How to Start Your Local Citizen Corps Council Citizen Corps is a program of the ServeNebraska – the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission State Capitol – 6th Floor, West P.O. Box 98927 Lincoln, NE 68509 402-471-6226

What Is A Citizen Corps Council? Definition from Citizen Corps - National Citizen Corps Councils (CCC) will bring together leaders from relevant sectors of their communities to: direct the overall local plans to implement Citizen Corps in the community, leverage mutually supported endeavors among represented community groups, and manage existing volunteer resources.

What Will Your Citizen Corps Council Look Like? KEEP IN MIND – Citizen Corps is meant to fit each community. Citizen Corps is unique to each community. State components developed with local flavor that meets community needs.

What Does A Citizen Corps Council Do In Nebraska? CREATE AN ACTION PLAN for a local Community Preparedness Campaign that involves the community in prevention, preparedness, and response activities. PRIMARY Plan for Spontaneous Volunteer Management Outreach, Planning and Partnering for Special Populations. Partnerships with Faith Based Groups and Places of Worship to have an active and vital role in the community disaster preparedness and response. Planning and Partnering for Pet Disaster Preparedness in the Community. SECONDARY Regional Partnerships for CERT Training to Persons in all Communities. Assist Partner Programs with Development: Fire Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps, Volunteers in Police Service COORDINATE WITH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS

What Does A Citizen Corps Council Do? EDUCATE the public on safety - help citizens take an active role in protecting themselves, their families and their neighborhoods from harm, and teach citizens what to do in the event of a crisis. Offer citizens new and existing VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - educational information, and training courses to address crime, terrorism, and natural disaster risks. PROMOTE all Citizen Corps programs and mobilize the community in a large scale event in the community. RECOGNIZE ALL ACTIVITIES that promote prevention, preparedness, and response training as a part of Citizen Corps.

What Does A Citizen Corps Council Do? SUPPORT to first responders, if requested – match the needs of first responders with the skills and abilities of volunteers to make their families, homes, and communities safer from threats of terrorism, crime and disasters. WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOODS – in the community to design a systematic way educate and encourage the public to participate in Citizen Corps. ORGANIZE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS that promote Citizen Corps as well as utilize volunteers.

Why Do You Want To Start A Citizen Corps Council? The Most Common Benefits (not limited to) Better Prepared Citizens - take care of themselves, their families and their neighborhoods during times of crisis allow first responders to focus their efforts on the most critical, life-threatening situations. volunteer for other routine or administration responsibilities and tasks frees up sworn officers, licensed health professionals, and professional firefighters to focus on immediate emergency response needs Many benefits are region specific.

Is A System In Place? Partnership & Leadership Possibilities? Partnerships – Communities already have a committee, group, or agency in place similar to Citizen Corps Councils – don’t duplicate. Some of these groups may include: Local Emergency Planning Committee Public Health Dept Pandemic Planning Committee Home Owner’s Association Community Volunteers Active in Disaster (COAD) CCC Leadership Role – Citizen Corps Council Point of Contact (POC) can come from any community agency Broaden the POC role outside of the Emergency Management Agency

What Does An Ideal Citizen Corps Council Look Like? Representation and leadership is diverse touching all aspects of the community and able to assess the needs of the community. Everyone on the council has a clear idea of their role and the Citizen Corps Mission. State/Local Components are developed and implemented. Formal links with the five Partner Programs. Preparedness is practiced and promoted.

Who Should Be On A Citizen Corps Council? Leadership from ELECTED OFFICIALS. Examples: Mayors, City Council, County Commissioners, Sheriffs and Police. Leadership from EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY. Examples: Law enforcement, Fire, Emergency Medical, and Health Care. Leadership from VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND FAITH BASED COMMUNITY. Examples: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, VOAD.

Who Should Be On A Citizen Corps Council? Leadership from EXISTING COMMUNITY SUB-STRUCTURE. Examples: Voting Precincts, Census Tracts, Water And Sewer Districts, Health Departments. Leadership from MAJOR INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. Examples: Educational Institutions, Business Leaders, Local Media Executives, Veterinarians, Humane Societies. Other representatives who can speak to the DIFFERENT POPULATIONS. Examples: Individuals and Organization Reps for the Elderly, Minority, Limited/Non-English Speakers, Persons with Disabilities

Citizen Corps Council Partner Programs FIVE PARTNER PROGRAMS

National Affiliate Programs MULTIPLE AFFILIATE PROGRAMS

Why Change? Look to your committee and consider: Citizen Corps National asks that you partner your current initiatives (State’s five CCP Components) with reps from CC Partner Programs. 2006 & 2007 Homeland Security Grant requires all Community Emergency Response Teams, Fire Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service Programs to be working with a Citizen Corps Council. By becoming a Citizen Corps Council, you have access to regional, state, and national funding and resources. Becoming a local council in a region with many Citizen Corps programs makes the region more competitive for funding.

Starting A Local Citizen Corps Council - How to Spread the Fun? Overwhelmed? Don’t Panic! Local Councils are all different and have different strengths and ways of expanding. All start at different places. Start with only 2 or 3 State Component Programs and progress from there to develop all components. Overwhelmed? If you need help, ask for it! Local Councils should work closely with their Regional Council to assure they are in-line with regional needs and gaining support from programs already in place. Share the work and fun of community preparedness with community organizations – PARTNER. State programmatic support is always available by contacting the Citizen Corps Program Officer (402-471-6226).

Starting Your Council -- Here Come the Questions Does your Community Need a Citizen Corps Council? Why?

Starting Your Council -- Here Come the Questions What do you want from your Citizen Corps Council? What do you see as the purpose of your Citizen Corps Council? What do hope the end results of having a council will be?

Starting Your Council -- Here Come the Questions What Are Your Citizen Corps Councils Needs? --- Financial --- Material --- Personnel --- Time/Duration

Questions About Members of the Citizen Corps Council Who Would Sit on Your Citizen Corps Council? Citizens? Emergency Management? Fire? Law Enforcement? Medical Community Members? Non-Profit Organizations? Affiliates? Others?

Questions About Citizen Corps Roles Who will lead your Citizen Corps Council? Why? Consider the roles of the following: Agency’s Role: Members Role: Component Program (s) Role: Volunteers Role: Citizen Corp Councils Role Over-all:

Questions About the Citizen Corps Action Plan What do you see as your Citizen Corps Council’s MISSION? What GOALS and OBJECTIVES do you see your Citizen Corps completing to achieve your mission? What are your performance measures and outcomes?

Questions About the Community Preparedness Campaigns How can we do all four components of the State’s Community Preparedness Campaign locally? Who will help us develop each of the components?

Questions About Citizen Corps Volunteers Do your Citizen Corps Council members have experience managing volunteers? Can your Citizen Corps Council to recruit volunteers? Will your community volunteer?

Questions About Citizen Corps Volunteers How will the work of your Citizen Corps volunteers complement the work of your area emergency management, medical, and first responder communities?

Will Your Citizen Corps Council Last for the Long Haul? What is the #1 Over-All Goal Of Your Citizen Corps Council? Looking down the road, what do you see your Citizen Corps accomplishing in 1 year? In 5 Years? In 10 Years?

Summary Citizen Corps is a unified effort nation, state and region-wide. Starting a Citizen Corps Council should require thought and planning, but is flexible and should fit the needs of your community. Questions? CONTACT: Barbara Thomas, Executive Director ServeNebraska – the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission Phone: 402-471-6227 Email: barbara.thomas@nebraska.gov