In 1989 the Executive Board Officers of Local 1171 had a vision.  This vision was about reaching out to the people in our community, and serving them beyond our job description of fighting fires and saving lives.  It was an opportunity to give back to the community, and to say thanks for supporting us as municipal emergency services workers and as Union members. While it is true that we are often viewed as heroes for risking our lives in emergency situations involving fire and rescue, it is really our greatest desire to prevent life threatening events from occurring.

     The City of Santa Clara City Firefighters, IAFF Local 1171, have developed and implemented a program called  "Better Things".  This program has been welcomed and approved by the Santa Clara Unified School District.  The Better Things program is committed to building caring relationships, by providing a safe, secure and healthy environment for adolescent young people in the sixth grade. Firefighters trained as facilitators by professional counselors, volunteer their time throughout  the entire school year to mentor this vulnerable age group during such a transitional time in their lives.  This is truly an innovative extension of Fire Prevention.

     The curriculum teaches the children to practice respect and compassion every day; and to engage in critical thinking, reflection and dialog.  The activities explore real life situations both in and out of the classroom, promoting discussion, reactions, emotions, options in anger management and basic communication skills.  As empowered individuals, the children learn to integrate knowledge, skills and resources in the development of goals and objectives.  The curriculum is designed to address five goals:

  *  Develop a sense of belonging to a group
  *  Decrease feelings of being singled out
  *  Increase self confidence
  *  Enhance insight
  *  Increase self awareness

     Many of the unhappy and harmful situations that are prevalent in our society and that negatively affect the well-being and productivity of our citizens begin when people are young. Young people are often damaged as a result of their early experiences, and don't have a successful way to understand and manage their hurts and their challenges. As positive role models in our communities, firefighters can be powerful advocates for exploring our basic human needs for love and belonging, self awareness, accomplishment, power and meaning.  Utilizing the skills and strategies about life as taught by the firefighters can provide a positive and productive way for our Better Things participants to understand themselves, the world around them, and their place in it.

For more information please contact Captain Ron McDowell (Program Coordinator) by email, or send him a letter so he can arrange a time to talk with you.

              Santa Clara City Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1171
              Post Office Box 1185
              Santa Clara, CA 95052-1185

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Typical group at Planet Granite Climbing Gym. Left to right: Scott, Ken Siu, ryan Enrique and Ray.	What Better Things is all about: "Helping kids reach new heights."	Peterson Middle School Better Things Group - Chris, Ana, Mariah, Shaila, Bryan, Ray, Darrell, Ryan, Scott, Paul.

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03/14/2006