To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: CA OES Grant Award LI2023-009
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to accept grant funding, and execute associated documents, from the State of California Legislative Pass-through for Firefighter Peer Support and Crisis Referral Pilot Programs. (100% State)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District will receive $2,500,000 in State funds. There is no local agency cost-sharing requirement. The grant award has a performance period of July 1, 2023 through March 1, 2027.
BACKGROUND:
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is the pass-through agency for the State of California’s legislative earmark from California Assembly Member Timothy Grayson (CA-15).
The earmark will provide funding to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to initiate and operate programs geared toward the mental health of firefighters. Contra Costa County firefighters routinely respond to critical incidents, exposing members to traumatic events due to the nature of our unique and challenging profession. Firefighters witness traumatic events that include severe injuries, fatalities, and property destruction. The nature of firefighting involves working in high-stress environments and requires time-sensitive decision-making in unpredictable situations. The build-up of traumatic events can lead to cumulative stress which can manifest as unhealthy responses and behaviors.
This seed money for mental health programs is designed to provide our members with the tools and pathways to improve mental health resiliency and build upon healthy lifestyles. The preliminary programs identified include peer support to foster a supportive culture in the organization, access to mental health clinicians regularly, targeted and specific mental health counseling, preventative mental health training, diet and exercise training, and therapy dogs.
The desired outcome of implementing these programs is to increase mental health resiliency in firefighters. This leads to long-term career sustainability as firefighters are more likely to have long and healthy careers, reduced turnover, and enhanced job satisfaction, providing the District with retention of experienced personnel.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the Fire District will lose the opportunity to make use of considerable grant funds to initiate these critical mental health resiliency programs for our firefighters. Alternative funding sources have not been identified.