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A. Purpose
This document was developed by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Preparedness and Response (OP&R), Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MDRMRC) State Program, to strengthen the capacity of the MDRMRC Network. The information contained in this document includes Maryland specific information and serves as a supplement to national Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program information and resources. This document is designed to provide MDRMRC Unit Administrators with guidance on building local volunteer management capacity and infrastructure.
This document should be used to assist Unit Administrators in the development of their MDRMRC Unit volunteer management plan and operating procedures. A
MDRMRC Unit Volunteer Management Plan − Template was created and included in the appendices to further assist Unit Administrators in this process. Use of this template is not required, but recommended. Additionally, the
Volunteer Registry − Administrator Protocols provides the operational protocol for the Maryland Responds Volunteer Registry (the Registry) to complement this Guide.
Throughout this document you will also find information on activities conducted by the MDRMRC State Program, such as statewide recruitment and training activities. Statewide volunteer activities are designed to supplement and support MDRMRC Units and are not intended to replace or diminish the need for MDRMRC Unit Administrators. Unit Administrators have specialized resources and local knowledge to effectively manage a local MRC Unit. The MDRMRC State Program aims to assist MDRMRC Unit Administrators by providing them with technical assistance and resources to help them meet local volunteer management priorities.
This document does not provide an exhaustive list of all necessary information needed to successfully establish, operate, and manage an MDRMRC Unit. Rather, it provides a framework for aligning state and local volunteer management goals, protocols, and planning.
B. Distribution
The latest version of this document and supporting materials will be available on the
MDRMRC website. The document is also available for download from the document libraries of the Registry and the Maryland Health Alert Network (HAN). Future versions of this document will be added to these document libraries as they become available.
To ensure that you have the most recent version and are notified when new versions become available, it is highly recommended that you click 'WATCH' on the “Unit Administrator Resources” folder within the Registry or the 'Maryland Responds MRC' folder within HAN. This will automatically notify you through email anytime a new or revised document is added to these folders. We will not send out separate notifications each time a new or revised document is added. To ensure that your profile is watching the folder, please follow the steps below:
The Registry
- Log in to the Registry at: https://mdresponds.health.maryland.gov
- Select the 'Documents' tab near the top of the screen to open the Document Library
- Click on the plus sign to the left of the “Unit Administrator Resources” folder to open the subfolders
- Click on the plus sign to the left of the 'Volunteer Management Guide' folder to open the folder details
- On the right-hand side of the screen, click 'Watch' (there is a star next to this button)
- Note that you must click watch for this specific event folder
- Watching the larger 'Unit Administrator Resources' folder will not provide you with updates for the 'Volunteer Management Guide”
HAN
- Log in to the HAN System at: https://han.health.maryland.gov
- Select the 'Documents' tab near the top of the screen to open the HAN Document Library
- Click on the plus sign to the left of the “Maryland Responds MRC” folder to open the subfolders
- Click on the plus sign to the left of the 'Volunteer Management Guide' folder to open the folder details
- On the right-hand side of the screen, click 'Watch' (there is a star next to this button)
- Note that you must click watch for this specific event folder
- Watching the larger 'Maryland Responds MRC' folder will not provide you with updates for the 'Volunteer Management Guide'
C. Revisions
This Guide is a work in progress and will be updated as resources, guidance, and activities change. We value your feedback and strive to make this information as useful and relevant as possible. Suggestions for revision and additional information are welcomed via the “Request for Changes Form” (
Appendix A). Please submit completed forms to the MDRMRC State Program as indicated on the form.
D. Record of Changes Table
| 12.14.12 |
Initial Plan |
1.0 |
| 05.06.13 |
2nd Edition |
2.0 |
| 03.11.14 |
3rd Edition |
3.0 |
| 05.16.14 |
3.1 Version Updates |
3.1 |
| 02.15.19 |
4th Edition |
4.0 |
E. Contact Information
For more information about this Guide, the MDRMRC State Program, or Network, please email the State Program at mdresponds.health@maryland.gov.
F. Acknowledgements
The MDRMRC State Program would like to acknowledge and thank MDRMRC’s Unit Administrators and the National MRC Network leadership for their information, input, and assistance in the development of this Guide. We would also like to thank the Florida MRC Network for the template and concepts that greatly assisted in the format of the original Guide.
