CCH FY 2024 rural EMS training grant - the purpose of the CCH FY 2024 rural EMS training project is to address ongoing barriers to the sustainability of CCH EMS services and improve mental health (MH)…

CCH FY 2024 rural EMS training grant - the purpose of the CCH FY 2024 rural EMS training project is to address ongoing barriers to the sustainability of CCH EMS services and improve mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) services for people in the service area. Through the project, CCH EMS will increase the number of qualified EMS providers in the region by providing scholarships for EMT basic courses. They will increase MH and SUD training and provide continuing education for both CCH and external EMS providers to assist them in meeting their licensure and certification requirements. They will facilitate collaboration between CCH EMS staff and community partners in caring for individuals who have undergone opioid overdose reversals or who are experiencing an MH or SUD crisis. In addition, CCH will use grant funds to purchase and implement emergency rescue equipment to help ensure high-quality EMS services are available for the care of the population of focus throughout the service area. The geographic area for the CCH EMS training project includes campbell, sheridan, and weston counties in NE wyoming, and 200 square miles of custer county in SW south dakota. The population of focus for the project is individuals across the lifespan in the service area, from all the demographics outlined below, who need emergency medical services care. The combined total population of the counties included in the service area is 95,020 people. The demographics of the combined population are outlined below: male 51.8% female 48.2% white, not hispanic 93.6% hispanic latino 6.2% american indian and alaska native 2.2% asian 1.0% black 0.8% pacific islander 0.1% multiracial 2.3% persons in poverty 9.7% per capita income $40,062.25 veterans 7.6% disabled persons under 65 years of age 8.8% no health insurance 15.0% persons under 18 years of age 19.8% persons 65 and over 23.2% 3.3% of the people living in wyoming (at large) and 3% of the people living in south dakota (at large) identify as lesbian, GAY, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). 0.48% of the people living in wyoming (at large) and 0.44% of the people living in south dakota (at large) specifically identify as transgender. Like rural populations across the nation, residents in the service area experience health disparities such as lack of access to healthcare, lack of access to mental healthcare, distance from resources, lack of access to substance abuse treatment and prevention, stigma about MH and SUD, and limited transportation options. EMS service acts as a healthcare safety net for people in the US, and even more so for people in rural areas. With funding from the FY 20242 rural EMS training grant, CCH EMS intends to train 220 EMS providers in the region through their emsu educational conference; continuing education offerings for their EMS staff; increased MH and SUD-specific training for both internal and external EMS providers; and their EMT basic course. In addition, they will purchase technologically advanced training tools and resources to improve the training they can provide to EMS providers and a quick response vehicle (QRV) to enhance 911 emergency response in the service area.