This session will describe the federal, state, and local legal protections provided to Medical Reserve Corps providers and volunteers, including general liability protection standards, specific federal and state laws, possible local protections, specific protections for vaccination clinics, and protections in the form of emergency orders. This session will also address possible protections for providers and volunteers injured while providing volunteer services for a Medical Reserve Corps.
Cheryl Sbarra is the Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney for the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB). She provides technical assistance, policy guidance and legal education to the 351 local boards of health in Massachusetts. Sbarra assists them and other municipal... Read More →
Tuesday March 4, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am EST
Room 311
This session will describe the federal, state, and local legal protections provided to Medical Reserve Corps providers and volunteers, including general liability protection standards, specific federal and state laws, possible local protections, specific protections for vaccination clinics, and protections in the form of emergency orders. This session will also address possible protections for providers and volunteers injured while providing volunteer services for a Medical Reserve Corps.
Cheryl Sbarra is the Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney for the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB). She provides technical assistance, policy guidance and legal education to the 351 local boards of health in Massachusetts. Sbarra assists them and other municipal... Read More →
Tuesday March 4, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm EST
Room 311
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) is an association of non-profit and faith-based organizations that work together to mitigate and alleviate the impact of disasters, provides a forum promoting cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration; and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster. One example of how the MA VOAD supports survivors after a disaster is through Recovery Resource Centers. A Recovery Resource Center (RRC) is a single, “one stop shop” location where public and private organizations come together to assist disaster survivors. The specific types of assistance and services that can be coordinated by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at a RRC will be determined by collaboration among MEMA, local officials, participating local and state agencies, voluntary community organizations, businesses, academic institutions and local charities, according to the needs of the impacted community and available resources. Learn more about VOAD and RRCs and how local organizations such as MRCs can assist.
