Saturday, May 11, 2024
5/11/2024
Oregon MRC-STTRONG Project Abstract Strengthening Medical Reserve Corps' Position to Address Social and Hazard Vulnerabilities in Oregon The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR) manages the state's Medical Reserve Corps units and the State Managed Volunteer Pool (SMVP). While there is impressive geographic coverage of active units in Oregon, there are significant challenges related to resource scarcity, program development, and standardization of MRC unit readiness. The Oregon Health Authority is applying for the MRC-STTRONG award on behalf Medical Reserve Corps units, facilitating this process of applying for and managing distribution of awards in order to eliminate competition among Oregon units and build collaborative and sustainable project management systems. The project aims to address these challenges and advance volunteer and MRC Coordinator readiness. As MRC units shift their focus from continued response into recovery and long-term volunteer engagement, there is a serious necessity for responder outreach and development, community outreach and education, and recovery initiatives. This project serves as an innovation and sustainability mechanism to resolve serious issues that under-resourced units face, as well as increase opportunities for volunteers to engage with and prepare the communities where they live and work. Oregon's unique hazards, including the potential for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake caused by the Cascadia Subduction Zone and compounding hazards such as wildfires, heat waves, and public health emergencies, underscore the critical need for robust and expansive public health response systems. The MRC-STTRONG award will provide critical resources to address regional capacity challenges, accelerate MRC program development and organizational buy-in, and make significant progress toward standardizing MRC unit readiness in jurisdictions around the state, ultimately enhancing Oregon's ability to effectively serve and respond to its diverse population year-round. Overall Project Objectives 1. Build capacity and promote organizational buy-in for MRC units through strategic and equitable allocation of real and technical resources. 2. Procure and allocate equipment and supplies to support volunteer training, community readiness, and deployment to medical surge emergencies. 3. Alleviate shortfalls and gaps in MRC Management through workforce investments such as personnel time, professional development, and team building initiatives. 4. Develop a statewide plan to build medical surge response capacity at the regional level and alleviate emergency medical supply chain disruptions during crisis. 5. Develop and implement a two-year training plan increasing opportunities for volunteers to enhance their own skills and knowledge in addition to promoting community readiness. The project will achieve its objectives through a range of activities such as volunteer and unit leader training and professional development, partnerships with community-based organizations, hiring additional workforce to sustain immediate and long-term program development, community outreach and preparedness education, equipping particularly vulnerable MRC Units immediately and developing plans for resolving long-term resource scarcity issues in the state. The project's outcomes will enhance the emergency response capability of MRC units, which will ultimately help in saving lives during emergencies and create cohesion across units in the Oregon MRC network. The success of this project will be shared with MRC and national networks to be replicated in other states.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
