Josephine Rios, 911 calltaker and law dispatcher and founder of Latinas of 911 LLC talks about her organization including how it started, what its goals are, and how to become part of it.   For Your Information: Check out the Latinas of 911 website: https://latinasof911.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/503127028633445  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinasof911/

Meridith Jensen, Software & EDQ Protocol Expert with Priority Dispatch Corp., talks about PDC’s new podcast, “Tell Me Exactly,” which she hosts. She discusses the differences between “Tell Me Exactly” and “Dispatch in Depth,” her favorite episode so far, and her goals for the project.For Your Information:Listen to Tell Me Exactly on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tell-me-exactly/id1741570579Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rpohCpEPDGFjma6HQYPla  Or look for it wherever you get your podcasts. 

Bob Finney, Director of Communications Technology for the Collier County Sheriff's Office, and John Chiaramonte, president of Mission Critical Partners’ consulting business, talk about the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (or PPVAR) and the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) and how they can free up some of your valuable time in the comm. center.   For Your Information:  Learn more about PPVAR here: https://ppvar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Public-Safety-Postcard.pdf  TMA-AVS-01: https://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/  Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR): https://ppvar.org/  Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP): https://tma.us/programs/asap/ 

Bonnie Maney, Operations Manager with Mission Critical Partners, discusses response alternatives in 911 beyond supplying mental health support teams. She talks about finding ways to reduce mission creep, the impact of making small but significant changes in your center, and the importance of maintaining stamina for positive change.  For Your Information:  Got a question for Bonnie? Email her at bonniemaney (at) missioncriticalpartners (dot) com.  Learn more about Mission Critical Partners: https://www.missioncriticalpartners.com/  Check out their FREE resources, including trainings and white papers: https://www.missioncriticalpartners.com/resources/ 

Amanda Beal, the IAED’s AI SkillLab Simulation Administrator, discusses what exactly the AI SkillLab is, where you can access it, and how it helps you in your role as an emergency dispatcher.  For Your Information:  Learn more about AI SkillLab here: https://www.prioritydispatch.net/en/ai-skill-lab 

Sergeant Ashlee Gautreaux, creator and facilitator of a high school Emergency Telecommunicator Certification (ETC) program in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, talks about how the program came about and how it’s structured. She also discusses some unanticipated benefits to the community that have come from it.  For Your Information: Learn more about the program here: https://www.ascensionschools.org/schools/high/career-technical-education  Do you live in Ascension Parish? Apply to become a dispatcher here: https://ascensionsheriff.com/join-our-team  

Dr. Russell MacDonald, the Medical Director for Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto’s Central Ambulance Communications Centre, discusses what a communication center medical director is and how their role impacts your work.  For Your Information:  Toronto Paramedic Services – social media sites:  https://www.youtube.com/@TorontoMedics  https://www.facebook.com/TorontoMedics/  https://x.com/torontomedics  https://www.instagram.com/torontomedicsofficial/  Emergency Care in the Streets (Canadian edition):  https://www.psglearning.com/catalog/productdetails/9781284196641   A link to some of Dr. MacDonald’s publications and related activities:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Russell-MacDonald  

John Chiaramonte, President of Mission Critical Partners’ consulting business, talks about the company's upcoming 8-hour course on swatting incidents. He discusses the recent uptick in these types of responses as well as things communication centers can do to prepare for the eventuality of these calls.  For Your Information:  Sign up for the class here: https://info.missioncriticalpartners.com/mitigating-swatting-incidents-masterclass   Check out Mission Critical Partners’ other webinars and trainings: https://www.missioncriticalpartners.com/resources/webinars-training/  

Tyler Pelke, Deputy Chief with the City of Red Deer Emergency Services, shares his perspective on resilience in the emergency response profession. He talks about doing the hard things, like building habits and practicing forgiveness, and fostering trust in the workplace.  For Your Information:  Tyler’s website: https://www.tylerpelke.com    Dr. M. Scott Peck’s book on resilience: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Road-Less-Traveled-Timeless-Edition/M-Scott-Peck/9780743243155   Dr. Karestan Koenen: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/profile/karestan-koenen/   Dr. Steven Southwick: https://aeon.co/users/steven-southwick  

Educator, clinician, and scholar Dr. Michelle Lilly gives highlights of her past emergency dispatch research papers and projects, then presents the preliminary findings of her groundbreaking video to 911 study.  For Your Information:  Lilly Consulting: www.lilly-consulting.com

The champion and creator of the 911 SAVES Act, California Congresswoman Norma J. Torres gives some insight into this bill she and her colleagues are trying to pass to get emergency dispatchers reclassified as first responders. She tells some stories from her time as a dispatcher in Los Angeles, explains what the act does and does not do, and gives advice on how you can get involved in this important movement.  For Your Information:  Read this press release on the bill: https://torres.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-torres-fitzpatrick-reintroduce-bipartisan-9-1-1-saves    To find out if Congresswoman Torres is your representative or to find out who your rep is and reach out, go here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member    Read Congresswoman Torres’s policy essay on the 911 SAVES Act: https://journals.law.harvard.edu/jol/volume-61-number-1/?fbclid=IwAR2eg3d_CkD_Sq8_mM2Df1l8GpmzrsPtQCpX7FLbq3gBoF5JlAp18v-MGrg   Find out more about how you can help get emergency dispatchers reclassified: https://www.911.gov/projects/telecommunicator-job-reclassification/