Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan congratulates a recent graduate of the County’s Fire Rescue EMT program.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI-DADE COMMUNICATIONS

MIAMI-DADE – After the economic downturn resulted in the Miami-Dade County Firefighter Apprenticeship Program being discontinued in 2009, District One Commissioner Barbara Jordan sponsored legislation in 2015 directing the County administration to recreate a similar program that would give high school students the opportunity to become certified as first responders and/or emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

“I created the program to give high school seniors an early start in pursuing careers in fields such as EMT, firefighter, or nurse,” Commissioner Jordan said.

At the May 15 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Jordan recognized the first graduating class of the revamped MiamiDade Fire Rescue EMT program.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR) provides course instruction, mentoring, and the opportunity to take the state test, all at no cost to the students. Students also are given a preference in hiring with MDFR after successfully completing the program. Fire Chief Dave Downey told the graduates: “I’m extremely proud of what this EMT class has accomplished.”