NYSAFC Announces Additional Recruitment & Retention Skills Training: Media Relations & Human Resources Skills Programs
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NYSAFC is pleased to announce that additional 2016 Recruitment & Retention Skills Training: Media Relations & Human Resources Skills programs will be held in the fall. This free 8-hour training for current and future fire officers will be held in the following locations (from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at all sites):
Saratoga County
September 17, 2016
Clifton Park Fire Department
Erie County
October 1, 2016
Orchard Park Fire Department
Onondaga County
October 22, 2016
Clay Fire Department
This 8-hour training will look at the problem of low staffing levels among volunteer fire departments. It will help officers address this problem by strengthening their ability to build a cohesive, committed team and enhancing their media relations skills to expand outreach within their community.
The first segment of this training will help fire service leaders develop the skills necessary to deal with some of the issues and situations that commonly arise in the fire house and on the fireground that can impact volunteer retention. Successfully dealing with these concerns improves a fire department’s reputation and helps it to be perceived as a worthwhile place to belong. This, in turn, will make residents more likely to consider volunteering and encourage them to stay involved as department members. Participants will explore human resources issues such as bullying, harassment, generational differences, and conflict resolution. They will review ways to deal more effectively with these issues in order to improve morale among their volunteers.
During the second segment of this training, participants will learn the best practices for working with the media, examine ways to utilize the media as a recruitment tool, and gain practical knowledge about promoting a fire department in the local media during both emergency and non-emergency situations. Participants will be shown how to work and partner with TV, radio, and newspapers to get out their message on recruitment efforts. They will also review how to use social media to reach the younger generation regarding the need for volunteers in today’s emergency services. A variety of ideas will be shared and video examples will be shown to illustrate what fire departments can do to effectively get their message out.
All participants will receive a free copy of the book Effective Fire and Emergency Services Administration, a $60 value, for future reference.
Funding for this training is provided by FEMA through the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
Click here to download the registration form for each program! Training is limited to 50 participants per site.
