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ITEM 13

City Council Memorandum Fire Memo No.

Date:

June 27, 2024

To:

Mayor and Council

Thru:

Joshua H. Wright, City Manager
Tadd Wille, Assistant City Manager
Thomas Dwiggins, Fire Chief

From:

Megan Dryer, Management Analyst Senior

Subject:

Resolution No. 5807 Approving and Authorizing a Universal Affiliation Agreement Between Northern Arizona University and the City of Chandler

Proposed Motion:

Move City Council pass and adopt Resolution No. 5807 authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Board of Regents, for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University, for student participation in internships, clinical rotations, and other educational experiences with the Chandler Fire Department (CFD).

Background/Discussion:

This Universal Affiliation Agreement establishes a partnership between Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the City of Chandler, allowing university students to participate in educational experiences within the Chandler Fire Department (CFD). The Agreement, effective for five years beginning in June 2024, outlines the terms and conditions of student participation, including the duration, purpose, and general terms. Due to interest in the internship program during the University’s current summer programs, the Department is seeking a June agreement date. While this is CFD's first Affiliation Agreement with NAU, the Department has been providing similar educational opportunities to other universities for many years.

The internship program consists of unpaid positions that provide educational opportunities for students under the supervision of social workers. Students are tasked with a variety of responsibilities within the role, including providing the highest level of crisis intervention and advocacy services to individuals as requested by CFD, performing intervention and assessment services for those experiencing a crisis, providing emotional support and active listening for those experiencing a crisis, responding to crisis calls with the CFD Crisis Response unit, maintaining confidentiality, and facilitating follow-up services with clients. Students are evaluated for the positions based on a set of criteria and their ability to meet the minimum position requirements.

Interns are supervised by the full-time Senior Crisis Interventionists within the Department, as well as the Crisis Intervention Senior Program Manager. Approximately two interns from NAU are anticipated to be selected to participate in the program. Students are required to complete 300 hours per semester, or 12 hours per week.

There are considerable outcomes expected for those participating in the program including, but not limited to, learning Crisis Counseling skills, learning and utilizing various Crisis Models, understanding State laws on confidentiality and victims’ rights, learning crisis work bio-psychosocial documentation and conducting assessments, working in a multi-disciplinary setting by collaborating with Fire and Police entities, learning how to conduct client follow-up, and gaining knowledge regarding community resources and various crisis situations.

Given the successful implementation of prior affiliation agreements, CFD welcomes the opportunity to include additional participants in its internship programs. The approval of this Agreement will enhance educational opportunities for students and foster a beneficial partnership between the University and the City.

Financial Implications:

There is no anticipated financial impact associated with the approval of Resolution No. 5807.

Attachments

Resolution No. 5807

City of Chandler and NAU Universal Affiliation Agreement