country, with 15 units located in Illinois.    MRC units are community-based and function as a specialized component of the Citizen Corps.  They include volunteers with and without a medical background who are dedicated to making sure families, homes and communities are safe from terrorism, crime and disasters of all kinds.  MRC volunteers serve to strengthen McHenry County's ability to respond to natural disasters, emergency health events and acts of bioterrorism.  Recruitment is ongoing.  Information can be obtained by calling Pam McGraw at 815-334-4510 or by email (pamcgraw@co.mchenry.il.us).  The Medical Reserve Corps is funded by a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. 

Press Releases

• September 11, 2006 - Health Department Offers Vaccine, Tips to Guard Against Flu

• April 10, 2006 - MRC Coordinator to Present at National Conference

• March 24, 2006 - Helping Families Prepare for Emergencies

• January 26, 2006 - Volunteers for Disaster Drill

• November 28, 2005 - MRC and Hurricane Katrina

• September 8, 2005 - West Nile Virus

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