DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
FEMA-funded Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) project, the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research (NDRI-USA, Inc.) and Women in Fire
Firefighters often struggle to perform at their best and may suffer from adverse health effects due to discrimination, harassment, and unwelcoming work environments. It's crucial that both leadership and firefighters be provided with tools to foster an inclusive, healthy, and diverse fire service.
There has been significant confusion among women firefighters regarding guidelines for adjusting firefighting responsibilities during pregnancy and returning to work after childbirth. Research and education tailored to women firefighters' health and the gender-specific impacts of occupational exposures are urgently needed.
On September 3, 2022, Women in Fire was awarded $769,717.28 in Fire Prevention and Safety grant funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Through this grant, in collaboration with Dr. Sara Jahnke and the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research, tools have been developed and are being implemented to prevent and mitigate injuries, address discrimination and harassment, enhance resilience, and promote reproductive health and safety.
We are delivering training and resources aimed at promoting inclusion, strategies for increasing it, and ways to support women in the fire service.
Under a FEMA-funded Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) initiative, the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research (NDRI-USA, Inc.) and Women in Fire have collaborated to create the United in Service training program. This ongoing professional development series comprises workshops tailored for fire and emergency service departments, with a primary focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The program aims to cultivate a robust, resilient, and inclusive fire service nationwide.
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WOMEN IN FIRE AND NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL RELEASE FIRE SERVICE DISCRIMINATION & HARASSMENT TOOLKIT
Successful Fire and EMS departments prioritize the well-being of their members and aim to create a positive, inclusive environment. Unfortunately, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation can undermine this goal, harming individuals and the department as a whole. To combat this issue, departments can take proactive steps to identify and address such behavior.
Recognizing the need to address this problem, Women in Fire and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have collaborated to release the Fire Service Discrimination & Harassment Toolkit. This resource is intended to assist both volunteer and career first responders in preventing, identifying, and responding to workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
The toolkit aims to educate fire service members who may be unaware of what constitutes harassment and discrimination or how to handle such situations if they or someone they know experiences them.
Information provided includes:
Who is protected by federal employment laws
Who can perpetrate harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation in the workplace
What conduct can be inappropriate for the workplace even if it does not meet the legal definition of unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation
What actions can constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in the workplace
What to do if you suspect that you are being targeted by harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace
Where to find available resources