Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Teens may receive presidential honors

CERT program trains youth in disaster response

Monday, September 17, 2007 7:22 AM CDT

St. Charles County's Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT) will now serve as a certifying organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was established in 2003 as a national program that recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism. Presidential recognition is given to individuals, families and groups that meet requirements for volunteer service measured by the number of service hours performed over 12 months. These services meet national and community needs in the categories of youth achievement, parks and open spaces, healthy communities, public safety and emergency response.

To receive an award, volunteers keep a record of activities and hours served. As a certifying organization, the Teen CERT program is responsible for verifying those service hours, as well as nominating potential recipients, and ordering and delivering the award.

"Our Teen CERT volunteers are role models in their schools and community," said Mark Rosenblum, coordinator of the Teen CERT program. "We are proud to recognize our youth with the President's Volunteer Service Award, and it is our way of thanking these student volunteers and inspiring everyone in our community to make volunteering a central part of their lives."

St. Charles County's Teen CERT program graduated its first four students in August. Through the program, members learned how to identify types of disasters and hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.

The program is designed for youth 12-18, but students may begin taking the training in as early as third grade.

Visit the Teen CERT Program's training and consulting Web site, www.stci.us, or contact Rosenblum at 636-332-0790 for more information.

For more information on the President's Volunteer Service Award and to find out how to identify additional volunteer opportunities in the area, visit www.PresidentialServiceAwards.gov or call 866-545-5307.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

CERT trains students in disaster response

Sunday, August 19, 2007 7:30 AM CDT

The first Teen Community Emergency Response Team in St. Charles County has been established in Wentzville. On Aug. 3, the program graduated its first four selected area students, and will be offered on a wider basis during the next academic year.

The Teen CERT program is based on the CERT concept. CERT educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills. Using their training and skills, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an emergency.

Teen CERT will teach students how to identify the types of disasters and hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.

"The goal of Teen CERT is to better prepare the community at an earlier age and offer positive extracurricular activities to the youth of Wentzville and St. Charles County," said Mark Rosenblum, coordinator for the Teen CERT program.

Even though the program is designed for youth 12-18, students can begin taking the training in as early as third grade, with parent consent. The first four Teen CERT graduates are students at Peine Ridge Elementary, and include Mikayla Bryan, Austin Dettmer, Emily Rosenblum and Emily Hagen.


Visit www.teencert.org or www.citizencorps.gov/cert or e-mail to Rosenblum at mark.rosenblum@juno.com for more information about the program.