Attention Tennessee Fire Chiefs: Volunteer Recruitment Assistance Available

February 13, 2017
Jim Philipps

Ask yourself these questions:

Does your fire department need more volunteers?

Would your department like more community support and visibility?
Can your volunteer or combination fire department use assistance with its recruitment and retention efforts?

The solution resides in the Volunteer Workforce Solutions (VWS) program. The program is the result of a powerful partnership of leaders, including the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association (TFCA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Now is your chance to get involved.

TFCA is selecting 15 departments to participate in Phase I of the VWS program, which provides research on your jurisdiction, combined with turnkey marketing solutions, to enhance volunteer fire department staffing. VWS free benefits include:

VWS free benefits include:

Leadership support through training and tools focused on the needs of volunteer and combination departments
Mentoring programs designed to assist departments with member intake and training
Customized recruitment strategies based on the characteristics of your community
Examination of issues and challenges influencing recruitment and retention
Strategic planning to increase department visibility, viability and community support
Customized printed recruitment materials and multimedia support
GIS Tapestry reports to enhance department marketing and recruitment strategies
Recruitment and retention templates to assist in planning

All support is provided free of cost to departments; the program is funded by the FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. If you currently have another SAFER grant, you may still be eligible.

Informational webinars about the program and the application/selection process will be held on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00PM (EST) and Friday, February 17 at 1:00 PM (EST). You can register ahead of time for these free webinars by visiting the program’s resources page.

For more information about the program, including an informational flyer, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the application, please visit www.VolunteerFireTN.org. Applications are due Thursday, March 9, 2017.

Please contact Shakir Mohammed, IAFC Program Manager, at 703-537-4841, or Chief Eddie Phillips, TFCA Program Coordinator, at 423-802-7794, with questions.

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