OKOHS CERT Philosophy

CERT is a step toward individual preparedness.  The training provides basic information for citizens to be better prepared to care for themselves during an emergency whether they are at home, work or school.

• OKOHS will contract with a third party to standardize CERT training in Oklahoma

• The contract will include the following expenses:

• Developing an Instructor Workshop

• • Conducting Train-the-Trainer courses, when needed and approved by OKOHS

• • Conducting local course deliveries when requested by communities who do not have an OKOHS approved CERT Instructor and approved by OKOHS

• • Purchasing, storing and distributing CERT kits

• • Printing, storing and distributing student/Instructor manuals

• • Purchasing disposable and non-disposable supplies needed for delivery of training

• • Issuing Instructor IDs and student course completion cards

• • Maintaining a database of students and Instructors

• Any CERT Instructor who has previously taught CERT in Oklahoma must attend an OKOHS CERT Instructor Workshop and provide documentation of their CERT Instructor Certification to receive an OKOHS issued Instructor ID and be considered "approved" to teach the Oklahoma course of instruction

• Local Instructors will not be paid by OKOHS or the third party to conduct CERT training in their community

• All local CERT training will be scheduled through the third party or it will not be considered OKOHS approved

• Students attending OKOHS approved CERT training will receive a CERT kit similar to what has been previously provided

• A CERT COURSE MUST BE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE VENDOR AND MUST BE TAUGHT BY AN OKOHS APPROVED INSTRUCTOR FOR STATE PURCHASED MATERIASL (e.g. kits, manuals, supplies, course completion cards) TO BE PROVIDED

• The CERT training database is only intended to function as a reporting mechanism to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for audit and monitoring purposes

• Local OKOHS approved Instructors should maintain a record of students they've taught for purposes of coordinating CERT volunteers at local emergencies - THIS IS NOT A FUNCTION OF OKOHS OR THE THIRD PARTY VENDOR

• Train-the-Trainer courses will be provided by the third party vendor when approved by OKOHS based on need

• A community can request a local CERT course through the third party vendor - training will be delivered by the third party vendor only if that community does not have an OKOHS approved Instructor

• BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL AGENCY AND/OR JURISDICTION - the state will no longer pay for background checks