Rockland Helps Local Heroes: Tuition For Volunteer First Responders

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Two innovative tuition reimbursement programs to help the county's busy volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps recruit and retain more local heroes have gotten underway in Rockland this year.

They are run by the Office of Fire & Emergency Services, which oversees volunteer fire and EMS training programs.

"This county for the longest time has prided ourselves on being volunteer," Fire Coordinator Chris Kear told Patch. "The county felt this was a nice way to give back."

The first is EDGES. Educational Development and Growth for Emergency Services is a partnership between the county and Rockland Community College offering free tuition to active volunteers. It's an expansion of an existing program for county employees.

The second is the Higher Education Recruitment and Retention Opportunities volunteer tuition reimbursement program. It is modeled on the HERRO program Westchester County started two years ago.

After he found out about Westchester's initiative, Kear took the idea to County Executive Ed Day. "He was all for it."

The County Legislature liked the idea too, approving about $1 million in this year's budget.

"This is about recruitment and retention," Kear said. "We want to attract volunteers by offering free tuition at RCC or the opportunity for reimbursement no matter where you go to school. Someone learning they could get up to $6,000 a year might be interested in joining."

The program isn't just for young folks after high school, though Kear hopes to attract some who are active volunteers during breaks from college plus after they graduate. It's also for current volunteers interested in picking up new skills and credentials, and anyone interested in giving back to their community.

To be eligible, you must be an active volunteer in good standing with a Rockland County fire department or ambulance corps. The guidelines and rules are clear; check them out here.

• RCC EDGES Program
• H.E.R.R.O Program

There are other benefits to being a volunteer.

First, joining a fire department or ambulance corps not only gives one a sense of accomplishment, but also opens new horizons, Kear said. "You build relationships. It opens up opportunities and new directions."

Second, it provides community.

"It’s like a second family. The fire and ambulance corps try to create that atmosphere where everybody is welcome," Kear said. "It's really a team effort. There are a lot of different ways to contribute. Whether you’re an interior firefighter or a driver you can be a valuable asset to your community."

In Rockland, EMS agencies respond annually to more than 40,000 calls a year and fire departments respond to over 9,000 calls per year.

"If we lose volunteers and we don’t have enough for fire and ambulance services you’re going in the direction where you’re going to have to pay people full or part-time," Kear said. "That will cost taxpayers more money."

Most of the county's fire companies are holding their own in terms of members, he said, though the numbers fluctuate as people move away or they have work or family obligations.

"The volunteers are great. We do a great job training them," Kear said. "We want to keep them well-trained, well-educated, and appreciated."

For more information on how to enroll, go online or contact the Office of Fire and Emergency Services at (845) 364- 8800.

For information on RCC's course offerings, visit the college website or call (845) 574-4224.