From the community. Ready to serve.

 EMS CORPS 

home_repair_service Workforce Development Program
gavel Racial Justice Initiative
diversity_3 Healthcare workforce shortage initiative
supervisor_account Juvenile Justice/Child Welfare Career Transition Project
health_and_safety EMS system enhancement
handshake Violence Prevention Strategy
From the community.
Ready to serve.

 EMS CORPS 

home_repair_service Workforce Development Program
gavel Racial Justice Initiative
diversity_3 Healthcare workforce shortage initiative
supervisor_account Juvenile Justice/Child Welfare Career Transition Project
health_and_safety EMS system enhancement
handshake Violence Prevention Strategy
Introduction

 EMS CORPS 

A 5-month EMT training program for young people who have had to navigate
under-resourced public systems, insecure housing, system involvement and
other challenges. In addition to EMT training, corps members receive a monthly
stipend, wrap around support, mentorship, career guidance and job placement
after they graduate.

Impact

 IN ALAMEDA COUNTY 

EMS Corps began in Alameda County, CA in 2012. Since then...
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400+ young adults have graduated the program
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86% of graduates who took the NREMT passed and are EMT certified, a pass rate higher than the current national average
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95% of all program graduates are employed 12 months after graduation
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The model is being replicated in other CA communities, New Mexico, New Jersey
Watch to learn more!
***These videos are from 2013 and 2014 when the program was for young men only; the program has been co-ed since 2018 and actively recruits women participants. They still provide a window into what the program looks and feels like!".
Impact

ALAMEDA COUNTY 

EMS Corps began in Alameda County, CA in 2003. Since then...
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450+ young adults have graduated the program
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86% of graduates who took the NREMT passed on their first attempt (The national average is 67%), and are EMT certified.
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95% of all program graduates are employed 12 months after graduation
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The model is being replicated in other CA communities, New Mexico, New Jersey 
Watch to learn more!
Real people. Real results.

 HEAR FROM RECENT GRADUATE

Hundreds of young people from Alameda County have graduated EMS Corps and are workings as paramedics, fire fighters, nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers, and more!

Impact

 IN NEW MEXICO 

EMS Corps launched in New Mexico in 2021, establishing a site in  New Mexico, Albuquerque Fire and the University of New Mexico.

Since launch...
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70+ young adults have graduated in its 2+ years of operation
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Over half were involved with child-welfare, foster care or the juvenile justice system
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90% are employed 12 months after graduation; 80% working in EMS, Fire or Public Safety
Watch to learn more!
Impact

NEW MEXICO 

EMS Corps launched in New Mexico in 2021, establishing a site in New Mexico, Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico.

Since launch...
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70+ young adults have graduated in its 2+ years of operation
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Over half were involved with child-welfare, foster care or the juvenile justice system
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90% are employed 12 months after graduation; 80% working in EMS, Fire or Public Safety
Watch to learn more!
Powered by PWA

 PUBLIC WORKS ALLIANCE 

Public Works Alliance (PWA) is a social justice non-profit focused on creating stronger, more equitable public systems by shifting power and agency to the communities they serve through systems change and workforce development.

Formed by founders of Alameda EMS Corps, part of PWA’s mission is to expand this successful model across California and the rest of the country. 

In addition to the California Expansion, programs have been established or are in the planning phases in Albuquerque, New Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Newark, New Jersey.

PWA Partners with local government and community leadership to:

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Convene a collaborative of local supporters, stakeholders
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Fundraise
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Building local infrastructure and capacity
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Train the local team and assist in the program launch
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Collect data and support local teams maintain fidelity to the model after transitioning it to local leadership
Expansion 

 NATIONAL
MODEL

EMS Corps is now a national model for mitigating a shortage of EMS workers while providing career pathways for young people facing barriers to employment including insecure housing, system involvement and racism.

EMS Corps locations

PWA has partnered with communities across the country to establish EMS Corps sites adapted to local factors while maintaining high fidelity to the program model. 

Alameda County, CA   

  • In partnership with LEMSA
  • Operational for 10+ years
  • 350+ graduates
  • Outperforming national average pass rate on NREMT
10 Site CA Expansion   
  • In partnership with the CA Department of Labor
  • Scope includes site selection, planning, capacity building and technical support for 4 years
  • First sites scheduled to launch in 2024  
New Mexico   
  • In partnership with New Mexico CYFD
  • Operational for 2+ years
  • 40+ graduates
City EMT, San Francisco
  • In partnership with San Francisco Office of Workforce Development and SF Fire
  • Operational for 2+ years
  • 50+ graduates
New Orleans   
  • Scheduled for launch in spring 2025
Newark, NJ
  • In partnership with Newark Opportu-nity Youth Network and Greenlight Fund  of Greater Newark, launching in Fall 2024
High Fidelity 

 ADHERING TO CORE PRINCIPLES 

 The key to the sustainability of EMS Corps in new sites is maintaining high program fidelity while adapting to local factors. Connective tissue co-created with the community it serves is designed into the model. 
Elements of the program to which all sites adhere include:
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A robust wrap around support component
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An earned, monthly stipend
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Opportunities for community service
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Career counseling and job readiness training throughout the program and job placement post graduation
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Collecting data on:
  • Graduation and NREMT exam pass rates
  • Employment
  • Student/graduate outlook 
  • Student and staff experiences through surveys and qualitative interviews
Deep Local Connection

 ADAPTING TO LOCAL DYNAMICS

 The key to the sustainability of EMS Corps in new sites is maintaining high program fidelity while adapting to local factors. Connective tissue co-created with the community it serves is designed into the model. 
Also key to the program’s success is its ability to adapt to suit local factors by:
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Enlisting community partners early in the design phase
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Depending on local providers to optimize the student experience and wrap around support
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Frequently eliciting feedback from students and staff and apply learning to evolve around local factors.
 As a result, Each EMS Corps site is unique in its structure, funding strategy, partner collaborative and the communities they serve. The make-up of success measures can even vary from site to site. 
Scaling a successful program

 ADMINISTRATIVE EXCELLENCE 

PWA minimizes the administrative burden of local teams by deploying streamlined systems that enable local teams to focus on the students. 
 PWA's digital platform serves as a single solution for:  
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Marketing the site and managing its application and review process
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Automating/managing regular communication with students and prospects
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Housing digital curriculum
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Tracking satisfaction and employment
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Data collection and storage; performance tracking across key metrics
Scaling a successful program

ADMINISTRATIVE EXCELLENCE 

PWA minimizes the administrative burden of local teams by deploying streamlined systems that enable local teams to focus on the students. 
PWA's digital platform serves as a single solution for:
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Marketing the site and managing its application and review process
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Automating/managing regular communication with students and prospects
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Housing digital curriculum
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Tracking satisfaction and employment
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Data collection and storage; performance tracking across key metrics
Ongoing data collection, learning, optimizing

 TRACKING. LEARNING. APPLYING.

 Continuous learning enables us to keep evolving the model to suit local needs and factors.
 
Detailed student and staff satisfaction surveys, exit interviews and employment tracking along with ongoing active listening to staff and students provide data that can inform improvements across the program.
 
As new sites are added, opportunities to convene around best practices and resource sharing will expand. 
 
Ongoing data collection, learning, optimizing

TRACKING. LEARNING. APPLYING. 

Continuous learning enables us to keep evolving the model to suit local needs and factors.
Detailed student and staff satisfaction surveys, exit interviews and employment tracking along with ongoing active listening to staff and students provide data that can inform improvements across the program.
As new sites are added, opportunities to convene around best practices and resource sharing will expand.
Want to work with us?

Learn how EMS Corps and Public Works Alliance can help make in impact in your community
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Get in touch
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