St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) in collaboration with Assisted Management Solutions and Data Research Group has initiated the St. Mary’s County Public Health Corps, a new platform to engage community members in public health preparedness and volunteerism. This initiative allows locals to explore public health careers and contribute through volunteer service, utilizing a cutting-edge technology platform developed by the partnering organizations.
The technology platform, underpinned by Data Research Group’s CRM system, FlashPoint, facilitates the registration and communication among volunteers. It provides tools for tracking training, service hours, and skill verification, accessible via smartphones and tablets. The system is designed to be user-friendly, simplifying sign-ups and interaction.
Volunteer opportunities within the Corps do not require medical experience, allowing broad community participation. Individuals interested in joining must be at least 18 years old. The Corps offers free training, both online and in-person, enabling volunteers to assist in local public health initiatives, special events, and emergencies.
Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer, emphasized the dual benefits of the program: community service and workforce development. “The new local Public Health Corps builds upon this spirit by giving us a way to get trained and ready for future public health needs while also developing a pipeline for our own local healthcare and public health workforce,” said Dr. Brewster.
Lisa Gregory, President of Assisted Management Solutions, highlighted the collaborative effort: “It has been a pleasure working with the SMCHD team on this development effort. We hope community members wishing to volunteer or engage in the health profession will find this new platform user-friendly and beneficial.”
Ed Burg, CEO and President of Data Research Group, also expressed enthusiasm about the integration of technology with community service. “We are coupling the time-honored tradition of serving in the public health corp with 21st-century technology. Our aim is to more effectively engage with local individuals who have the experience and the desire to serve as volunteers in a number of different capacities,” Burg stated.
For more information about the St. Mary’s County Public Health Corps and to register as a volunteer, visit smchd.org/phc.
