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NVFC Releases Podcast on Junior Firefighter Programs
The NVFC has created a podcast to introduce departments to the National Junior Firefighter Program and offer insights and best practices for establishing and managing a local youth program within a department. Firehouse.com recorded the podcast, which is featured this week as part of Radio@Firehouse.com’s lineup of broadcasts for fire and emergency service professionals, online at www.radiofirehouse.com. The podcast is also available on the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org and can be downloaded from iTunes.
The podcast can be used as a resource for departments who are thinking of establishing a youth program as well as those who already have a program in place. Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC, begins the podcast by providing an overview as to why youth programs are critical to the long-term health of the fire service as well as the resources and tools available through the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program.
“Considering how much our nation relies on firefighters during disasters of all kinds, we need to find ways to increase the number of people who become firefighters and stay in the fire service,” Schafer said. “One way to do this is for departments to begin forming connections with members of the community when they are young. By engaging youth to learn about and participate in the fire service, we are fostering a new generation that may continue their involvement in the emergency services as they enter into adulthood.”
Following the introduction, a panel of four fire service leaders who serve on the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program Advisory Group discuss some of the key concepts for developing and maintaining a successful junior firefighter program. Jim Williams, NVFC’s New York Director, moderated the panel. Joining Williams was Jeff Cash, NVFC’s North Carolina Director and Fire Chief of the Cherryville Fire Department; Allen Metheny, NVFC’s Alternate Director from Delaware and Past Chief and Past President of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company; and Mike Barnett of the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland.
The panelists used their experiences with their departments’ thriving youth programs to draw out some best practices for local junior firefighter programs. Some of the topics explored were considerations departments should keep in mind when developing a program, obstacles departments may encounter and how to overcome these challenges, factors that keep youth participants interested and involved in the program, activities juniors can participate in, and how youth programs benefit departments and act as an important retention and recruitment tool. The panel also explored how scholarship opportunities, such as the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Scholarship and Grant Program, sponsored by the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, can be a motivational factor for youth participation.
Find more resources and tools for implementing and managing a local junior firefighter program at www.nvfc.org/juniors.
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