These questions may help you identify resources to help you implement Citizen Corps.

1. Who could champion this initiative in your community? Who might champion it within segments of your community? What is the best way to foster city/county/regional collaboration?
2. What organizations are already active in programs relevant to Citizen Corps objectives?
3. Which organizations usually sponsor or participate in various events that happen in your community (e.g., days of service, parades, fairs, block parties, speakers, carnivals, etc.)?
4. What federal, state, or non-profit agencies serve your community? Could they provide staff, guidance, or training to participate in Citizen Corps activities, such as United Way?
5. Does a regional planning council or a related organization include your community within its sphere of interest?
6. What current preparedness activities are in progress in your communities? How can you involve youth organizations, such Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Explorers in Citizen Corps activities?

Volunteer

7. Do you have a volunteer center in your community where volunteer opportunities can be registered and where you can receive assistance with recruitment efforts? What do you need to do to start one?
8. Is there a state or local VOAD that could provide training and planning assistance for emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery?
9. How can you involve organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army that are already active in disaster preparedness and response?
10. Are there courses and programs already being provided in your community by voluntary organizations?
11. What volunteer groups are already in active in the community that can be called upon to serve as Citizen Corps Council partners, including community service groups, faith-based groups, and high school civic groups?
12. Is your community served by AmeriCorps volunteers? Does your community have an active Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)?
13. Are there volunteers already working and trained with organizations whose missions complement the goals of Citizen Corps? How can you tap into organizations that already recruit, manage, and place volunteers?
14. What other organizations, such as universities, volunteer groups, civic organizations, business councils, mosques, churches, or synagogues, can be tapped to sponsor volunteer participation or community events?

Schools and Universities

15. Are there colleges, universities, or vocational/technical schools in your community that have sponsored or participated in local preparedness activities?
16. Do any of these institutions have curricula or degrees of study programs related to civic administration or emergency management? Do they have an internship program that you could tap to support council efforts?
17. What other resources might your community’s colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools provide to your Citizen Corps Councils?
18. Do your local high schools incorporate a community service element as part of their graduation requirement? How can you involve high school clubs’ members or their leaders in Citizen Corps?

Business Sector

19. Which businesses in your community have corporate policies and value statements that encourage worker participation in community life?
20. Are there businesses in your community that have a good fit with the goals of Citizen Corps, such as insurance companies, security firms, training facilities, or manufacturers of preparedness kit items?

Media

21. Are there individuals or local celebrities in your community who would be willing to serve as motivational speakers to encourage people to participate in Citizen Corps?
22. Which TV, radio, print, or other media outlets in your area are community-service oriented?
23. Which journalists or reporters in your community frequently cover human interest stories or stories on disaster and emergency management?
24. Is there a local weather forecaster or news anchor who could be encouraged to serve as a Citizen Corps Council member?

• Arrange for home security inspections by crime prevention officers to identify security vulnerabilities
• Upgrade locks, security hardware, and lighting
• Train family members to keep valuables secure and to lock windows when leaving home
• Train family members on identifying suspicious behaviors that could indicate terrorist activity
• Ask neighbors to watch for suspicious activity when the house is vacant
• Organize block WATCH groups to assist children, the elderly, and other especially vulnerable persons if they appear to be distressed, in danger, or lost
• Organize meetings with neighborhood groups and trained crime prevention officers to discuss security needs and crime prevention strategies
• Obtain and study informative materials from the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Crime Prevention Council, and local law enforcement agencies

• Staff a community education booth at community events
• Identify safety needs and vulnerable individuals in your neighborhood
• Distribute disaster education material in your neighborhood, in multiple languages if appropriate
• Assist with writing and distributing a CERT newsletter
• Help organize drills, activities, and supplemental training for your team
• Participate in a speaker's bureau to schools and clubs
• Assist emergency management officials and fire departments with installing smoke alarms and other special projects
• Help with CERT administrative duties by maintaining databases, helping with class registration, and assisting with class logistics
• Organize recognition activities for volunteers
• After CERT training, assist in evacuation, shelter management, donations management, care of responders at fires or emergencies, mass care of victims from a large event, damage assessment, and perimeter control

• Take police reports
• Make follow-up telephone calls to victims
• Conduct fingerprinting
• Engage in crowd/parking control at special events
• Participate in search and rescue missions
• Participate in mounted patrols in parking lots at high school football games
• Operate metal detectors at a courthouse
• Serve subpoenas

• Become a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services technician
• Offer to help the fire department in its fundraising efforts. Help with bingo or bake sales or other department fundraising programs
• Help the department with its financial matters if you have a business background or special skills in this area
• Help with correspondence, public outreach, and records management
• Assist the fire department and fire prevention experts with fire prevention education in your neighborhood, place of business, schools, and community organizations
• Assist the department with its canteen service so they will have water and food for major fires