Department of Social Work offers new internship with Florence Fire Department EMS

By Dr. Cheryl Price, Associate Dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

 At the keynote presentation during last year’s Annual Social Work Conference, EMS Chief Chris Holloway and Prevention Coordinator Brianna Jones told the audience about Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue’s implementation of a program that embeds a social worker with EMS units. The program, which started with a social work intern and has grown to a full-time position, has reduced non-emergency 911 calls in Tuscaloosa by linking patients with appropriate social services. Jason Kelley, Training Chief Florence Fire Rescue, was inspired by the presentation. Well-aware of the support and services social workers offer to their communities (his wife is Social Work Lecturer Pamela Kelley) he championed trying a similar collaboration between UNA’s Department of Social Work and the Florence Fire Department. The first internship with the Florence Fire Department EMS began March 2024 with Master of Social Work student, Belle Phillips Tsilis. Belle collected data to assess the need for service delivery and assisted Fire Department personnel with the development of program delivery policies. In Fall 2024, Gavin Norris was the first Bachelor of Social Work student placed with Florence Fire Department EMS. Gavin has thrived in his placement and reflects “my experience at the Florence Fire Department was an eye opener. I was able to see the unmet need for emergency prevention services to reduce 911 calls. I saw a lot of people who usually fall between the cracks. As a Social Worker in training, my placement with the Department taught me to be adaptable as well as how to manage stressful situations.” Social Work’s collaboration with the Florence Fire Department has been a mutually beneficial endeavor, and is a wonderful example of how the university and local government services can come together to make a positive impact on the community. The Department is looking forward to more such collaborations in the future.

        Dr. Cheryl Price