Citizen Corps Programs

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains volunteers to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

Fire Corps
Fire Corps is a partnership between The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer Combination Officers Section (VCOS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the White House's USA Freedom Corps Office. The program’s ultimate goal is to support and supplement resource-constrained fire departments at all levels, volunteer, combination, and career.

Medical Reserve Corps
After September 11, 2001, thousands of Americans responded by volunteering to help in any way they could. Many more Americans asked, "What can I do to help?" The Medical Reserve Corps brings volunteers - health professionals and others - together to supplement existing local emergency plans and resources in cities, towns, and counties throughout the United States. In order to be most effective during times of emergency, volunteers must be organized and trained to work in emergency situations. The Medical Reserve Corps is designed to provide that organizational structure and promote appropriate training of volunteers for communities.

Neighborhood Watch
USAonwatch (UOW) was created by the National Sheriffs' Association, in conjunction with several well-known federal agencies, to advance this cause by encouraging the initiation and/or revitalization of Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the country. One of the oldest and best known crime prevention concepts in history, Neighborhood Watch was created to unite law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and individual citizens in a massive effort to reduce residential crime. USAonwatch is used not only to promote NWs, but also record the number of NWs started. The President asked the National Sheriffs' Association to double the number of Neighborhood Watchgroups by January 2004.

Volunteers in Police Service
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is managing and implementing the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program in partnership with and on behalf of the White House Office of the USA Freedom Corps and the U.S. Department of Justice. The program's ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.