By EMS Chief Aaron Sogge
Fire and EMS have traditionally been structured around response, with training, staffing and resources focused on what happens after a 911 call. While that response mission remains the foundation of the fire service, the future of the fire service cannot rely solely on a reactive model.
The leadership of Cherry Grove (Michigan) Fire and Rescue believes the evolution of emergency services lies in prevention, education, trust and relationship-building. The primary goal of our community risk reduction (CRR) program is to foster a culture of risk reduction throughout the communities we serve rather than focusing exclusively on emergency response.
| READ MORE: From reactive to proactive: How Fort Belvoir Fire transformed its CRR program
CRR foundations
Fire Chief Knauf and I have led efforts to educate families on injury prevention through child passenger safety programs, including car seat inspections and installations, as well as infant safe sleep education. Additional initiatives include smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector installations, reflective address sign programs, and community paramedicine services.
We also partnered with experts to become an autism-certified department, enhancing our ability to effectively serve individuals and families with diverse needs during emergencies and everyday community interactions. Through these proactive efforts, the department is strengthening community safety, building trust and creating a more resilient future for those it serves.
In addition to these programs, we recently created one of our most impactful community programs: Dad 101. Dad 101 was developed to provide fathers, expectant fathers and father figures with a practical, supportive and judgment-free environment where they can learn skills that directly contribute to the safety and well-being of their families. Rather than serving as a traditional classroom lecture led by the fire department, the program is built around conversation, engagement and shared experiences.
The origin of Dad 101
Dad 101 did not begin in a boardroom, through a grant application or as part of a formal strategic initiative. Instead, it originated in a shared office during a simple conversation between myself and Chief Knauf. As we discussed our mission to prevent emergencies, strengthen families and improve community well-being before a 911 call was ever made, we found ourselves asking a simple but important question: What else can we do that is practical, meaningful and directly connected to the people we serve?
Following our initial conversation, we continued engaging with families and recognized a common theme: Fathers and father figures often have limited access to programs specifically designed to support, educate and empower them in their roles as caregivers.
During one of our early conversations, Chief Knauf acknowledged that, despite his extensive experience in emergency services, he had never cared for infants of his own and was not naturally comfortable handling babies who could not yet support their own heads. At the same time, he was completely at ease managing psychiatric emergencies and crisis situations — circumstances that many people find intimidating. As for me, I am a father of young children and remember how overwhelming those early parenting moments can be.
There are many classes, resources and support systems available for expectant mothers — and rightfully so — but not many programs intentionally designed for expectant fathers and father figures. Many fathers want to support their families and be prepared for the challenges that come with parenthood. Yet many find themselves on the outside of the conversation, trying to determine where they fit and how they can best contribute.
Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue recognized this gap and saw an opportunity to provide fathers with the knowledge, resources and confidence needed to become active partners in their family’s safety and well-being. And thus, Dad 101 was born.
Building the program
One of the first key connections in bringing Dad 101 to life was with Lacy Crummey, family engagement coach with Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District (ISD) and the MiFamily Engagement Regional Center 2. That relationship proved to be a pivotal step in transforming Dad 101 from a conversation into a functioning community program.
Crummey immediately recognized the value of this type of program, and through her support and network of community resources, she was able to identify the modest funding needed to launch the program. While the funding helped remove barriers and launch the program, the partnership itself provided something even more valuable — momentum. The collaboration between Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue, Wexford-Missaukee ISD and community stakeholders reflected a shared commitment to strengthening families through education, engagement and prevention.
Practical education for real life
The topics covered in Dad 101 are intentionally practical. The class can include infant and child safety, safe sleep education, basic first aid, CPR awareness, choking response, car seat safety, home safety, fire prevention, emergency planning and what to do before help arrives. These are not abstract concepts. These are the moments that matter at 2 a.m. when a parent is scared, a child is sick, or a family is facing an emergency for the first time.
We did not want to create a class that simply repeated what was already available. We wanted to build something that spoke directly to fathers and father figures in a practical, honest and approachable way. Dad 101 gives men a place to ask the questions they may be hesitant to ask elsewhere. It gives them permission to admit what they do not know, learn hands-on skills and leave with more confidence than they had when they walked in.
Additionally, the goal is not to separate fathers from the larger family support system. The goal is to bring them further into it. When fathers are educated, confident and engaged, the entire family becomes stronger and safer.
The value of the class goes beyond the curriculum. It gives the fire department an opportunity to meet families before an emergency happens. Too often, emergency responders meet people on the worst day of their lives. Programs like Dad 101 allow us to build trust during calm moments, so when a crisis does happen, the relationship already has a foundation. That is the heart of CRR.
CRR as a department culture
CRR is often discussed from a high-level perspective: Identify risks, develop strategies, reduce harm and improve outcomes. All of that is true. However, at the local level, CRR becomes real when it is connected to the actual needs of the community. It is not about checking a box. It is about knowing your people, understanding your risks and building programs that make sense for the families you serve.
For Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue, that means taking a broad and aggressive approach to prevention. Dad 101 is one piece of a larger, interconnected CRR strategy. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms reduce the risk of fatal home emergencies. Car seat checks help protect children before a crash ever occurs. CPR and AED education place lifesaving skills directly into the hands of the public. Stop the Bleed training empowers bystanders to act during traumatic injuries. Safe sleep education gives families information that can prevent infant deaths. Reflective address signage helps responders locate homes faster when seconds matter. Community paramedicine allows us to meet health needs before they become repeated emergencies. Autism certification improves our ability to communicate, respond, and provide care in a way that respects the needs of individuals and families. Dad 101 brings many of these concepts together.
Why this matters now
A shift in focus from reaction to prevention is critical for today’s fire and EMS agencies. Call volume continues to increase. Staffing challenges are real. Rural communities face long distances, limited resources and increasing expectations. We cannot solve every system problem by simply adding more response capacity. Response will always be necessary, but prevention is where we can change the trajectory.
CRR also changes how the public sees the fire department. We are not just the people who arrive during the emergency. We are partners in public safety, education, health and preparedness. When residents attend a class, ask questions, receive a smoke alarm, learn CPR, get help installing a car seat or interact with the department in a non-emergency setting, they begin to see the department as accessible and invested in their everyday lives.
That connection creates long-term value. It may lead someone to volunteer. It may encourage a family to attend another class. It may cause a parent to check their smoke alarms, fix a car seat, learn CPR or talk to a neighbor about safety. Sometimes the return on investment is immediate. Other times, it is a quiet culture change that builds over time.
Reach families sooner
One of the most compelling aspects of Dad 101 is that the program was not created to add another initiative to a report or to check a box on a strategic plan. It emerged from two fire service leaders sitting in an office, evaluating the needs of their community and asking a simple but important question: How can we do more?
That is how Dad 101 blossomed. It began with a conversation, grew from a strong CRR culture, gained momentum through meaningful community partnerships and became another way for Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue to meet people where they are. In many ways, Dad 101 represents the best kind of innovation. It did not require a large budget, extensive staffing or a complex implementation plan. It required awareness, creativity, honesty, strong community partnerships and a willingness to challenge traditional thinking about what a fire department can be. The result: a program that has strengthened families, built trust and demonstrated that some of the most effective forms of prevention begin long before an emergency call is ever made.
CRR allows us to protect people earlier. And programs like Dad 101 allow us to reach families sooner.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aaron D. Sogge is a second-generation emergency services professional serving as the chief of EMS, public information officer, and emergency services education program director for Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue in Michigan. Sogge also serves as the MI-MABAS division coordinator for Division 3704 and is the CEO of Imperium Emergency Solutions Group. A licensed paramedic, firefighter, EMS instructor coordinator and emergency services consultant, Sogge specializes in EMS administration, regional system development, leadership, education, quality improvement, compliance and innovation. He is a frequent author and speaker on evidence-based practices, emerging technologies, and strategies that strengthen emergency response systems, improve patient care and enhance organizational readiness.
