Community Involvement

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteer. Emergencies and disasters happen everywhere. If you are tired of watching events unfold on the TV and saying "I wish I could help." We have a volunteer opportunity for you. CERT volunteers are trained citizens who assist first responders during community disasters and emergencies. CERTs complete a 21 hour academy (usually taught in two weekends) and learn about disaster preparedness, emergency medical, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism, documentation and incident command. During emergencies volunteers may help citizens, assist with shelters and evacuations, act as scribes or public call takers, or assist professional responders in a variety of ways. We support the mission of our responders be freeing the highly trained people to do the specialized tasks they have been trained to do. Between emergencies CERTs help with community outreach, disaster training and exercises, and public education. CERT volunteers range in age from 18 to 89. No special skills are required. In a disaster there is a job for everyone.
Membership Requirements
CERT members must be 18 years or older, pass a standard background check, and complete CERT academy training. NOTE: Background checks require additional paperwork.
Time Commitment
CERT members must complete a 21-hour academy (usually taught over two weekends), and put in at least 2 hours per month of volunteer time.
find out more about this opportunity!
We're looking for volunteers!

After applying, interested persons WILL NEED TO FILL OUT ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK in order to authorize us to perform a background check.

Contact Information Shirlee Rhodes 775-325-6928 APPLY ONLINE

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer. In Washoe County, there are more than 900 children each year who are thrust into the family court system as a result of abuse or neglect at home. Many of these children will live temporarily with foster parents while their own parents struggle to overcome addiction to alcohol or drugs, illness, financial hardship or other problems that placed the children at risk. CASA's are volunteer citizens who step into children's lives and offer trust, consistency and stability for the duration of legal proceedings. CASA's are appointed by a judge to provide detailed information about a child and their unique needs. CASA volunteers typically handle one case at a time ---and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. By thoroughly investigating the child's circumstances and reporting back to the court, a CASA volunteer helps shape the important decisions being made about a child's future. The vision of the CASA Program is to provide an advocate for every abused child within the Washoe County Family Court system. This will give each child a better chance of returning to, or being placed in a safe and secure home as quickly as possible.
Membership Requirements
CASA volunteers must be 21 years or older, pass a background check, participate in a personal interview and complete a 40 hour training program. Note: Screening of volunteers requires additional paperwork.
Time Commitment
Volunteers must complete a 40 hour pre-service training program which is offered four times a year. Once assigned a case, CASA volunteers typically spend 10-15 hours a month on their case work.
Authority
NRS 432B.500 states the Court shall appoint a guardian ad litem after a petition is filed that a child is in need of protection. CASA's serve as volunteer guardians ad litem.
We're looking for volunteers! Contact Information Mary Herzik 328-3299 APPLY ONLINE

The Alternate Public Defender`s office represents adults and juveniles charged with crimes, and assists parents in reunification efforts with their children. The 17-person office is a tight-knit team, dedicated to providing zealous advocacy for our clients. Volunteers would be welcome to help with filing, answering phones, breaking down and organizing files, helping the support staff, the investigators and the lawyers. We also work with college and law students who are interested in interning in the office.
Time Commitment
The minimum time requirement would be two hours a week.
We're looking for volunteers! Contact Information Marc Picker (775) 328-3965 APPLY ONLINE

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is headquartered in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and currently includes over 750 units and approximately 175 thousand volunteers nationwide. The mission of the MRC is to improve the health and safety of communities by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and non-medical volunteers. The purpose of the MRC is to recruit, train, check backgrounds and credentials/licenses of individuals in order to be able to quickly respond to local public health emergencies. If you are a licensed medical practitioner, someone with clinical training and experience, or someone with no medical background but the desire to help our community prepare for and respond to a public health emergency, the Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps needs you! In exchange for volunteering your time you will receive public health preparedness and emergency response training, required vaccinations, and annual flu shot, free of charge. Be informed. Be prepared. Be a Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer.
Membership Requirements
To become a member of the Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps, an individual must: Be at least 18 years of age Consent to a background check Have no felony convictions or any conviction related to moral turpitude Attend orientation Have current vaccinations for, or immunity to: measles, mumps and rubella; varicella (chickenpox); tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis; and influenza (Required vaccinations will be provided to the volunteer free of charge.)
Time Commitment
The expected first-year time commitment is 18 hours; for basic orientation, training and participation in one full-scale exercise. Additional classroom trainings and community events will be offered to those volunteers who wish to participate; however, this is not required to remain a member. If an emergency occurs requiring activation of our unit, volunteers can expect to be called-up for one 8-12 hour shift per day, for three consecutive days.
find out more about this opportunity!
We're looking for volunteers!

MRC members include medical practitioners, such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, veterinarians, and mental health professionals; and public health professionals, such as administrators, health educators, and communicable disease and environmental health specialists. Non medical/clinical personnel are needed to fill other key roles, such as managers, clerical support, interpreters, and drivers.

Contact Information Raquel DePuy Grafton 775-326-6050 APPLY ONLINE

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Nevada Cares Campus Emergency Shelter
The Nevada Cares Campus is a low barrier emergency shelter intended to provide men and couples experiencing homelessness with basic services including restrooms, handwashing facilities, showers, trash disposal and meals. In an effort to support the Nevada Cares Campus, volunteering opportunities will be shared as needs are identified.
Membership Requirements
Volunteers must be 18 years or older, pass a standard background check, and complete orientation.
Time Commitment
Time commitments vary according to the volunteer opportunity.
We're looking for volunteers! Contact Information Washoe County Housing and Homeless Services 775-325-8210 APPLY ONLINE