The Connecticut Statewide Citizen Corps Council is a volunteer subcommittee of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Coordinating Council.  The mission of the Connecticut Citizen Corps Council is to engage every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds. Toward this end, the CCC has developed a Strategic Plan that focuses on strengthening the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in Connecticut. 

The Citizen Corps Advisory committee is charged with recommending statewide policy concerning funding distribution formulas, response standards, performance requirements, agency interface, statewide credentialing, and regionalization efforts for Connecticut.  There are eleven regional and seven local councils for the state of Connecticut. The statewide Advisory Committee is regulated by federal program guidance, federal funding appropriations, and the State of Connecticut Emergency Management and Homeland Security Advisory Council under the authority of the Commissioner. In addition, a set of by-laws was adopted by the Advisory Committee and approved by the DEMHS Council in 2007.  The committee is composed of a cross-section of all response disciplines, faith-based, non-profit, and private-sector agency.

The Grant Guidelines and Application for Citizen Corps Funding is necessary to complete and submit to Sharon G. Mazzochi of CT DEMHS for review and presented at  the Citizen Corps Advisory Committee’s monthly meeting. Upon approval, the respective town/city may begin the process as set forth in the standard operating procedures.  Upon completion of the project, a Citizen Corps Project Completion Report must be completed and submitted to Sharon G. Mazzochi for the reimbursement to  be processed. Any CERT teams that undergo training, activation or at preplanned event must complete a CERT Team Approval Form. The CERT program currently has over 3,200 members and continues to expand throughout  the state. The annual CERT weekend is held at the CT Fire Academy located in Windsor Locks each year during the month of September and the CT Citizen Corps Conference is also held in the fall and is well attended. The Connecicut Citizen Corps Program is highly recognized throughout the state.