By Leila Merrill
WASHINGTON — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will award grants of up to $200,000 each to support the recruitment and training of EMS clinicians in rural areas.
The grant program has a focus on addressing mental and substance use disorders, and the training efforts the grants fund can last up to a year.
“SAMHSA recognizes the great need for emergency services in rural areas and the critical role EMS personnel serve across the country,” an agency statement reads.
The total dollar amount of anticipated available funding is $5,400,000 and SAMHSA expects to award 27 grants.
Rural EMS agencies operated by local or tribal governments and nonprofit EMS agencies are eligible. Fire department-based agencies that meet those criteria also are eligible.
Applicants must comply with Executive Order 12372 if their state participates, and the review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact will be due no later than 60 days after the application deadline.
Applicants also must send a Public Health System Impact Statement to the appropriate state and local health agencies by the application deadline.
The deadline to apply to the Rural EMS Training Grant program is Feb. 14.
Application materials and other information are available here.