Emergency Medical Services Recruiting and Training Grant - Project Abstract
Project Title: EMS Recruiting and Training Grant
Clarinda Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Dr, Clarinda, IA 51632
Project Director: Sarah Solt
Contact Phone Number: 712-542-8208
Email Address: ssolt@clarindahealth.com
clarindahealth.com
The purpose of this project is to recruit and train Emergency Medical Services staff to care for residents of Southwest Iowa in emergency situations with a special focus on treating patients that may be experiencing issues with mental health or substance abuse. The project will allow approximately 125 individuals to be trained to properly respond to mental health and substance abuse calls by providing a curriculum of on-line and in-person training designed to enhance skills. The performance period is from August 31, 2022, through August 30, 2023.
The goals of the project are:
1. Recruit 50 additional EMS staff in Southwest Iowa by August 2023.
2. Establish a training program by EOY 2022 for EMS staff to earn licenses and certifications.
3. Increase knowledge of EMS providers in topics related to substance abuse and mental health issues in all three focus area counties at year one.
4. Decrease youth substance use by implementing evidence-based programs in the school districts to identify activities that may lead to initiation of use.
The objectives include:
--The Project Director attending job fairs, EMS conferences, and visiting high schools and colleges to recruit EMS candidates. As well as actively advertising positions available on online platforms.
--Train EMS staff on skills tests utilizing new training equipment and provide an in-person conference locally that will count towards certifications. Classes will be offered that have a focus on mental health and substance abuse. Many organizations in the focus area will take part in the training including school staff so harmful activities can be recognized.
The target population that will benefit from this implementation of this project is 31,437 residents of Page, Taylor, and Montgomery Counties in Southwest Iowa. These are underserved, primarily white rural residents of all ages with higher-than-average number of people living in poverty, elderly, and veterans. These circumstances put the population of Southwest Iowa at a greater risk for mental health and substance abuse issues as evidenced by the documented higher-than-state-average percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with depression and adults with frequent mental distress.
A target population needs assessment was completed in 2019 and identified concerns of poverty, lack of mental health treatment, lack of affordable housing, abuse of opioids, lack of awareness of health resources, and smoking/vaping. The number one and number two health priorities identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment were Mental Health (Diagnosis/Treatment/Aftercare) and Drug Abuse (Opioid/Meth) respectively.
