Project Grant H79TI087146

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded a $799,756 Project Grant under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance (CFDA 93.243) program to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The grant will support the Virginia Rural EMS Training Collaborative, a partnership between VCU's Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, rural emergency medical services (EMS), and local sexual and domestic violence agencies across Virginia. The project aims to train 30 volunteer pre-hospital providers in rural areas on an advanced EMT curriculum with a specialized focus on mental health, substance abuse, domestic/intimate partner violence, and sexual assault injuries. This will provide critical EMS training and expertise in underserved rural communities that rely on volunteer providers and lack funding for advanced training. The project will also establish partnerships between rural EMS agencies and local service providers to ensure appropriate follow-up care for patients. The grant period is from September 30, 2024 to September 29, 2026.