Northeast Regional Citizen Corps

The Northeast Colorado Regional Citizen Corps Council is a sub-committee of the Northeast All-Hazards Region (NEAHR) and is tasked by the NEAHR to coordinate Citizen Corps activities and programs in the 11-County Region and to manage the regional Citizen Corps Grant Program.  The Regional Citizen Corps coordinates with partners with the State of Colorado and Citizen Corps National.

The object of the Northeast Regional Citizen Corps Council is to encourage the development of local county/municipal Citizen Corps Councils and Citizen Corps Programs.
 

Regional Citizen Corps Activities
The Northeast Colorado Citizen Corps Council sponsors a number of annual workshops, training, and events for our regional partners and supports the efforts of local councils in the Northeast Region. 

2007 Northeast Colorado Citizen Corps Council Workshop
The 2007 Northeast Colorado Citizen Corps Workshop was held on January 17.  Speakers presented topics ranging from developing your local Citizen Corps Council, to focused discussions on the Citizen Corps programs, including CERT, Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps, Neighborhood Watch, and Volunteers in Police Services.


Local Citizen Corps Councils

Local Citizen Corps Councils help drive local citizen participation by coordinating Citizen Corps programs, developing community action plans, assessing possible threats and identifying local resources. 

Local Councils are a partnership between government agencies (such as emergency management, public safety, public health), volunteer partners (American Red Cross, local service clubs, volunteer organizations), and other invested organizations (local media, public and higher education, businesses).

Citizen Corps Councils promote local campaigns for:

  • Public Outreach: Encouraging homes to develop a household or business preparedness plan and disaster supplies kits, observing health and safety practices, implementing disaster mitigation measures, and participating in crime prevention and reporting.
     
  • Training: Classes in emergency preparedness, response capabilities, first aid, CPR, fire suppression, and search and rescue procedures.  This also includes the establishment of Citizen Corps Volunteer Programs listed below.
     
  • Volunteer service: Promoting, scheduling, and managing volunteer activities that support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safety organizations. Everyone can do something to support local law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, community public health efforts, and the four stages of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery efforts.

In the Northeast Region, you can find the following local Citizen Corps Councils:

  • Logan County Citizen Corps Council, Jon Rosenlund, 970-522-9700
  • Weld County Citizen Corps Council, Roy Rudisill, 970-304-6540

Citizen Corps Programs

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community. The program is administered by DHS.

In the Northeast Region, CERT teams are found in the following counties:

The Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacity of resource-constrained fire and rescue departments at all levels: volunteer, combination, and career. Citizen advocates can assist local fire departments in a range of activities including fire safety outreach, youth programs, and administrative support. Fire Corps provides resources to assist fire and rescue departments in creating opportunities for citizen advocates and promotes citizen participation. Fire Corps is funded through DHS and is managed and implemented through a partnership between the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

 

An expanded Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP) Program incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission, while also serving as a way to bring residents together to focus on emergency preparedness and emergency response training. Funded by DOJ, Neighborhood Watch is administered by the National Sheriffs' Association.

 

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program strengthens communities by helping medical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year as well as during local emergencies and other times of community need. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs and also supplement existing community public health initiatives, such as outreach and prevention, immunization programs, blood drives, case management, care planning, and other efforts. The MRC program is administered by HHS.

 

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by DOJ, VIPS is managed and implemented by International Association of Chiefs of Police.

To contact the Northeast Colorado Citizen Corps Councils, email or call the following: