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Volunteer Recruitment

Volunteers play an important role in emergency response, especially in the public health sector. The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department is looking for people who enjoy working with others to make a difference in the health of the public.

Why is public health looking for volunteers?

One role of public health is to respond to emergencies that can pose a threat to the public's health. In some cases, many volunteers will be needed to help the public health staffs respond to public health emergencies. Public health emergencies include large outbreaks of a contagious disease, bioterrorism incidents, and nataural disasters (floods, tornados)

Does the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department have a plan to respond to emergencies?

Yes, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department has an Emergency Response Plan that provides guidelines to coordinate and administer the health services resources to protect the public and treat the sick and injured in the event of a natural or man-made caused disaster. This includes communicable disease control, environmental sanitation, emergencies involving toxic or hazardous materials, and other chemical, biological, and radiological hazards.

The Department has also developed a detailed plan for rapid, voluntary vaccination or prophylaxis of the 40,000 residents of Dickinson and Iron Counties. In order to vaccinate the population simultaneously, many medical and non-medical volunteers are needed to assist the Health Department.

What type of diseases may require mass vaccination or prophylaxis?

  • Panademic Flu
  • Anthrax
  • Smallpox
  • Plague
  • Chemical agents
  • Foodborne Illness agents (Hepatitis A)
  • Other Emerging pathogens

What type of job duties will I be asked to perform?

To respond to these needs the Public Health Department is recruiting volunteers. Depending on the emergency, volunteers will be needed to perform a variety of different jobs. Some job duties require little training, and others require a professional license such as a registered nurse, medical doctor, pharmacist, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner.

List of Job Duties

Job duties for volunteers without a professional health care license:

  • Aide: Monitor staff rest areas
  • Clerk/Greeter: Greet people and assist them in completing forms
  • Educator: Provide basic information (verbally or with a video presentation) about the situation, the disease, the medication and/pr vaccine
  • Supply Assistant: Monitor supply inventory at work stations and deliver needed supplies
  • Flow Personnel: Assist clients in moving through clinic process
  • Child Care: Assist with child care
  • Food Canteen Worker: Set up and manage canteen area
  • Transportation Assistant: Transport people to and from the site or event
  • Heavy Labor: Set up tables, chairs, and other items
  • Handyperson: Perform simple repair jobs, sand bagger, haul debris
  • Data Entry: enter data and check information as needed
  • Interpreter (requires foreigh language skills): Interpret verbal and written information between staff and clients
  • Security: Assist law enforcement with security

Job duties for volunteers with a professional health care license:

  • Registered Nurse:
    • Screener (clinics only): Assess clients for contraindications and review risk/benefit information
    • Exit interviewer (clinics only): Provide follow-up instructions
    • Vaccinator (clinics only): Administer vaccination to pre-screened people.
    • Vaccinator Aide (clinics only): Assist vaccinator in administering vaccine
    • Antibiotic Dispenser (clinics only): Dispense medications to pre-screened client
  • Physician, Physician's Assistant, Nurse Practitioner:
    • All RN duties indicated above (except that a Physician's Assistant is unable to be a Vaccinator)
    • Medical Evaluator (clinics only): Provide in-depth assessment of contraindications
  • Dentist:
    • Screener (clinics only): Assess clients for contraindications and review risk/beneift information
    • Vaccinator (clinics only): Administer vaccination to pre-screened people.
    • Antibiotic Dispenser (clinics only): Dispense medications to pre-screened clients
  • Pharmacist (clinics only, requires a Pharmacist license): Provide recommendations regarding drug interactions and alternative medications
  • Mental Health Professional/Clergy (Mental health background is necessary which could include clergy, counselors, psychiatrists, phychologists, and social workers): Provide psychological, spiritual, and emotional support to clients and staff

Who do I contact to volunteer?

Please contact Jessica Perry at the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department at 906-265-4156 or email at jperry@hline.org

Copyright © 2019 by the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department
818 Pyle Drive, Kingsford, MI 49802 - Phone: 1-906-774-1868
601 Washington Ave, Iron River, MI 49935 - Phone: 1-906-265-9913