Grants to USA nonprofit and governmental EMS agencies in rural regions for professional education courses and training. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take up to six weeks to complete. Funding is intended to support the recruitment and development of rural EMS personnel.

The purpose of this program is to recruit and train EMS personnel in rural areas with a particular focus on addressing mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA recognizes the great need for emergency services in rural areas and the critical role EMS personnel serve across the country.

This grant addresses the needs in rural communities. For the purposes of this announcement, Rural is defined as:

• A nonmetropolitan statistical area;
• An area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State; or
• A rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (Rural Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs): https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural-u rban-commutingarea-codes.aspx)

Required Activities:

• Train EMS personnel as appropriate to maintain licenses and certifications relevant to serve in an EMS agency;
• Conduct courses that qualify graduates to serve in an EMS agency;
• Fund specific training to meet federal or state licensing or certification requirement;
• Ensure EMS personnel are trained on mental and substance use disorders and care for people with such disorders in emergency situations. This training can be provided via SAMHSA’s Technology Transfer Centers;
• Acquire emergency medical services equipment (medical equipment purchase requires approval by SAMHSA); and
• Purchase of the opioid overdose antidote Naloxone and train EMS personnel on the use in emergency opioid overdose situations.

In these activities, EMS:

• Are resources used by a public or private nonprofit licensed entity to deliver medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of the condition of the patient; and
• Include services delivered (either on a compensated or volunteer basis) by an EMS provider or other provider that is licensed or certified by the State involved as an emergency medical technician, a paramedic, or an equivalent professional (as determined by the State).

 Allowable activities may include:

• Recruit and train EMS personnel, which may include volunteer personnel;
• Develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods;
• Acquire personal protective equipment for emergency medical services personnel as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
• Purchase, distribution, and training on the use of fentanyl test strips; and
• Provide or fund training for Motivational Interviewing.

Funds can be used to acquire emergency medical services equipment or personal protective equipment for medical services personnel required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, the primary purpose of this grant is to provide training.