title: Developing strong response capacity: training volunteers in the medical reserve corps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The success of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is dependent on the ability of volunteers to respond in a timely and effective manner. This study aimed to assess the current status of MRC volunteer training and to examine the association between MRC characteristics and provision of training.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for this study were drawn from the 2013 Network Profile Survey of the MRC, which was administered to active MRC unit leaders or designated alternates of 962 units across the country in April to May of 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 80% of MRCs had a training plan. Ninety-one percent of MRCs offered one or more training courses to volunteers, and 73% indicated requirements for mandatory training. Approximately 84% of MRC units collaborated with other organizations to conduct trainings. Units with more volunteers (>150) were 3 times as likely to have a plan for volunteer training as were those with fewer volunteers (≤50). Compared to units with a full-time leader, those with leaders who were volunteers were only 0.57 times as likely to have a training plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An overwhelming majority of MRC units provide critical training to their volunteers prior to an emergency deployment. To further strengthen the overall MRC capacities, it is important for MRC units to have a training plan tailored to their community needs and features, make full use of available training resources, and collaborate with partner organizations.
authors: 1National Association of County & City Health Officials,Washington,DC.
authors: Jiali
authors: J
authors: Ye
authors: 1National Association of County & City Health Officials,Washington,DC.
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Stanford
authors: 1National Association of County & City Health Officials,Washington,DC.
authors: Tahlia
authors: T
authors: Gousse
authors: 2Division of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps,US Public Health Service,Washington,DC.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Tosatto
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D054597:Disaster Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education*
keywords: voluntary workers