News & Announcements

Spring 2024 High School EMT Course

Saratoga County will again offer an EMT Course for residents of Saratoga County attending high school (in or outside the County) who will be age 17 on or before May 31, 2024.  The course will run every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6p-9:50p at the HVCC TEC-SMART Campus in Malta starting January 16, 2024 and ending May 10, 2024.  Applications are accepted by the Saratoga County Workforce Development Department.  All costs for students accepted into the program will be covered by Saratoga County.  Deadline for applications is Friday, December 29, 2023.  Click below for the course announcement and application materials:

Questions can be directed to Jennifer McCloskey, Director of Saratoga County Workforce Development, email jmccloskey@saratogacountyny.gov or phone 518-884-4170.

Peer Support Team December Classes

The Saratoga County Peer Support Team (SCPST), organized in November 2022 to support all Saratoga County law enforcement, fire, and EMS departments is offering two training sessions in December 2023:

  • Advanced Assisting Individuals in Crisis: Mon & Tues, Dec 18-19; 8:30a-4:30p both days – this class is for current members of Peer Support Teams
  • Suicide Awareness: An Introduction for Crisis Responders: Wed. Dec 20; 8:30a-4:30p (one day only) – for any member or leader of any department

Click here for a flyer on these classes with registration information.

Summer EMT Course Announced

A Summer EMT Course will be held during May and June 2023 at the Wilton EMS Station #1. The course meets weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 8am until 5pm. This is an academy style class designed for people seeking employment at Saratoga County EMS agencies.  An interview will be conducted to determine your eligibility for the course.  Registration is open on the Council web site.  Click here for the course announcement.  To register for a class, go to the Training drop down on our home page or click here.  The EMS Council will run a longer duration (2 nights/week) evening EMT Course this fall.

Peer Support Team Launches November 1

The Saratoga County EMS Council, in collaboration with the Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, is pleased to launch the Saratoga County Peer Support Team (SCPST) on November 1, 2022.

The newly organized team combines resources from multiple agency Peer Support Teams with clinical expertise from Saratoga County.  The unique experiences, training, education, and culture of emergency services personnel requires specialized resources.  Dr. Michael Prezioso, Commissioner, Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry/Albany Medical College will lead the SCPST startup.

The PST will offer agency members individual offsite meetings with a peer support team member for a “check-in and check-up” on issues of concern, with opportunity for referral to formal counseling services if needed.   Members may self-refer or be referred by agency leaders.  Meetings are confidential and information will not be shared without express permission.  The PST will maintain some de-identified data, to document accomplishments of the program.

In addition to Peer Support, the SCPST offers consultation to agencies regarding mental health and addiction, case consultation in circumstances involving repeated contact with mentally ill persons in the community and education regarding topics in mental health and addiction.

Finally, for critical incidents affecting members of agencies, the PST is available to meet with members and agency leaders for group activities targeted at protecting the resilience of each responder involved.  Initially, the team can be accessed through County EMS Coordinators with the eventual plan to provide access through Communications.