Ness REMS Training Program - Project Name: Ness Rural Emergency Medical Services (REMS) Training Program. Population(s) to be Served: Ness Healthcare NFP plans to implement training for EMS and other first responders across Louisiana with a priority focus of responders actively serving in the following rural parishes of Louisiana Public Health Region 9: Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington. Strategies/Interventions: Ness Healthcare NFP’s REMS Training Program has been providing education and training to EMS, Fire, and First Responders since grant inception September 2022 to present. During this time, the Ness training team has developed Evidenced-Based training courses on mental health; addiction; crisis resources, linkage and referral to treatment resources; crisis de-escalation and suicide risk assessment; motivational interviewing; training that qualify EMS to serve in an EMS agency; and Narcan Training and distribution. Ness’s courses bolster the competencies and effectiveness of EMS and other first responders and meet the requirements for licensing and certifications. This training will also increase the number of individuals qualified to work in mobile crisis teams across the catchment area. Partners include All Deserve Advocacy, Prevention & Treatment (ADAPT, Inc.), City of Hammond Police Department AND Training Center, Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered EMT’S (LANREMT), Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance (LRAA), Louisiana Bureau of EMS, New Orleans River Region (NORR), and St. Tammany Fire Protection District NO 1, AND Training Center. The training has been approved by the LDH Bureau of EMS and qualified for Continuing Education for certification. The Ness training team developed a “Crisis Resources” training, approved for CEU’s by the LDH EMS Bureau which provides 1.5 hours of resources training to Responders, and community members on the new State of Louisiana Crisis Response System, SAMHSA’s Transfer Technology Centers and the 988 Suicide Prevention Crisis Line. This training specifically educates responders on how to describe the new system and 4 levels of care, how to connect with crisis providers per catchment areas of the state, link and refer individuals and families encountered at the first intercept point of contact which is oftentimes by EMS and Fire. The training goals are measured by pre- and post-test demonstrating an increase in knowledge of crisis resources and how to access, link and refer. Training Participant surveys demonstrate an increase in knowledge about mental health awareness, identifying substance misuse, resources and the role empathy plays in getting people the help they so desperately need. Follow-up surveys will track metrics related to securing licensure and certifications. Project Goals and Measurable Objectives: Ness Healthcare NFP aims to recruit and train EMS/first responders in 1) identification of MH/SUD crisis in the field; 2) de-escalation and stabilization techniques; ; 3) Naloxone Training, distribution and protocol development, 4) Develop Processes for data sharing information across multiple agencies and regions; 3) linking with mobile crisis teams; 4) increasing competencies of a small cohort of individuals who could serve as leads on MH/SUD encounters with an overall goal of reducing the intensity of interactions and getting the individuals the most appropriate level of treatment. The Unduplicated Number of People to be Served Annually and Throughout the Lifetime of the Project: 500 annually and 1,000 throughout the grant period.
