The NVFC, in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration, has released an in-depth guide on two of the greatest challenges facing the volunteer fire and emergency services: retention and recruitment.

Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services: Challenges and Solutions (Second Edition) addresses each of the main obstacles departments face regarding retention and recruitment and then outlines proven solutions to overcome these obstacles. This resource can be of significant value to volunteer and combination departments experiencing retention and recruitment challenges.

Among the issues identified and addressed in the new guide are time demands, training requirements, increasing call volume, changes in the “nature of the business,” changes in sociological conditions, leadership challenges, federal legislation, internal conflict, higher cost of housing, aging communities, and the effects of the decline in volunteers. The text contains a thorough review of each of these issues and provides examples of solutions that have worked in volunteer fire organizations across the country.

The NVFC and USFA released the first edition of the guide in 1998. This second edition has been enhanced with new research and current issues facing first responders. The full Guide can be downloaded as a PDF document by clicking here.