RI Medical Reserve Corps

06/01/2026

Hurricane season is officially here. Take a few minutes to check your emergency supplies, review your family’s safety plan, and stay informed throughout the season. Preparation now can make all the difference later. Safety Starts Now!

06/01/2026

Behavioral Health is no longer a secondary consideration in emergency response—it is a critical operational capability.

Our Executive Director, Brooke Lawrence was honored to present as part of the ASPR TRACIE Webinar Medical Reserve Corps “Voices from the Field” Speaker Series on:

RI Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps: A National Scalable Model to the Brown University Active Assailant Response

During this session, he shared how the Rhode Island Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps (RI BH-MRC) leveraged existing infrastructure, partnerships, volunteer systems, training programs, and activation processes to build and sustain a disaster behavioral health response capability that can be replicated by communities across the nation.

The presentation highlighted:

🔹 Building and sustaining a Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps

🔹 Key components of an effective trauma response team, including training, supervision, activation procedures, responder support, and community partnerships

🔹 Lessons learned from the Brown University active assailant incident and other complex trauma responses

🔹 Integrating behavioral health into emergency management, public safety, healthcare, and Medical Reserve Corps operations

🔹 Practical strategies that MRC units of any size can use to develop or expand disaster behavioral health capabilities in their communities

Following the Brown University incident, the RI Behavioral Health MRC Trauma Response Team rapidly deployed alongside state, local, university, public health, and emergency management partners. More than 30 RI MRC members supported the response and recovery operations, including the Family Assistancce Center, trauma-informed behavioral health services, responder support, incident management, and ongoing recovery coordination.

This webinar is not simply about what Rhode Island accomplished—it is about how any community can build a sustainable behavioral health response capability before the next crisis occurs.

We hope you’ll join us for this important discussion.

📅 Watch Here:
www.rimrc.link/BHWebinar626



Medical Reserve Corps
HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

05/23/2026

💙 Supporting Those Who Serve. 💙

The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps is proud to recognize and thank Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for his support of our Law Enforcement Wellness Program—an initiative making a real difference for the men and women who serve our communities every day.

Through this innovative program, 9 dedicated teams of law enforcement officers, paired with clinicians from the RI Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps, are providing peer support services to both sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel across Rhode Island.

This isn’t just a program—it’s a commitment to the wellness, resilience, and mental health of those who often carry the weight of protecting others.

Every week, these teams are making an impact—offering connection, support, and resources to ensure no one in the law enforcement family has to navigate challenges alone.

Thank you, Senator Whitehouse, for recognizing the importance of officer wellness and helping us build stronger, healthier public safety communities across Rhode Island.

While at Training, Innovation, Leadership Institute - RI MRC Senator Whitehouse had the opportunity to tour our facilities and learn about the national Medical Reserve Corps program, along with our other programs making big impacts here in Rhode Island including our Workforce Development initiatives at TILI NEXT.



Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association
Governor Dan McKee

RI Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps
RI Junior Medical Reserve Corps

On the heels of Police Week, I joined the RI Medical Reserve Corps to learn how their programs are supplementing the work of RI law enforcement in keeping people healthy and safe. Well done!

04/26/2026

Region 1 MRC STTRONG Grant -
Trauma Skills Training in action

Today, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers from across Region 1 (New England l) came together at the Training, Innovation, Leadership Institute - RI MRC to sharpen life-saving trauma care skills. From hands-on Airway Management, bleeding control and tourniquet application to realistic scenario-based training, participants worked through high-impact situations designed to build confidence and readiness for real-world emergencies.

This STTRONG-funded training ensures MRC volunteers are prepared to respond when it matters most—supporting communities during critical incidents with skill, coordination, and professionalism.

A huge thank you to our instructors and dedicated volunteers for their commitment to readiness and resilience.

Medical Reserve Corps

04/23/2026

A great day for the RI Medical Reserve Corps at the New England Regional Emergency Nurses Symposium (NERS) in Newport, RI!

Our team has been on the ground engaging with attendees and actively recruiting new members—connecting with dedicated professionals who want to make a difference in their communities.

Events like this highlight the importance of building a strong, ready, and capable volunteer force. From emergency response to community support, the mission of the MRC continues to grow through partnerships and outreach like this.

If you’re looking to serve, train, and respond when it matters most—now is the time to get involved.

Remember the mission:
➡️ Save lives
➡️ Improve outcomes
➡️ Build resilience in people and communities

Medical Reserve Corps

03/23/2026

Building Skills. Strengthening Partnerships. Saving Lives.

Training, Innovation, Leadership Institute and the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps were proud to participate in the 2026 Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Rodeo, helping deliver critical hands-on training to CERT members from across Rhode Island.

Our Team provided Stop the Bleed training & hands-only CPR, participants sharpened lifesaving skills they may one day use to make a difference when it matters most.

This annual event brings together agencies and volunteers in a realistic, high-energy environment designed to strengthen response capabilities, coordination, and communication across our state .

👏 Thank you to RIEMA and all participating partners for your continued commitment to preparedness and collaboration.



Providence, RI Emergency Management Agency - PEMA
Medical Reserve Corps
RI Junior Medical Reserve Corps

02/21/2026

Today, members of the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps' Trauma Response Team participated in Inclusive Crisis Response: Supporting Individuals with Disabilities, hosted at the Training, Innovation, and Leadership Institute.

We were honored to welcome partners from The Autism Project and Avatar Residential, who provided critical insight into best practices for supporting individuals with disabilities during disasters and emergencies. The training focused on communication strategies, sensory considerations, functional needs, and practical tools to ensure our responses are respectful, equitable, and effective.

In disaster response, inclusion is not optional — it is essential. Our volunteers strengthened their ability to serve all members of the community with professionalism, compassion, and competence.

Thank you to everyone who gave their Saturday morning to enhance their skills and reinforce our shared commitment to whole-community response.

Medical Reserve Corps

02/18/2026

As we conclude the second operational period following the tragic shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Ice Arena in Pawtucket, the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps (RI MRC) and the RI Behavioral Health Medical Reserve Corps (BH MRC) remain actively engaged in supporting the community.

Our thoughts continue to be with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this heartbreaking event.

Over the past two days, our teams have mobilized rapidly and worked in close coordination with the RI EMA, RI BHDDH, City of Pawtucket and local partners.

Initial Response included:
• 7 Clinical Members
• 5 Administrative Support Members
• 6 Leadership Members

Teams deployed to Pawtucket City Hall to provide immediate behavioral health support to victims and families, while also assisting city leadership and community partners with incident management planning and coordination.

As needs evolved, BH MRC members redeployed to:
• St. Raphael Academy in support of an vigil
• North Smithfield High School in support of another vigil

Two members of the RI MRC Incident Support Unit stood up remotely to assist with operational coordination and resource management.

Day 2 Operations included:
• Family Assistance Center at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Building
• St. Raphael Academy (morning support for students and staff)
• North Smithfield High School (midday support for students and staff)
• An additional late afternoon mission at St. Raphael Academy on Tuesday to provide continued support to students

The RI MRC Incident Support Unit was stood up at our Warwick facility to provide ongoing coordination and operational support throughout the day.

At the close of Day 2, Planning continues in coordination with municipal and state partners to ensure sustained, appropriate support for the community.

In moments of crisis, our mission is clear: to stand beside our communities with compassion, professionalism, and coordinated response capability.

We are proud of the dedication shown by our volunteers and grateful for the strong collaboration with the City of Pawtucket, local schools, public safety partners, and state agencies.

Please continue to keep all those impacted in your thoughts.

Medical Reserve Corps

02/08/2026

A few weeks ago, our Executive Director, Brooke Lawrence, was invited to serve as a subject matter expert in the national webinar hosted by ASPR TRACIE, titled “Play to Win: Healthcare and Public Health Preparedness for Mass Gatherings.”

It was a great experience and a privilege to speak about the work of the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps, sharing insights on planning, coordination, and preparedness strategies for mass gatherings with a national audience.

For those who would like to view or register for the session, the webinar is available here:
👉 https://global.gotowebinar.com/pjoin/6510137332367883353/7796750655234297949

We’re honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion and represent Rhode Island’s preparedness efforts at the national level.

Medical Reserve Corps
Training, Innovation, Leadership Institute - RI MRC

Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
Rhode Island Department of Health
Governor Dan McKee

Planning is underway for the FIFA World Cup! Long before the kickoff, ASPR starts working with our state and local partners as they put plans in place to protect health during the match. ASPR-supported programs, like the Medical Reserve Corps and health care coalitions, are getting ready to provide medical support and help area health care systems surge if there is an emergency during the event.

Planning for the FIFA World Cup isn’t unique. State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments face similar challenges at many mass gatherings in their communities throughout the year. Using incident management systems for planning and operating these events as “planned emergencies” allows a rapid transition to emergency response should an incident occur.

ASPR provides planning guidance, training and technical assistance, operational coordination, medical surge support, and long-term resilience building to empower SLTT partners to identify, prepare for, mitigate, and respond to threats. ASPR is also prepared to provide support if health care systems become overwhelmed during one of these “planned emergencies.”

Watch ASPR TRACIE’s latest webinar to learn how health care providers, health care coalitions, and Medical Reserve Corps units are preparing for the 2026 World Cup games and related events being planned across the U.S.https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/play-to-win-healthcare-and-public-health-preparedness-for-mass-gatherings-webinar-ppt-.pdf

12/31/2025

Some BIG news at TILI.

TILI NEXT RI state of the art simulation campus. Healthcare providers, public safety agencies, allied health hyper-realistic training.