Volunteer

Volunteer Center Orange County

Volunteer Center Orange County strengthens our communities by mobilizing volunteer action and accelerating nonprofit success.  In times of disaster, VCOC mobilizes individuals, groups and corporations immediately by posting on their website volunteer opportunities which government agencies and other organizations active in disasters have asked to help them fill. Volunteers may visit the website at  www.volunteercenter.org or call 714-953-5757 to be directed to where they are most needed. VCOC updates these service opportunities daily or as new needs arise.  

Citizen Corps

Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

The National Citizen Corps mission is accomplished through a network of state, local, and tribal Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils build on community strengths to implement the Citizen Corps programs and will carry out a local strategy to have every American participate. Everyone can do something to help make our families and our communities safer through:

Personal Responsibility: Developing a household preparedness plan and disaster supplies kits, observing home health and safety practices, implementing disaster mitigation measures, and participating in crime prevention and reporting.

Training: Taking classes in emergency preparedness, response capabilities, first aid, CPR, fire suppression, and search and rescue procedures.

Volunteer Service: Engaging individuals in volunteer activities that support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safety organizations. Everyone can do something to support local law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, community public health efforts, and the four stages of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts.

The Orange County California Citizen Corps Council

The vision of the Orange County California Citizen Corps program is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to disasters and emergencies.

The mission of the Orange County Citizen Corps Council is to:

• Promote and strengthen the Citizen Corps programs at the community level, such as Volunteers in Police Service programs, CERT teams, Medical Reserve Corps units, and Neighborhood Watch groups;
• Provide opportunities for special skills and interests;
• Provide opportunities of training in first aid and emergency preparedness;
• Develop targeted outreach for the community, including special needs groups;
• Organize special projects and community events;
• Encourage cooperation and collaboration among community leaders;
• Capture smart practices and report accomplishments;
• Create opportunities for all residents to participate.

Volunteer Programs

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERT educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community. The program administered by Department of Homeland Security.

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
The MRC strengthens communities by helping medical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year as well as during local emergencies and other times of community need. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs and also supplement existing community public health initiatives, such as outreach and prevention. The MRC program provides volunteers with training in the Incident Command System 100 and 700 courses augmented with field exercises.

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
VIPS works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by DOJ, VIPS is managed and implemented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Citizen advocates can assist local fire departments in a range of activities including fire safety outreach, youth programs, and administrative support. Fire Corps provides resources to assist fire and rescue departments in creating opportunities for citizen advocates and promotes citizen participation. Fire Corps is funded through DHS and is managed and implemented through a partnership between the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

USAonWatch (UOW)
Neighborhood Watch works to provide information, training and resources to citizens and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Neighborhood Watch programs have expanded beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response and terrorism awareness. USAonWatch Neighborhood Watch is administered by the National Sheriffs’ Association in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice.

Fire Corps
Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacity of resource-constrained fire and rescue departments at all levels.

South Orange County Volunteer Programs:
CEPA – Citizen Emergency Preparedness Academy promotes and educates residents to become self sufficient during a disaster.

Volunteer Center Orange County:
Strengthens our communities by mobilizing volunteer actions and accelerating non-profit success.  VCOC trains agencies to make effective use of potential spontaneous volunteers.  During times of disaster VCOC becomes an emergency volunteer center coordinating and deploying spontaneous and unaffiliated volunteers.

Volunteer Program Contact Numbers:

Anaheim
CERT (714) 765-6955
VIPS (714) 765-1597
Neighborhood Watch
Central (714) 765-3869
West (714) 765-7962
East (714) 765-3814
South (714) 765-3438

Aliso Viejo
CEPA (949)635-1809

Brea
VIPS (714) 970-8962

Buena Park
CERT (714) 562-3554
VIPS (714) 562-3992

Costa Mesa
CERT (714) 327-7406
VIPS (714) 754-5281
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 754-4876

Cypress
CERT (714) 229-6625
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(714) 229-6626

Dana Point
CERT (949) 248-3535
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(949)248-3517

Fountain Valley
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(714) 593-4526

Fullerton
CERT (714) 773-1316
VIPS (714) 738-6835
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 738-6836

Garden Grove
CERT (714) 878-4998
VIPS (714) 741-5816
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 741-5760

Huntington Beach
CERT (714) 374-1565
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(714) 536-5933

Irvine
CERT (949) 724-7148
VIPS (949) 724-7045
Neighborhood Watch
Crossroads (949) 724-7042
University (949) 724-7149

La Habra
CERT (562) 905-9753

La Palma
CERT (714) 690-3370
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(714) 690-3386

Laguna Beach
VIPS (949) 464-6671
Neighborhood Watch
(949) 497-0382

Laguna Hills
CEPA (949)7072641

Laguna Niguel
VIPS (949) 362-4309
Neighborhood Watch
(949) 362-4365
CEPA (949)362-4365

Lake Forest
VIPS (949) 461-3545
Neighborhood Watch
(949) 461-3546
CEPA (949) 461-3546

Los Alamitos
CERT (562) 431-2255

Mission Viejo
VIPS /Neighborhood Watch
CEPA (949) 470-3094

Newport Beach
CERT (949) 644-3112
VIPS (949) 644-3699
Neighborhood Watch
(949) 644-3692

Orange
VIPS (714) 744-7328
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 744-7462

Orange County Sheriff’s Dept
Neighborhood Watch – North Orange County Unincorporated
(714) 647-1851

Placentia
CERT (714) 993-8117
VIPS (714) 993-8296
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 993-8164

Rancho Santa Margarita
CEPA (949) 635-1809

San Clemente
VIPS (949) 361-8212
Neighborhood Watch
(949) 361-8386

San Juan Capistrano
CERT (949) 493-1171
VIPS/Neighborhood Watch
(949) 443-6370

Santa Ana
CERT (714) 245-8028
VIPS (714) 245-8715

Seal Beach
CERT (562) 799-4100 x 1121
VIPS (562) 799-4100
Neighborhood Watch
(562) 799-4100 x1145

Tustin
VIPS (714) 573-3272
Neighborhood Watch
North (714) 573-3391
South (714) 573-3396

Villa Park
CERT (714) 998-1500

Westminster
VIPS (714) 898-3315
Neighborhood Watch
(714) 898- 3315 x590
 

Volunteer Program Websites

Orange County MRC - (714) 834-2335
Orange County RACES - ocraces@comm.ocgov.com or (714) 704-7917
Orange County Sheriff's Department
CitizenCorps.gov
ReadyOC.org
American Red Cross