The Riverside Fire Authority in Centralia is among nine fire departments from across Washington state that have been selected to receive grants to start or expand a co-response program and more effectively serve residents experiencing a behavioral health crisis, according to a news release from the Co-Response Outreach Alliance (CROA).
The Riverside Fire Authority is the only department to receive funding in an area that doesn’t currently have a co-response program. The grant is for $350,000.
“A recent change to state law allows public fire protection agencies to engage in medical care outside of a 911 emergency call for service,” Riverside Fire Authority Lt. Jason Shepherd said in a statement to The Chronicle. “After performing a community health needs and services assessment, we have identified focus areas where we can reduce use of our emergency services by providing alternative resources, education and assistance. These focus areas include reducing frequent repeat 911 utilization, reducing deaths and overdose from opioid use, diverting behavioral health emergencies to local behavioral health treatment resources, and reducing morbidity and mortality from falls through fall risk assessments. By reducing the frequency of emergency 911 responses to these focus areas we will be able to improve the overall health of the community and to keep our emergency responders available to respond to emergencies of all kinds.”
CROA, in collaboration with the University of Washington School of Social Work, announced the availability of $2.8 million in grant opportunities in February 2024.
“The purpose of this funding is to encourage the development of fire-based co-response programs within the emergency response system and bring together critical, multi-disciplinary approaches to address complex medical and behavioral health needs in the field,” the news release stated. “The grant also aims to spur innovation in key areas to strengthen Washington’s crisis care continuum and will pilot high-quality training for firefighters and EMS personnel who currently lack a systemic approach in working with individuals experiencing behavioral health needs.”
Grant recipients in each of the innovation strategy areas are grouped into cohorts, facilitating opportunities to partner, collaborate and share best practices, according to the release.
The Tacoma Fire Department, Kitsap CARES and the Clark- Cowlitz Fire Department will receive grants for becoming a behavioral health agency and billing for co-response services.
The South County, Port Angeles, Walla Walla and Spokane fire departments will receive grants to administer medications for opioid use disorder in the field.
Clark-Cowlitz and North Mason fire departments will get grants to align with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or develop a crisis response team.
Co-response programs are embedded within the emergency response system in some cities and counties where emergency personnel respond alongside behavioral health or other health care professionals to calls involving a person experiencing behavioral health issues and complex medical needs.
“It is estimated that over 20% of all 911 calls are related to mental health and substance use issues,” CROA stated in the news release. “Additionally, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, only 4% of all reported fire department runs are fire related while the remainder are calls involving health and behavioral health issues. Behavioral health professionals, embedded in first responder agencies, bring critical assessment and communication skills to crisis situations that can de-escalate volatile events and connect clients to needed services and support.”
For more information, visit www.croawa.com .
Most Popular
Comments / 0