The Morning Journal
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced March 15 that an additional $20 million will be dedicated to supporting the recruitment and wellness needs of Ohio’s first responders, including in Lorain, Erie, Cuyahoga and Huron counties.
The announcement brings the total amount of funding for the Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program to $95 million, according to a news release.
DeWine created the program in May 2022 to support the wellness needs of law enforcement officers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), the release said.
“When it comes to public safety, we don’t want our police officers, firefighters, and medics to be overworked and exhausted when they’re responding to emergencies,” said Governor DeWine. “Through this program, we’re not only helping local first responders get support for their mental wellbeing, but we’re also helping to ease the workload on current staff by funding new hires.”
Out of the $95 million, a total of $61 million has been awarded to 237 first responder agencies to date. This total includes $11.9 million for 29 agencies announced today as part of the grant program’s sixth round. Grant awards for the remaining $34 million will be announced in the coming months.
Lorain County
- Amherst Police Department will receive $84,749 for behavioral health evaluations, mindfulness, dietary and wellness programs and a mobile wellness app.
- Avon Lake Police Department will receive $420,505 to hire two full time patrol officers for two years.
- Elyria Police Department will receive $49,000 for a contract with a doctor to provide wellness training and counseling for personnel.
- Lorain County Sheriff’s Office will receive $36,000 for four one-hour sessions with a psychologist for wellness checks for each deputy.
- Sheffield Lake police and fire departments will receive $18,487 to purchase a mobile wellness app.
- Sheffield Village Police Department will receive $19,500 to provide access to an online wellness app and online wellness courses.
Cuyahoga County
- Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office will receive $190,963 to create a wellness office to provide peer support to division personnel, offer critical incident stress training and contract with a licensed clinical counselor to provide guidance to the peer support team.
- Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System will receive $5,478 for online peer support, stress and resiliency courses and peer support certification.
- North Olmsted police and fire departments will receive $259,700 for a customized wellness education program and a part-time wellness coordinator.
- Olmsted Township Fire Department will receive $18,095 for peer support and critical incident stress training for one person to become in-house trainer and overtime/backfill for staff person attending training.
- Rocky River Fire Department will receive $65,756 for annual physical and wellness evaluations with one follow-up visit, peer support training for three staff and overtime/backfill for staff attending training.
Erie County
- Sandusky Fire Department will receive $11,063 for annual mental health evaluations.
- Sandusky Fire Department will receive $506,594 to hire two and a half full time firefighters/paramedics for two years.
Huron County
- Huron County Sheriff’s Office will receive $63,172 to hire a wellness coordinator, offer trauma counseling and provide access to an online app for confidential wellness support.
- Monroeville Police Department will receive $7,322 for annual clinician visits for all first responders and a mobile wellness app.
- Willard Fire and Rescue Department will receive $39,144 for annual wellness reviews with a clinician for all first responders, three visits for crisis trauma counseling and a mobile wellness app.
- Willard Police Department will receive $24,712 for annual wellness checks for first responders, crisis trauma counseling, a wellness app and to hire a wellness coordinator for five hours per week.
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