An innovative partnership between the Somerset County Health Department and the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Service Learning Project has been formed that will benefit the public.
Recently the county Health Department received a three-year, $50,000 per-year grant from the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to establish a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to enhance Somerset County’s preparedness and response efforts during a public health emergency or disaster.
About the same time, RVCC received a grant from the Community College National Center for Community Engagement to fund initiatives aimed at promoting homeland security and emergency preparedness.
After reading about the county’s grant, Gina Crinocli, a student in RVCC’s Trends in Nursing course and a member of a service-learning group, contacted county MRC Coordinator Lucille Young-Talbot to learn what the nursing students could do to enhance the county’s efforts.
The service-learning group had been charged with the task of researching various topics on chemical and bioterrorism threats and developing strategies on homeland security measures for specific populations, which fit in well with the goals of the county’s grant.
"This partnership serves as a public health model for an effective collaboration between the college community and the county health department," said Freeholder Director Denise Coyle. "We look forward to more partnerships, informed community members and continued growth in the future."
"This is a marriage made in heaven," said Freeholder Ken Scherer, health department liaison. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the nursing students to assist them with their efforts to inform college students, faculty and community members about bioterrorism preparedness efforts in Somerset County."
"Thanks to this partnership, our students have learned valuable information about the role that future nurses can play in the event of an emergency," said Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan, RVCC president. "In addition, the students have become a conduit in enlightening the community about county preparedness plans."
In April, the students hosted an MRC recruitment day at the college, as well as a panel presentation by the nursing team to inform, educate and recruit volunteers.
MRC volunteers can be retired and active medical or allied health professionals or non-medical professionals who have experience in, but not limited to, organizing large groups of people, controlling crowds or acting as interpreters. Anyone who has the desire and ability to assist in a potential natural or biological public health disaster is welcome to call for details.
"It’s important to understand that everyone has a role they can play during a public health disaster," said Freeholder Director Coyle.
For more information about MRC, an application form, or to request a presentation at your organization or company, contact Lucille Young-Talbot of the county Health Department at 231-7155 or visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/health and click on Medical Reserve Corps.