Out of Service, Not Out of Policy: Crafting Reproductive Health Guidelines for the Modern Fire Service
Fire departments are increasingly recognizing the urgent need for clear, legally sound, and firefighter-specific policies addressing pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, lactation, fostering or adoption, and postpartum recovery. As the fire service continues to prioritize diversity in recruitment and retention, leaders need to respond with internal policies that reflect that commitment. Many departments lack the tools, knowledge, or language to build those policies effectively.
This course is designed for fire service leaders, union representatives, wellness coordinators, policy writers and advocates who want to create meaningful, enforceable policies that protect their personnel without compromising operations or exposing the department to legal risk.
Using real world examples, current research, and applicable federal laws (like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, FMLA, ADA, and PUMP Act), participants will learn how to craft policies that reflect the realities of the job, support reproductive health, and strengthen trust across the ranks. Whether you’re building a full pregnancy manual or updating a single SOP, this class will give you the language, structure, and strategy to get it right.
