NFPA Champion Program

NFPA developed its Champion Award Program in 1994 to help communities deal proactively with public safety issues impacting today's children and families. It is a strategic, multi-million dollar initiative that helps local public educators and safety advocates introduce Risk Watch to key decision-makers and implement the injury prevention program in schools. It provides appropriate training, guidance, and resources needed not only to help public safety educators launch these efforts, but to continue expanding use and impact of Risk Watch over the long-term. The foundation of this program is the “Cs to Success” – the fundamental qualities that correlate with long-term success in implementing school-based education programs.

NFPA Champion Management Teams

In response to the fast-growing number of local Champion communities that have been established over the past several years, NFPA developed the NFPA Risk Watch Champion Management Team (CMT) program in 2000. This program works to expand Risk Watch in local communities through management team, which are coordinated, multi-agency coalitions at the state and provincial levels. These teams support the introduction and expansion of Risk Watch in local communities through local Risk Watch multi-agency coalitions. The CMTs maintain and analyze Risk Watch evaluation data for communities; track a listing of local Risk Watch users; maintain ongoing communication with communities and NFPA; provide training for local Risk Watch coalitions; solicit funding to support local communities; and serve as the central state/provincial contact for NFPA.

Champion Management Team grants are awarded each year by NFPA. To become a CMT, an established coalition of state or province-level representatives must apply for an NFPA grant, demonstrating a solid commitment to gaining and expanding support of Risk Watch through local coalitions over a three-year period. In turn, NFPA provides the guidance and support needed to maintain a strong CMT, effectively manage local Champion coalitions, and to ensure proper implementation of Risk Watch. To date, 35 CMTs have been established throughout North America.

For Information on becoming a state or provincial Champion Management Team, Contact NFPA.

NFPA Local Champions

At the center of NFPA’s Champion Award Program is its “Champions,” typically the public educators and safety advocates from the local fire departments, police departments, public health departments, and hospitals. These professionals are the key to successfully delivering Risk Watch to their communities. They are responsible for a wide range of activities, such as introducing Risk Watch to school administrators, teachers, and potential funding partners; raising the funds necessary to deliver Risk Watch to their communities; implementing the curriculum in schools and evaluating its effectiveness; continually working to expand use of Risk Watch to reach as many teachers, students, and families as possible; and communicating with the Champion Management Team (CMT) for the state or province. The CMT provides the local Champions with the support and resources to build and work in a community coalition, motivate teachers and students, manage a successful curriculum implementation, and evaluate program results.

To date, more than 400 towns and cities (ranging from small rural communities to major urban centers) throughout the United States and Canada have been recipients of the Champion Award Program and are recognized as NFPA Champion sites.