The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a network in the U.S. of community-based units initiated and established by local organizations aimed at meeting the public health needs of their communities.

[1] It is sponsored by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

[citation needed] The MRC provides the structure necessary to pre-identify, credential, train, and activate medical and public health volunteers.

Following the September 11th attacks in 2001, President George W. Bush called for the establishment of the USA Freedom Corps,[3] a "Coordinating Council... working to strengthen our culture of service and help find opportunities for every American to start volunteering".

This agreement enables NACCHO to assist the ASPR's Medical Reserve Corps Program Office in enhancing MRC units' ability to meet local, state, and national needs through collaboration, coordination, and capacity-building activities.

Partnerships typically include local public health and emergency response agencies, community businesses, and neighboring MRC's.

[6] It sponsors an annual leadership conference, hosts a Web site, and coordinates with local, state, regional, and national organizations and agencies to help communities' preparedness.