Proviso 62.23 funding for 2018 has been received

January 29, 2018

We are pleased to announce that Proviso 62.23 funding for 2018 has been received. Our Association efforts to prevent, train and financially help our members with "PTSD" continues to grow FAST Team members and the Association extend our thanks to the General Assembly for one again entrusting us with the lives and care of South Carolina's First Responders. The funding provided last year trained over 1,124 First Responders in Behavioral Health Awareness; a basic awareness level program for the normal responses to the traumatic events to which we respond to and how to process and deal with those calls. ​FAST ​trained 100 additional Emergency Responders to be peer team members​. A peer is an Emergency Responder who volunteers to be trained to work within their department, in their region, or around the state - helping to deal with the aftermath of responding to traumatic events. While being trained mostly to listen, they are also trained to recognize signs of needing clinical care. FAST and the Association has chosen, under the direction of the General Assembly, to purchase an insurance policy to cover the out of pocket expenses for clinical care. ​Our ​peers reported 3,811 contacts with those responders seeking help and 107 claims were submitted from those responders seeking clinical care. FAST members look forward to once again being good stewards of the funding provided. Members look forward to continue reaching responders around the state and educating them on Emotional and Behavioral Wellness and are working on fresh programs to further the education of Emergency Responders in these areas. As an Emergency Responder myself and being the daughter of a 40 year veteran Firefighter/EMT, having several members of my family in Law Enforcement and EMS, I want to thank the General Assembly personally for providing a way to take care of the emotional and behavioral health so important for us to continue to serve our communities. Patti Graham FAST Team Coordinator

https://scfirefighters.org/fast/