Always Ready: How the MRC Strengthens Communities Year-Round through Technical Assistance Assessments

Every September, during National Preparedness Month, communities across the country are reminded to take steps to protect their families, friends, and neighbors in times of crisis. One group that prepares all year long is the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). With nearly 800 local units and close to 300,000 volunteers nationwide, the MRC recruits, trains, and activates medical and non-medical volunteers to respond when emergencies strike. But how do we make sure that this vast network of volunteers is always ready?

One critical way is through the administration of a Technical Assistance Assessment (TAA), which is conducted by a Regional Liaison in the Office of Medical Reserve Corps.

What is the Technical Assistance Assessment?

The Technical Assistance Assessment (TAA) is an annual, structured process during which each MRC unit works closely with its designated Office of the Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC) Regional Liaison to review the unit’s operations, strengths, and needs. Think of it as a comprehensive “checkup” for the unit. Just as a doctor’s visit helps you stay healthy, the TAA and discussion with the Regional Liaison help MRC units stay prepared, organized, and capable of serving their communities.

The assessment looks at everything from how well units recruit and train volunteers, to how they partner with local organizations, to how quickly they can mobilize during an emergency. It’s a chance to affirm what’s working and identify where extra support or resources are needed. And the TAA does not stop there—Regional Liaisons within the Office of Medical Reserve Corps equip MRC units with strategic guidance, risk-informed planning support, and access to cross-sector partnerships, all of which enable a wider range of community-based response and recovery activities.

Why It Matters

Preparedness is at the heart of the MRC mission. Emergencies like natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or public health crises don’t wait for us to get ready. MRC units ensure they are ready to respond by working with OMRC on these assessments.

Just a few of the areas the TAA explores:

• Volunteer readiness: Are volunteers recruited, screened, trained, and recognized for their contributions?
• Community partnerships: Does the unit have strong relationships with local health departments, local emergency management agencies, hospitals, schools, and nonprofits?
• Emergency response capability: How quickly can the unit mobilize? What specialized skills or teams do they have (like behavioral health, veterinary care, or epidemiology)?
• Sustainability: Does the unit have clear goals, solid leadership, and the resources to continue supporting the community in the long term?

By focusing on these areas, MRC units build resilience, with the support and technical assistance offered to them through the OMRC. They make sure that when the unexpected happens, there are trusted, trained neighbors ready to step up. And when a response is needed, the OMRC provides operational coordination before, during, and after public health emergencies, ensuring efforts are integrated across the Department of Health and Human Services, federal interagency partners, and SLTT stakeholders to ensure unity of effort.

Preparedness in Action

The TAA isn’t just about paperwork. It opens the door to real improvements. For example, a unit might discover that it needs more training in medical countermeasure dispensing or that it could better engage volunteers through social media. With that knowledge, the OMRC Regional Liaison provides or can help connect the unit with the necessary resources, such as training opportunities, new partners, or best practices from other MRC units across the country.

This process also creates accountability. Units regularly update their update their unit’s profile to include the number of volunteers, report participation in community events, and share successes with the larger MRC network. That means every unit, no matter how big or small, contributes to a stronger national system of preparedness.

The TAA also helps identify and organize MRC unit capabilities to inform key local community stakeholder groups/partners (e.g., local public health departments and emergency management agencies, hospitals, and other local health agencies).

What this means to you

The Technical Assistance Assessment may happen behind the scenes, but its impact is visible in every MRC response. Whether supporting distribution campaigns, assisting with shelter support after a storm, helping with grief counseling, or providing education at a community health fair, MRC volunteers are ready because their units have been trained, tested, and strengthened through this process.

So, as you and your family take time this National Preparedness Month to review your own plans, know that thousands of MRC units and volunteers are doing the same, making sure they’re ready to keep communities safe, healthy, and resilient when it matters most.