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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-15-1994 - VI-A d 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. VX A ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 15, 1994 SUBJECT: JTPA-Triangle Fire Challenge Academy -------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING YES: NO: X -------------------------------------------------------------------- ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Kittrell Background Information Ext. 2300 TELEPHONE NUMBER- Hillsborough -732-8181 Chapel Hill -968-4501 Mebane -227-2031 Durham -688-7331 -------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPOSE: To acknowledge the first graduating class of the Triangle Fire Challenge Academy. BACKGROUND: In 1993 Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Agency (JOCCA) and the Chapel Hill Fire Department spearheaded an effort to develop a multi-agency sanctioned Fire Academy. The academy would recruit " and train non-traditional candidates (Women, African- American, Hispanic) for fire service careers. JOCCA is the operator of several training programs funded by the Orange County Job Training Partnership Act Program (JTPA) . Utilizing local JTPA funds, JOCCA participated with other agencies, Durham City Education and Training Office, NC Department of Labor, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College, Durham Fire Department and Chapel Hill Fire Department to fund and staff the academy. The first class of 17 students began in October 1993 and graduation was held on December 22, 1994. Gloria Williams, Executive Director of JOCCA and a County JTPA-Private Industry Council (PIC) Member, will describe the Academy and identify the graduates present. RECOMMENDATION: Manager recommends that the Board acknowledge the Triangle Fire Challenge Academy Graduates present. 3 2 Background In 1992 transition away from a Public Safety System was underway in Chpel Hill and the Police and Fire Department had begun to recruit personnel separately for the first time in years. In an effort to save time and dollars, the Fire Department recruited candidates already certified as firefighters by the N.C. Fire Commission. Hiring uncertified but potential firefighters and then training them for 10 weeks (400 hours) in such small groups (2-3 at a time) was not cost effective. Hiring already trained personnel reduced the necessary training time to a 40 hour local orientation. The difficulty encountered using this approach was that the candidate field did not reflect a balanced and diverse candidate field that represented the cultural diversity of the community. Closer examination indicates that the two primary entry points for a fire service career in North Carolina are either through employment by communities large enough to sponsor a Fire Academy or through a volunteer fire department. This system produces few numbers of non-traditional candidates. Chapel Hill Fire Department is committed to a diverse workforce, therefore, another alternative was needed. Program Development In February of 1993 after talking with firefighter recruitment officers around the country, Fire Chief Dan Jones approached several local jobs and training agencies about forming a partnership to sponsor a Fire Academy whose purpose was to recruit, train, and prepare for employment, those non-traditional candidates previously difficult to find for fire service careers. A group consisting of representatives from Joint Orange Chatham Community Action (JOCCA) , Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools, Durham Technical Community College, Durham City Education and Training Office (DCETO) and the chapel Hill Fire Department began regular meetings in May 1993 to explore the possibilities. The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) and the Durham Fire Department joined the group during the summer. A coalition of these agencies was formed and work began to actually develop an Academy. A composite screening process was developed drawing from the preemployment criteria of a variety of North Carolina municipalities. Educational screening was added to ensure academic success of each candidate. The curriculum previously used by Chapel Hill Fire Academy was adopted to include topic such as cultural differences in the Fire Service, job interview skills and sexual harassment. A name for the Academy was adopted from a suggestion by Assistant Chief Bill Bibby of Durham Fire Department. The Triangle Fire Challenge Academy began to take 3 shape. The name represents the mission of the Academy. Challenge to non-traditional candidates to seek fire service careers and challenge to the fire service to accept non-tradi- tional candidates (see attached logo) . All the participating agencies committed to various elements of the Academy. The job agencies (JOCCA, NCDOL, DCETO) and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools will handle recruitment, pre-screening, selection, financial sponsorship ($1,600.00 per student) and job placements after graduation. Durham Technical Community College is providing educational program sanction, paying the instructors, and managing an enterprise account for the Academy. Chapel Hill Fire Department is providing coordination, facilities, curriculum and instructors. Durham Fire Department is providing instructors and facilities. The goal is to produce a fire service job applicant that is fully trained, pre-screened and certifiable under North Carolina Fire Commission Standards for Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. The Academy Pre-screening of candidates began in September. Approximately twenty four applicants were being processed by the agencies. They were interviewed for interest level, tested for reading and math skills, physical agility tested, had criminal history and driving license records checked, drug tested and given a medical exam by state standards. Eighteen students selected began class on October 13 and will graduate (some 400 hours later) prior to Christmas holidays. They will receive 160 hours of Emergency Medical Technician Training in January of 1994. Deputy Chief Smith of Chapel Hill has been appointed coordinator for the first academy. The N.C. Department of Labor has already begun contacting potential employers around the State concerning the availability of the graduates for positions. Chapel Hill will actively recruit the graduating class to apply for positions in the Chapel Hill Fire Department. The coalition is discussing making the Triangle Fire challenge Academy an on-going venture, possibly graduating two to three classes a year, but that will be determined-by job placement rate and interest by potential candidates and employers. A waiting list for future Academy classes has already begun to form. The coalition has set a policy that reserves 75% of the class seats for non-traditional candidates and opens 25% to anyone qualified by the pre-screening and posting all fees. Y 4 Chapel Hill Personnel Department along with several other Town Departments are looking at the Academy as a possible career development opportunity for Town employees in lower paid classifications. There also is a possibility of the Academy qualifying for State or Federal grant monies under some job programs. This will be investigated further. The first class is underway and progressing beyond all expectations. Coalition Agency Members Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Durham City Education and Training Office North Carolina Department of Labor Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools Durham Technical Community College Durham Fire Department Chapel Hill Fire Department FIR! ACADEMY .