The Rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides funds to rural EMS agencies to recruit and train personnel, with an emphasis on handling substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions (COD). The program specifically focuses on trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care in emergency settings, intending to strengthen the capacity of EMS personnel to address the unique needs of rural residents. Grant recipients are expected to train EMS personnel to handle SUD and COD emergencies effectively and to maintain the necessary certifications and licenses required for EMS work.

Funding for the Rural EMS Training grant in FY 2024 and FY 2025 is up to $10.4 million per year, with approximately 52 awards of up to $200,000 each. The project period spans two years, with anticipated start dates on September 30 for each fiscal year, depending on SAMHSA’s appropriations. Cost sharing or matching funds are required, with recipients needing to cover at least 10% of the award amount through non-federal funds. Eligible applicants include rural EMS agencies operated by local or tribal governments and nonprofit EMS organizations, who must serve populations in rural areas as defined by nonmetropolitan regions or rural census tracts.

Applicants must submit a project narrative (not exceeding 10 pages) that addresses key criteria, including a description of the population served, gaps in services, and specific training needs. Required activities for awardees include training on SUD and COD, use of naloxone for opioid overdoses, engaging with peer-support specialists for overdose cases, and reporting overdose data to local public health departments. EMS personnel will also be trained in motivational interviewing techniques, which help individuals connect to treatment and support services. Additionally, grant recipients may use funds to acquire medical equipment, enhance data sharing with public health entities, and conduct training to support state or federal licensing requirements.

To meet SAMHSA’s reporting requirements, grantees will submit performance data at six months, twelve months, and at the end of the two-year project. These reports must outline the number of EMS staff trained, certifications achieved, naloxone kits distributed, and other key outcomes related to overdose interventions and referrals to treatment. SAMHSA may require additional data collection to assess program impact on behavioral health disparities and report progress toward goals in the Disparity Impact Statement (DIS), which outlines targeted measures to reduce disparities in behavioral health access and outcomes.

SAMHSA expects applicants to integrate high-quality, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed practices into their program models, fostering a system of care that emphasizes safety, cultural sensitivity, peer support, and community engagement. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to consider the behavioral health needs of underserved populations, including tribal communities, military service members, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Adopting a tobacco and nicotine-free policy within recipient facilities is also encouraged.

Applications must be submitted by March 20, 2024, for FY 2024 funding and by the same date in 2025 for FY 2025 funding. All applicants are required to register with NIH’s eRA Commons, Grants.gov, and SAM.gov to complete the application process, which could take up to six weeks. Recipients will be required to attend SAMHSA virtual meetings and comply with all reporting requirements. Final funding decisions will be based on peer review scores, SAMHSA’s strategic priorities, and organizational integrity and qualifications as assessed by SAMHSA.