Eastern Huron Ambulance Service

Misiren (michigan Supporting and Improving Rural Ems Needs) - the Michigan Supporting and Improving Rural Ems Needs (misiren) Project Will Provide Training for First Responders in Rural Designated Counties of Michigan. the Proposed Project Covers 53 Rural Counties With a Population of Over 1.9 Million. the Applicant and Partner Organization Have Extensive Experience Recruiting and Training Ems Personnel. Eastern Huron Ambulance Service (EHAS) Has Worked Collaboratively on Previous Grant-funded Projects and Regional Task Forces to Strengthen the Ems Workforce Through Recruitment, Retention, and Training Programs. Michigan Rural Ems Network (MIREMS) Has Worked Extensively Throughout the State of Michigan to Support Ems Professionals and First Responder Agencies. Ehas, Partnered With Mirems, Has Received Four Previous Samhsa-funded Ems Training Grant Awards in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Since 2020 Michigan's Rural Ems Agencies Have Been Overwhelmed With Personnel Shortages and Additional Burdens on the System Due to COVID-19. a Marked Increase in the Cost of Living Has Resulted in It Being Even More Difficult for Individuals to Afford the Cost of Initial Ems Education And/or Continuing Education. This Funding Will Enable Us to Make a Significant Impact on Addressing the Needs of Struggling Ems Agencies and Professionals in Rural Michigan by Expanding Our Reach to Provide This Critical Training While Expanding Our Focus and the Role of Ems on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Issues. the Michigan Supporting and Improving Rural Ems Needs (misiren) Project Will Provide Training for First Responders in Rural Designated Counties of Michigan's Northern Region of the Lower Peninsula, the Eastern Region Commonly Referred to as the Thumb , and the Upper Peninsula. in 2022 the Michigan Rural Ems Network (mirems), With the Northern Michigan Fire Chiefs Association, Completed a First Responder Needs Assessment (frna). the Frna Was Funded by Grants From Fema and the Office of Rural Health Policy for the Project Region. Our Proposed Project Covers 53 Rural Counties With a Total Population of Over 19.1 Million People (us. Census). All Counties to Be Served by the Project Are Nonmetropolitan Statistical Areas. There Are Significant Ems Service Gaps and Barriers in the Catchment Area. These Project Will Address the Following Challenges: Workforce Shortages: Using Ems Personnel Data From the State of Michigan to Identify Agencies at Risk of Having to Downgrade Their Level of Service From Als to BLS or Closing Their Agency Entirely, We Will Concentrate Our Efforts to Offer Initial MFR and Emt Education in Regions With the Most Need for New Recruits. We Will Also Identify and Prioritize Communities With Greatest Economic Need. These Communities May Not Have the Resources to Support Recruitment Programs and May Encounter Greater Challenges in Attracting New Recruits Due to the Need for Individuals to Have at Least One Existing Full-time Job to Make Ends Meet. This Creates Difficulty in Having the Time Available to Serve in a Volunteer Department. in Our Experience, Offering MFR (medical First Responder) Courses Develops an Effective Pipeline From Which to Recruit Students for Emt Classes. Training Gaps: Access to Initial Education, Such as MFR and Emt Courses, and Continuing Education Opportunities Results in Difficulties Attracting New Recruits to Ems and Maintaining Licensure. We Will Recruit 182 Participants for MFR and Emt Training, and 330 Ems Personnel Through Continuing Education Which Includes Education to Increase Competencies Regarding Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.