BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Leaders in Burlington County are looking for additional help in communities that may be impacted by traumatic situations.
The Burlington County Department of Human Services is recruiting volunteers to join its team of Disaster Response Crisis Counselors (DRCCs).
These individuals work alongside emergency management officials and first responders after receiving special training in behavioral health, psychological first aid, and other emotional support tools.
Applicants do not need any clinical mental health background or prior training, officials said.
Residents must be interviewed and undergo criminal background checks.
Training is free for residents and requires 23.5 hours of instruction.
The county is hoping to add at least 20 more DRCCs to its 28 already serving the region.
Spiritual leaders are also needed from all faiths to aid in the DRCC Chaplaincy Program. This branch of aid requires a separate certification.
Both the standard DRCC and Chaplaincy Program application can be found here.
The DRCC program was created by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services after the 9/11 attacks on America in 2001.
Members have been deployed to events such as Hurricane Irene (2011), Superstorm Sandy (2012), the Rancocas Creek flooding (2019), to various sites during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Delaware River floods of 2024.
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