Community Corner

CERT, Boy Scouts Team Up in New Emergency Response Program

TeenCERT-Venturing program could provide added help during emergencies.

As Hurricane Sandy so vividly illustrated, response to a disaster requires a community commitment involving volunteers as well as emergency responders.  Volunteers can most effectively contribute if they are trained and organized before the disaster hits.

The Patriots’ Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the New Jersey Salvation Army and the New Jersey Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) program have announced a partnership called “TeenCERT-Venturing,” which will provide both training and organization so that high school-aged youth can assist during the next disaster.

High school students and their parents are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy at 402 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.

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TeenCERT-Venturing is a blending of the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management’s TeenCERT program and BSA’s Venturing program.  High school-aged youth train and learn leadership skills to safely respond to an emergency and assist victims, have opportunities to conduct “Scouting” activities and provide service to their community.

TeenCERT chapters are formed under the guidance of Scout leaders and local CERT personnel and are dually registered with BSA’s Venturing program.  The CERT coordinator, along with representatives from the BSA, Salvation Army and training academy staff, will manage the Somerset County program. The 20-hour CERT training is required in addition to BSA-required training. 

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TeenCERT-Venturing is a first-of-its-kind national pilot in Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties.  The Patriots’ Path Council is dedicated to preparing young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of good character, citizenship and personal fitness.  

The council each year serves more than 19,000 youth members and 6,000 leaders in the New Jersey counties of Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and parts of Middlesex. Some 400 local organizations have a Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Venture crew or Explorer post as a part of their service to youth.

The Community Emergency Response Team Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster-response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. TeenCERT members can assist others in their neighborhood, school or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. 

In New Jersey, the CERT program is managed by the State Police Office of Emergency Management.  There are 159 CERT teams in New Jersey.  Hands-on practice and realistic exercises prepare you for the unexpected in your community.  You'll be equipped with skills that last a lifetime.

The New Jersey Division of the Salvation Army is an integral support to disaster response and recovery.  Whether it is shelter for a displaced family or a warm cup of coffee for first responders, hope and healing is the message of the Salvation Army.  The Army's spiritual and social services assist millions of homeless, working poor, children, youth, addicted, elderly and abused families and individuals.

For information about forming a TeenCERT-Venturing crew in your town, contact Grant Van Eck, District Executive, Patriots’ Path Council, Boy Scouts of America, at 973-765-9322 or grant.vaneck@scouting.org 

 


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