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Registry FAQs

List of FAQs

FAQs

Who should complete this registration?

FEMA is asking official representatives from all new and existing local Citizen Corps Councils and local CERT Programs to complete the registration process and to update their profiles as needed with current information.

The goals of this new registration process are to ensure FEMA is providing the public with current contact information for local Councils and CERT Programs and to better measure and highlight the work done to strengthen local community preparedness. Information regarding the registration process can be found at the websites below.

Council Registration Support web page
CERT Program Registration Support Page  

 

Is there a deadline by when I need to register my Council or CERT Program?

The deadline to register your Council or CERT Program is estimated to be March 30th, 2011 or on the date grant applications are due (this deadline has not yet been identified). Councils and CERT Programs that do not register by this deadline will not be eligible for FY11 Citizen Corps Program (CCP) grant funding under the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP).  Current grant information and updates can be found here: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/index.shtm.
 

If I am re-registering an existing Council or CERT Program, will this affect my current funding?  

No, re-registering your Council or CERT Program should not affect current (FY10) and previous funding years. Please note that in order to be eligible for FY11 Citizen Corps Program (CCP) grant funding under the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), Councils and CERT Programs must register and be approved by their state coordinator.

 

How will my Council or CERT Program benefit from registering?

Information sharing is a critical component of building and sustaining community preparedness.  Providing the expanded information included in the new registration process will benefit Councils and CERT Programs by: 

 

My Council or CERT Program has already registered, why do I have to register again?

All local Councils and local CERT Programs that registered prior to 2011 will be archived and will not be displayed on the National Citizen Corps / CERT websites.  Every Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program is required to re-register if they wish to have a listing in the Citizen Corps or CERT directory.

 

I am the coordinator of a newly formed Citizen Corps Council or CERT Program. What should I do?

The new registration process is a great opportunity for new Councils and CERT Programs to register on the Citizen Corps website.

All guidance documents and information are available for Citizen Corps Councils on the Citizen Corps Registration Support web page.

CERT Programs can visit the CERT Program Registration Support web page at: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm

These web pages provide how-to-guides, resources, and up-to-date information on the registration process.

 

What are the steps to becoming a registered Council or CERT Program?

Council and CERT Program coordinators will log on at CitizenCorps.gov or CitizenCorps.gov/CERT to complete the registration process.  Registration involves entering the contact information for the Council or CERT Program leadership, sponsoring organization, and answering additional questions on Council or CERT Program activities. Once you create your user account, you do not have to complete the registration in one sitting; you will be able to save a partial registration and return at a later time to complete it. 

When you have finished the registration process, your submission will be reviewed by the State Citizen Corps or CERT Program coordinator, and approved or denied. When approved, the Council’s or CERT Program’s contact information and related public information will be available to the public via the Citizen Corps website. Denied Councils and CERT Programs will be provided the chance to revise and re-submit their application.

Technical support materials for Citizen Corps Councils are available. Technical support materials for CERT Programs are posted at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm

 

I am the coordinator of a CERT Team that is part of a larger local, county, or tribal CERT Program. Do I need to register my CERT Team?

No. The CERT Program registry is not for individual CERT Teams that are organized within or otherwise related to a local CERT Program.  The registry is for CERT Programs only. A CERT Program is differentiated from a CERT Team in that CERT Programs administer and provides the CERT Basic Training Course whereas CERT Teams do not.

 

What is the difference between “Local’ versus “County” Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs?

Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs that are considered to be “Local” cover jurisdictions that are below the county level. This can include cities, unincorporated areas, townships, and census designated places (CDP). For more information on geographic areas below the county level, please click here.

Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs are considered to be “County” cover jurisdictions that span one or more counties. Regional Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs are considered to be “County” as their jurisdictions span multiple counties but are non state-wide. When registering these types of Councils or CERT Programs, please select all of the counties over which this Council’s or CERT Program’s jurisdiction spans.

 

How are the jurisdictions defined of tribal Citizen Corps Councils or CERT Programs?

The jurisdictions of tribal Councils and CERT Programs follow the same guidelines as non-tribal Councils and CERT Programs. On the registration form, there is a checkbox that allows the Citizen Corps or CERT Program Point of Contact to indicate if the Council or CERT Program is tribal. The checkbox is independent of the drop-down menu to indicate the type of jurisdiction.

 

What is an appropriate Local Sponsoring Organization?

Citizen Corps Councils are to be sponsored or endorsed by an elected local government official or city or county administrator who has responsibility over the local government's operations.

In some communities, there may be an existing organization that may serve as a Council. Some are Local Emergency Planning Councils (LEPCs), some are part of the City's homeland security task force, and others are part of existing civic or volunteer committees that already form a key part of the local government structure.  Citizen Corps Councils will leverage existing resources and most communities already have a strong team that brings together leadership from a broad range of community sectors, for example, emergency services, volunteer groups, business, education, and civic organizations.  If the local government has a structure that works to represent such a range of community sectors  and is willing to take on the additional Citizen Corps responsibilities, then they should use it.

 

I am a coordinator of a local unit or group that is affiliated with a Citizen Corps Partner Program (e.g. an MRC Unit, VIPS, Fire Corps, or Neighborhood Watch). Do I need to register?

No. The registration process is only applicable to Citizen Corps Councils and CERT Programs. However, we do encourage you to check with your local Citizen Corps Council and CERT Program leaders to make sure they are aware of this registration effort.  We also encourage you to be sure that your local unit is registered on the appropriate national program website (www.medicalreservecorps.gov, www.policevolunteers.org, www.firecorps.org, www.usaonwatch.org).

In some communities, there may be an existing organization that may serve as a Council. Some are Local Emergency Planning Councils (LEPCs), some are part of the City's homeland security task force, and others are part of existing civic or volunteer committees that already form a key part of the local government structure.  Citizen Corps Councils will leverage existing resources and most communities already have a strong team that brings together leadership from a broad range of community sectors, for example, emergency services, volunteer groups, business, education, and civic organizations.  If the local government has a structure that works to represent such a range of community sectors  and is willing to take on the additional Citizen Corps responsibilities, then they should use it.

 

I received a phone call asking me to register my Council or CERT Program. What should I do next?

If you are a Citizen Corps Council coordinator, please visit this page and follow the instructions on how to re-register your Citizen Corps Council.

If you are a CERT Program coordinator, please visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm and follow the instructions on how to re-register your CERT Program.

 

Who will see the information I submit?

The online registration form is divided into tabs.  Only the contact information, service area, and the information included in the “Public Info” tab will be posted on the portion of the website that is publically accessible.  Information provided in the “Additional Info” tab will only be accessible on the password protected section of the website.  This means that only other local Council/CERT Program password holders within your state, the respective state Citizen Corps and CERT Program coordinators and FEMA staff who have a password to the Citizen Corps and CERT websites will be able to view your responses to the questions in the “Public Info” tab.

 

Which questions are required to be completed in the registration process?

Responses are required for each question; however, if you do not know an answer to a question, you may select “Do Not Know.”

 

How will I know if my submission has been received?

You will receive and automatic email to acknowledge your initial submission and to notify you when an approval or denial decision has been made.  

 

How often am I expected to update this information?

Please keep this information current by updating your information as it changes.  Local Councils and CERT Programs that receive federal Homeland Security Grant Program funding from their state are required to update the information in their profiles at least twice a year.  

 

What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

Please visit https://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/secure/index.do. Just below the "OK" button, there is a link to reset your password. Clicking on that link will take you to a page where you can type in your email address. Press the "Enter" key or click "Reset" and you will receive an email with a temporary password.  After you login successfully with the temporary password, you will be prompted to change your password.

 

How do I get assistance if I have difficulties completing the registration?

If you are a Council or CERT Program, please contact your state coordinator for further technical information. A list of state coordinators can be found at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/listCouncil.do?submitByState&stateOnly. You can also send emails to citizencorps@dhs.gov for questions related Council registration and cert@dhs.gov for questions related to CERT Program registration. When sending emails to citizencorps@dhs.gov or cert@dhs.gov, please be sure to include the state in which your Council or CERT Program is located.