The state Department of Public Health announced Monday that seven local health departments, including Ledge Light Health District and Uncas Health District, have been awarded the 2015-16 Challenge Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials for their Medical Reserve Corps units.

As Challenge Award recipients, the seven Medical Reserve Corps units will each receive $15,000 to implement innovative practices in their local jurisdictions that can be replicated throughout the state and beyond, the state health department said in a news release. Ledge Light, based in New London, serves New London, East Lyme, Waterford, Groton and Ledyard. Uncas, based in Norwich, serves Norwich, Bozrah, Griswold, Lebanon, Lisbon, Montville, Salem, Sprague and Voluntown. 

“The CT MRC program has grown tremendously since 2002, with 23 MRC units throughout the state providing supplemental assistance to our public safety and public health resources," said Jonathan Best, statewide coordinator for the program. "Our MRC volunteers perform an invaluable service, augmenting necessary medical care and assistance during times of crisis or emergency. The seven MRC units honored with the Challenge Award have distinguished themselves through their volunteer recruitment, leadership and training, and this funding will allow them to develop and implement new programs and practices that will enhance their local communities’ and the state’s emergency preparedness.”

Medical Reserve Corps is a partner program with Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security. Corps units function as part of local emergency preparedness teams supplementing existing public safety and public health resources, the health department said.

Recruiting, training, and organizing medical and public health professionals to strengthen their communities through volunteerism are at the core of the medical reserve corps initiative. Training for the program is structured to provide or verify individual knowledge and competencies above and beyond any current medical training to allow safe operation in a volunteer-based medical response operating environment. Connecticut corps units need medical and non-medical volunteers who are trained and ready to respond when activated according to the state's Regional Emergency Support Plan and the Activation Protocols, the health department said.

For information, visit: www.medicalreservecorps.gov.