SUBJECT:
Title
ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDING; ADOPT RESOLUTION; AND REQUEST TO ISSUE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CORPS PROGRAM (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On July 18, 2023 (1), the Board of Supervisors authorized San Diego County Fire (County Fire) to apply for grant funds to promote fire protection and emergency medical services to residents in our region. County Fire, which includes the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office, has the responsibility for promoting a local EMS system that meets the needs of all residents. The EMS Office is responsible for the certification of all local Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and the accreditation of paramedics. This includes certifying local EMT and paramedic training academies that ensure local fire agencies and private ambulance transportation providers have the workforce available to serve residents.
Today’s actions include approval to accept grant funds of up to $1,500,000 for the period of August 30, 2024 through January 31, 2027, from the state Employment Development Department (EDD) to plan and implement an EMS Corps program in San Diego County; adopt a resolution; authorize the Director of Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to issue competitive solicitations for the development and implementation of an EMS Corps program in San Diego County: direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the Children’s Initiative, and other entities to ensure there is sustainable funding after the grant period ends.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Adopt a resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RELATING TO THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYPMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CORPS PROGRAM GRANT.
2. Authorize County Fire to accept up to $1,500,000 in grant funds from the California Employment Development Department for the period of August 30, 2024 through January 31, 2027, to plan and implement an EMS Corps program in San Diego County and authorize the Director of San Diego County Fire, or designee, to execute all grant documents and agreements, including any annual extensions, amendments and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter services or funding levels.
3. In accordance with Section 401, Article XXIII of the County Administrative Code, authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to issue competitive solicitations for the development and implementation of an EMS Corps program in San Diego County, and upon successful negotiation and determination of fair and reasonable price, award contracts for an initial term of one (1) year with up to four (4) one-year options and an additional (6) six months if needed, subject to the availability of funds and a need for the services, and to amend the contracts as needed to reflect the changes to services and funding, subject to approval of the Director of San Diego County Fire.
4. Authorize the amendment of existing contracts, if needed, for the purpose of the EMS Corps program.
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the Children’s Initiative, and other appropriate entities to identify funding sources to sustain the EMS Corps program once the California Employment Development Department grant period ends.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The EMS Corps program is focused on providing training opportunities for transitional age youth from historically underserved communities. This includes focusing outreach to young people who are or have been impacted by the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Included in the EMS Corps grant funding is a planning phase, which will include community leaders, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training programs, the County’s Child and Family Well-Being Department, the County Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office. The group will focus on geographic communities that are most underrepresented in the EMS workforce, to ensure the final program reduces barriers to entry and increases success for transitional age youth interested in full-time employment within Emergency Medical Services and healthcare systems.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to establish an EMS Corps program in San Diego County supports just and equitable access to County services, and resource allocation in underserved communities. EMS Corps is focused on transitional age youth who are, or have been, involved in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. In addition, the program seeks to promote an Emergency Medical Services workforce that reflects the population being served.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, one-time costs and revenue of $181,820 for today’s proposed actions are included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operational Plan for San Diego County Fire (County Fire). Additional costs and revenue, estimated at $1,318,180, will be included in future years Operational Plans for County Fire. The funding source is a grant from the California Employment Development Department. There are no match requirements for this grant. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
San Diego County Fire (County Fire) includes oversight of the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD), as well as the administrative oversight of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office. SDCFPD, through their cooperative fire protection partner CAL FIRE, staffs 22 fire stations with around-the-clock paramedic-level first responder and ambulance service throughout the District’s Ambulance Service Area (ASA). The County EMS Office also serves as the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA), as designated by Board Policy K-12. The LEMSA provides regional leadership and regulatory oversight to ensure the EMS Delivery System in our entire region provides safe, effective, and equitable outcomes to all residents. The EMS Office also provides credentialing services for all applicable EMS workers in San Diego County, as well as review and approvals of all EMS Training Programs.
The EMS workforce continues to experience strain and burnout after the COVID-19 pandemic, including disruptions for EMS educational providers, an increasing demand for 9-1-1 services, along with many workers leaving the EMS field for other careers. In addition, there remain significant barriers for young people interested in entering the EMS workforce. For example, prerequisite training requirements, purchasing supplies and equipment, and a full-time commitment to education, are all factors that can be challenging for young people who also work and support families while completing coursework and clinical ride-along hours.
EMS Corps Grant
On July 18, 2023 (1), the Board of Supervisors authorized San Diego County Fire (County Fire) to apply for grant funds to promote fire protection and emergency medical services to residents in our region. In 2008, Public Works Alliance (PWA), a non-profit organization, and the County of Alameda established an EMS Corps program to provide EMT job training for transitional age youth from traditionally underserved communities, including many who have been impacted by child welfare services and/or the juvenile justice system. Transitional age youth in the context of this program is defined as young people between the ages of 18-26, some of whom may experience challenges on their path to adulthood. EMS Corps programs have proven to be extremely successful in assisting enrolled students in completing EMT training and becoming employed in a full-time capacity with emergency medical service providers, or other vocations in healthcare. EMS Corps students also pass the EMT exam at a higher rate than other students in California and the nation. For these reasons, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced last year nearly $7.9 million in grant funding to PWA for expanding EMS Corps to 10 counties in California.
On December 27, 2023, County Fire submitted a grant application to PWA to bring EMS Corps to San Diego County. On February 14, 2024, County Fire was officially notified that San Diego County’s application was approved and full funding would be available in fiscal year 2024-25. Initial funding of $181,820 is to convene local stakeholders and develop an implementation plan for the San Diego region. Once that is created and submitted to PWA for approval, the State will authorize an estimated $1.3 million over two years, to support three cohorts of 20 students, who while enrolled in the program, will receive a monthly stipend to offset lost wages and receive job training and wraparound services.
Local Implementation
County Fire has begun working on implementing the EMS Corps program in our region with the first student cohort planned to begin in early 2025. Staff is working with departments in the Public Safety Group and Health and Human Services Agency as well as the Children’s Initiative to identify which regions in the County have the greatest needs to support young people with job training opportunities. If the Board approves today’s request, County Fire will engage with local EMT training programs to gauge interest and develop a Request for Proposal to support the wraparound services identified in the EMS Corps grant documents. County Fire will include the San Diego Workforce Partnership in the planning and implementation phases of the program.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions supports both the Empower and Equity Initiatives of the County of San Diego’s (County) 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, by investing in our local workforce and dismantling barriers to expanding opportunities in traditionally underserved communities.
Respectfully submitted,
EBONY N. SHELTON
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A -A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO RELATING TO THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYPMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CORPS PROGRAM GRANT.