Project Overview

Maryland Responds is the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) for the State of Maryland. The MRC is a nation-wide network of volunteer programs that respond to local emergencies and ongoing public health efforts.  MD Responds coordinates the recruitment, training, activation, and retention of practicing and retired physicians, nurses and other health professionals, as well as other community members. Volunteers with the MD Responds MRC are people who are eager to address their community’s ongoing public health needs and to help during large-scale emergencies. MD Responds engaged with MICA's Center for Social Design to address the following challenges:

1. Maryland Responds currently has a large pool of volunteers, but not all of them are actively engaged.
2. Potential volunteers don't have a clear understanding of the value of becoming a Maryland Responder.
3. From pre-registration to deployment, volunteers face significant obstacles during every stage of the process in becoming a Maryland Responder.

In partnership with MD Responds, MICA's Center for Social Design developed communication strategies for a public information and volunteer recruitment campaign with the ultimate goal of activating more volunteers for Maryland Responds.

Project Team