Women in Fire awarded $1M to address women's healthcare issues in the fire service

September 29, 2023

Press Release: On September 13th, Women in Fire was awarded $1,032,209 in Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Prevention and Safety grant funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The lack of recommendations for firefighters regarding reproductive health from conception to lactation and return to work is alarming. 25% of women firefighters report their fire department does not have a policy addressing pregnancy or maternity leave; this is unacceptable.

Some of the specific objectives of this grant will include:

• Reproductive Health Toolkit
• Mentorship Program
• Continued dissemination of existing firefighter-specific curriculum focused on improving DEI in the FS nationally
• Further increase the reach of this training by adding these developed training courses to an online learning management system (LMS)

This project has the potential to improve health and safety by increasing access to pertinent healthcare information, assisting in policy development, increasing diversity in the fire service, and enhancing the recruitment and retention of women and minorities.

National fire service organizations recognize a need for reproductive health policies and resources for men and women to promote better inclusion and signal diversity, equity, and inclusion support. Women in Fire will work with NDRI-USA, the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research (CFREHR), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Beltane Guild to carry out the goals and objectives of this award.