Community paramedic training in Pittsburgh to help boost EMT programs

A program named after the service that paved the way for modern pre-hospital care will offer paid training to people to become paramedics starting next month.

Freedom House Ambulance Service was the first emergency medical service in the U.S. — founded in 1967 in the Hill District – staffed by people with medical training beyond first aid.

The program, dubbed Freedom House 2.0, will train first responders to help people with critical, non-emergency psychosocial needs, such as behavioral health conditions. Applications are being accepted now.

Trainees will complete not only an emergency medical technician course, but a community health worker course.

Each trainee will receive mentorship, shadowing opportunities across the healthcare field, and mental health and resiliency training, and a $1,500 stipend.

All student expenses, including a tablet, clinical uniform, and exam fees, will be paid for by the program.

This program runs Monday through Friday and will take place at the Neighborhood Resilience Project, 2038 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Training runs through Jan. 11 to March 19 for one group and March 29 to June 4 for a second group.

The program is a partnership between the Neighborhood Resilience Project, Partner4Work, UPMC, and UPMC Health Plan.

For more information on recruitment for the Freedom House 2.0 program, please email pathwaystowork@upmc.edu or click here to fill out a brief application.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Resilience Project, click here.

To learn more about the UPMC Center for Social Impact click here.