This week’s edition of the Office of Recovery Newsletter features information about the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grants (KFRSG) offered through the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). This program offers $1.2M in grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for safety gear, equipment and medical physicals for volunteer and part-time firefighters.
Also highlighted is information on the launch of 9-8-8 as the official 24/7 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Kansas. The new 9-8-8 lifeline will connect Kansans to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and offer a broader range of services for people experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis. The initial implementation of this program, including hiring employees, providing training, and installing technical support and software was funded in portion by ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF).
For the latest Treasury updates and information about resources available to Kansans, see the “Updates to Services and Support” section of this newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Office of Recovery website at: COVID.ks.gov
Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Funding is Available
The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is providing no-match grants to volunteer/part-time fire departments across the state for personal protection equipment (PPE) through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant (KFRSG). This year, $1.2 million in State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF) dollars were made available to OSFM for this grant through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Along with $100,000 provided through OSFM, the 2023 KFRSG will have a total of $1.3 million to disburse by June 30, 2023. The SFRF funding for this program was appropriated by the Kansas State Legislature through the budget process during the 2022 legislative session.
Grants issued through the KFRSG program will cover the costs of safety gear for volunteer and part-time firefighters. Funding will also be available for other expenses such as junior firefighter programs and physicals for firefighters not covered by the individual's insurance or reimbursed by their department.
To be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must be:
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an established and recognized Kansas volunteer/part-time fire department;
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in good standing with OSFM on the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS);
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a participant in the Kansas Department of Emergency Management Comprehensive Resource Management & Credentialing System (CRMCS); and
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provide documentation of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov.
Complete submission requirements and applications are now available at: KFRSG Information. The deadline for submission to receive funds through the KFRSG is September 1, 2022.
Kansas Launches 24/7 9-8-8 Mental Health and Crisis Lifeline
This week, Governor Laura Kelly announced the launch of 9-8-8 in Kansas as the official 24/7 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Beginning Saturday, July 16, Kansans and all Americans can call 9-8-8 during mental health and substance abuse emergencies. ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) funded a portion of the initial implementation of the program which includes the hiring of workforce, training, technical support and software to provide in-state coverage of 9-8-8 crisis calls.
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) received the Lifeline’s 9-8-8 State Planning Grant through the nonprofit Vibrant Emotional Health in January of this year to develop plans to build the infrastructure for and grow access to the Lifeline’s new three-digit 9-8-8 number.
The new “9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline” will connect callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and offer a broader range of services for people experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use crisis. Callers will be connected to resources in their local community and to in-person crisis services where available. Kansans who dial 9-8-8 will be routed to a local crisis specialist trained to address unique concerns and needs, which may include assessment, stabilization, referral, and follow-up.
KDADS partnered with the Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ, Johnson County Mental Health, COMCARE of Sedgwick County, HealthSource Information Solutions, and TBD Solutions LLC, to develop clear roadmaps to address coordination, capacity, funding, and communications surrounding the launch of 9-8-8 and collaborated with state leadership, suicide prevention experts, people with lived experience, and others to create a 9-8-8 implementation plan and support the Lifeline’s operational, clinical, and performance standards that allow access to care.
Individuals will still be able to access the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) after the July 16 implementation of 9-8-8. The current Lifeline and 9-8-8 will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via call, text, or chat. All phone service providers are required to connect callers who dial 9-8-8 to the Lifeline.
Lunch and Learn Q&A Session
Join us on Wednesday, July 20, at 11 a.m. for an opportunity to ask the Office of Recovery questions about best practices, guidance from Treasury, upcoming deadlines, and other topics. These Q&A sessions are also an opportunity for local governments to share what they are doing and learn from one another.
Treasury Resources
Recently, the US Department of Treasury released updated guidance that provide additional detail and clarification for each recipient’s compliance and reporting responsibilities. Recipients should refer to the following user guides for step-by-step guidance for submitting the required SLFRF report using Treasury’s Portal:
If you are unsure of which reports you are required to submit, Treasury has provided a list for recipients to identify their Reporting Tiers.
The Office of Recovery is always available to offer support to local governments regarding COVID-19 recovery funding. If you have any questions about reporting and compliance, acceptable uses of ARPA funding or general questions about ARPA programs you can reach out to the Office of Recovery using the CONTACT US link at covid.ks.gov.
Stay Informed on the SPARK Process
The four SPARK Advisory Panels (Connectivity, Economic Revitalization, Efficiency and Modernization, and Health and Education) spent several months assembling recommendations for the distribution of discretionary American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. All four Advisory Panels presented their investment recommendations to the SPARK Executive Committee during meetings on April 15 and April 18.
The Executive Committee will consider these panel recommendations before finalizing its own recommendations and presenting them to the State Finance Council, which has final authority on investment decisions. The committee has not yet met to finalize its recommendations. The Executive Committee’s next meeting will be available to livestream on the Kansas Legislature YouTube Page once scheduled.
All previous Advisory Panel meeting materials and recordings can be found on our website: Advisory Panels Materials. SPARK Executive Committee meeting recordings and materials, including the recommendation materials presented by the Advisory Panels, are available at: SPARK Materials.
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