The St. Mary’s County Local Public Health Corps (LPHC) is a way for local students, volunteers, and community members to support the St. Mary’s County Health Department in achieving its mission of promoting a healthy community. The St. Mary’s County LPHC gives registered members opportunities to engage with local public health in a variety of areas, such as emergency preparedness, education, and community engagement. Opportunities include access to online and in-person training, local public health news, information, events, and assistance registering with the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
To join the St. Mary’s Local Public Health Corps:
- Participants must be at least 16 years old and must either live or work within St. Mary’s County
- No medical experience is necessary, but is helpful
- Free training will be provided as needed
- Work is volunteer hour eligible
St. Mary’s County Local Public Health Corps Portal
The St. Mary’s County LPHC Portal is an app specifically designed for SMCHD to store Local Public Health Corpsman info and quickly contact them for assistance or support. The portal:
- Tracks training and service hours completed by St. Mary’s County Local Public Health Corpsmen
- Includes in-app license verification
- Is secure and adheres to HIPAA requirements
- Is compatible with phones and tablets
- Has an easy sign-up and verification process
What is the Medical Reserve Corps?
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was created after the tragedy of 9/11 due to a lack of vetting of medical personnel. Many who offered to help in the aftermath were turned away because their credentials and backgrounds could not be verified quickly enough. Today, the MRC Network consists of dedicated Responders ready to volunteer their skills, expertise, and time to support government agencies like SMCHD and assist first responders in emergencies.
SMCHD organized the first local unit of the MRC at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the people who volunteered their time and skills to the agency during that time became valued members of the COVID-19 response staff full-time, and others continue to volunteer today. Volunteers provided support in a variety of roles, both clinical and non-clinical, from testing to contact tracing in the early days of the pandemic.