JOIN CERC-Applications Open Now!
What do California Emergency Response Corps Members do?
CERC Members deploy to California declared emergency operations, empower community-based partnerships, and serve the most vulnerable community members through local partner placements. Each service site has its own individual structure and policies, but all California Emergency Response Corps Members:
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Serve identified vulnerable communities daily
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Attend CERC-wide, regional, and site-specific trainings. Training includes, but is not limited to skill- building specific to member’s duties; workshops on personal and professional development; team-building exercises and service-learning projects delivered during Member orientation and retreats
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Are responsible for being available to deploy for up to 2 weeks each time, anywhere in the state on short notice (within 24-48 hours).
***This is a full-time 40hours/week position***
Benefits
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Monthly stipend
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Healthcare
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$10,000 Education Award upon completion of 1700 hour contract
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Student loan forbearance (for qualifying loans)
Extensive Training & Professional Development Opportunities
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CPR/AED/First Aid
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Volunteer Coordination & Management
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Donation Management
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Crisis Response Team Training
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Animal Handling in Disasters
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Psychological & Mental Health First Aid
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American Red Cross Mass Care through an intensive multi-day sheltering simulation/exercise
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Professional and Career Development for life after AmeriCorps
Minimum Qualifications
● Age 18 years or older
● U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident
● Live locally to nonprofit partner for day-to-day service
● Ability to deploy on short notice anywhere in California for disaster response four times yearly for up to two weeks each deployment
Preferred
● Two years professional or volunteer experience (in related fields), or Bachelor’s Degree
● Ability to speak Spanish or other non-English language strongly preferred
When do we deploy?
With as little as 24-48 hours notice, CERC members may be deployed up to four times, two weeks at a time during their service term. CERC is activated for deployment by the Governor’s Office and California Volunteers (CV).
Partner/Host Sites
CERC Members serve at their host sites for 40 hours week unless at CERC training or on deployment. Check out our 2025/26 host sites below and see what they're doing in their local communities
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