Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $30,928 Amending the State, Federal, and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for Peer Support Training Program (PSTP) FY17
Body
Department: Fire
Council District: All Districts
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Fire Chief Bobby Nugent, 336-373-2297
Contact 2 and Phone: Assistant Chief Dwayne Church, 336-574-4013
PURPOSE:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the Greensboro Fire Department an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for Peer Support Team training FY 17 totaling $30,928. The Greensboro Fire Department will have the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) perform training for 25 personnel for Peer Support training with the grant in November, 2018.
The grant will be approved by the Budget and Evaluation Director and City Manager in accordance with the City Grants Policy. In accordance with current City fiscal procedures to accept this grant, approval of a budget ordinance is also required by City Council.
BACKGROUND:
IAFF Peer Support Training Program (PSTP) is a two-day interactive course taught by experienced peers from the fire service and behavioral health clinicians. Although our department does not currently have a Peer Support Team to address the behavioral wellness of 570-plus firefighters, we have formed an administrative board of ten personnel from all ranks who have assembled a 25-member team selected by their peers. Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive; it is apparent that our members both want and need a program of this type and scope.
The benefits of having a Peer Support Program for a 570+-member department far exceed the reasonable costs. An investment in the health and well being of a company or organization can have dramatic and immediate impacts on all health-related costs including compensation claims, employee retention, productivity, and usage of sick time. This is especially true in the fire service given the unpredictability, complexity, severity, and duration of traumatic stress. The occupation of a first responder necessarily involves routinely interacting with people who are experiencing an emergency in varying degrees of severity; victims range from infants to the elderly, including those who are pregnant, drug-addicted, and psychologically disturbed.
BUDGET IMPACT:
This is a 90/10% match grant; with the City of Greensboro responsible for 10% share of the award. The funds will be taken from the Greensboro Fire Department Safety budget housed in account #101-4005-02. A total of $3,092 will be taken from our budget for our share of the award Expense reimbursement requests will be processed and dispersed to the partnering agencies (IAFF) upon receipt of funds by the City of Greensboro from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Chief of the Greensboro Fire Department requests City Council’s consideration to adopt the associated budget ordinance for the Appropriation of Federal Grant Funds for FY 17 Peer Support Training Program in the amount of $30,928.