Orange County Public Health Reserve Corps
Join the Orange County Public Health Reserve Corps Today!
What is the Public Health Reserve Corps?
The Public Health Reserve Corps is one of the Orange County Health Department’s community-based volunteer programs. Our mission is to build a reserve of health professionals and other community members with specialized skills that will strengthen the Health Department’s ability to respond to local public health emergencies such as natural disasters and man-made disasters like acts of terrorism. The program is a Medical Reserve Corps unit, which is a component of the national Citizen Corps program.
Why the Health Department needs volunteers?
Large-scale public health emergencies may overwhelm the Health Department’s primary health and medical responders quickly. It’s important that we have a reserve of volunteers who can help us meet local health needs after a disaster.
Who Can Volunteer for the PHRC?
Persons living or working in Orange County can join. Volunteers can be practicing, retired, or otherwise employed.
We recruit the following:
- Administrative Specialists
- Laypersons
- Mental Health Providers
- Dental Professionals
- Interpreters
- Nurses
- Pastoral Care Professionals
- Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
- Physicians and Physician Assistants
- Public Health Professionals and Health Educators
- Teachers / Educators
- YOU!!
What might I be asked to do?
Volunteers may be asked to help Health Department staff meet public health needs after local emergencies such as natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), man-made disasters (acts of terrorism, chemical spills, etc.), and communicable disease outbreaks. Volunteers may also be asked to help with ongoing public health initiatives and community health education efforts.
In the past, nurses have been asked to provide immunizations and staff emergency shelters after a major storm. Pharmacy professionals may be asked to dispense medications. Mental health professionals may be asked to staff a special needs shelter. In any event, volunteers will only be able to help in a manner consistent with their skills and credentials.
Benefits of Joining
- Confidence in knowing how to help after a disaster
- Eases credentialing and ID process when volunteering for disaster response
- Free training and CEU opportunities
Downloads/Links
- Program Brochure
- Volunteer Registraton Form
- Volunteer Registration Packet
- Current Volunteers
- Program Newsletter
- Training/Volunteer Opportunities Calendar
- Emergency Preparedness
Request the PHRC Information Packet!
Persons who request an information packet will also receive our quarterly newsletter and training announcements by email.
For more information contact:
Amanda Bartolomeo
Volunteer Coordinator/Sr. Public Health Educator
(919) 245-2388
Orange County Flu Updates
January 22, 2010: Free H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are available 5 days per week at the health department. No appointment necessary. For more info, call our nurse line at 919-605-2051.
Chapel Hill Office:
2501 Homestead Road
Mon.: 9am-1pm
Thurs.: 2pm-6pm
Fri.: 12:30pm-4:30pm
Hillsborough Office:
300 W. Tryon Street
Tues.: 2pm-6pm
Wed.: 9am-1pm
