Big Changes Ahead for SERV-OR: What This Means for You 

Abby Morris & Stuart C Vaughters*

There is exciting news to share from the last legislative session. Senate Bill 837 passed, marking a major milestone for Oregon’s volunteer preparedness system and bringing several important updates to programs under the SERV-OR umbrella. These changes affect both the State Managed Volunteer Pool (SMVP) and Oregon’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units, and they open new opportunities for how volunteers can support communities across the state.

One of the most significant updates is that for the first time the State Managed Volunteer Pool (SMVP) can include medical volunteers who do not possess a state-issued license, such as medical assistants, or other personnel essential to a health-related mission, such as basic administrative and logistics support. This expansion means both clinical and non-clinical support for health/medical responses and planned events can be requested.

Although non-medical and unlicensed medical volunteers’ ability to apply to the SMVP began February 5^th, expect applications to begin processing after May 1^st. This pause allows time for the SERV-OR program staff to develop background check procedures and an onboarding program that ensures volunteers are appropriately screened and prepared.

It’s important to note the State’s decision to include non-medical volunteers in the SMVP does not change local authority or expectations for MRC units. The decision to accept non-medical volunteers remains with each MRC unit.

Another important change is that the SMVP will no longer require an emergency declaration from the Governor to deploy. Now that the new Oregon Administrative Rules have taken effect, partners don’t have to wait until a declaration is made during evolving emergencies.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Partners can request volunteers directly from the Health Security, Preparedness, and Response (HSPR) Team, which allows the SERV-OR program staff to review and approve or deny requests.
• The SMVP can now deploy during non-emergency times. For example, if a county needs volunteer support for a public health event such as a vaccination clinic, a request can be submitted even without an emergency declaration.
• When the SMVP deploys, the State will continue to cover workers’ compensation and tort liability.

Lastly, the Senate Bill 837 clarified needed authority to deploy SMVP members to other states. Such deployments were already authorized but housekeeping on the statutes were needed to assure the state's ability to provide workers' compensation for the volunteers when out of state. When there is an emergency or crisis event in another state and a request comes in from that state for support via what is known as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), after senior leadership and the SERV-OR program staff review and approve the request, the SMVP can deploy to the state in need if willing volunteers are identified. 

More updates will be shared as this work continues. Citizens and volunteers with questions are encouraged to reach out at any time.

*Abby Morris is the SERV-OR Volunteer Manager and Oregon MRC State Coordinator; Stuart C Vaughters is the Volunteer Engagement & Communications AmeriCorps VISTA