 2019 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) - The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) is a grant program designed to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies. Eligible coverage includes any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (workers’ compensation, death, and/or disability insurance) purchased from Texas insurance companies. The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage up to a maximum of $175 per fire department member.
Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums. All eligible departments must participate in a firefighter certification program administered under Section 419.071 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Commission on Fire Protection), or by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas (SFFMA), or by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). TO APPLY, PLEASE COMPLETE AND SUBMIT BEFORE JULY 31, 2019: 1) Rural Volunteer Fire Department Application for Grant Assistance (Form TFS-FO-408) 2) Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (IRS Form W-9) 3) Roster of active fire department members. 4) Copy of a Payroll Classification Schedule Page 1 and 2, or a copy of the current paid insurance policy which provides insurance coverage during the calendar year 2018, or payment receipt for a workers’ compensation insurance policy, or death insurance policy, or disability insurance policy. IMPORTANT NOTES: • The policy or payment documents must show the policy number, the cost or premium amount and the coverage period. • All required reimbursement documents must accompany the 2019 grant application form. • Applications, either complete or incomplete, arriving after July 31, 2019 are not eligible for reimbursement. • ONLY ONE application per department will be reimbursed for the enrollment period of November 2018 thru July 31, 2019. All forms can be found at texasfd.com/RuralVFDInsuranceProgram or by contacting the Capacity Building Department. SUBMIT VIA FAX, EMAIL OR MAIL FAX TO: Texas A&M Forest Service 200 Technology Way, Suite 1162 College Station, Texas 77845-3424 P: 979-458-6505 F: 979-845-6160 Email: ffins@tfs.tamu.edu Website: TexasFD.com
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Yesterday, VFIS of Texas along with Texas Mutual Insurance Company & the American Heart Association, we honored first responders while commemorating 9/11. Our employees/owners delivered care packages to local firefighters and emergency medical responders to show our appreciation for everything they do keep our communities safe. Departments we visited included Travis County ESD #1, Travis County ESD #12, Travis County ESD #3- Oak Hill EMT Academy, Travis County ESD #5 - Manchaca Fire Rescue, Travis County ESD #10, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, San Marcos Hays County EMS, Hutto Fire Rescue, Williamson County EMS, Westlake Fire Department, & Wimberley EMS.
From insurance, training, and wellness grants to assisting in the development of future first responders, we're committed to supporting those that keep our communities safe. Thanks to all first responders for helping build a stronger, safer Texas. More Photos: https://www.facebook.com/VFISofTX/posts/1895759773850377  Photo courtesy of Pearsall VFD 2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds Grant application deadline is December 31, 2018.
Who is eligible:
What is eligible:
How it works:
**THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2018.** DOWNLOAD GRANT APPLICATION HERE How to Apply: Mail to: VFIS of Texas 3420 Executive Center Dr, #301 Austin, TX 78731 Fax to: 512-448-9929 E-mail to: vfisoftexas@vfistx.com  Tanglewood VFD firefighters (Before & After training equipment earned through Health & Wellness grant) VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are pleased to once again sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage participation in a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds.
Grant applications will open on July 1. You can find more info on our grants at www.vfistx.com/grant-information.  Texas Mutual is proud to announce that their board of directors has approved a $280 million dividend distribution! This year's record-breaking payout brings the total distribution to $2.5 billion. In 1999, Texas Mutual paid their first dividend and this year marks the 20th year of the program. They are proud to continue this tradition.
Dividends will be mailed to over 50,000 qualifying policyholder owners, including many VFIS of Texas Workers Comp policyholders, beginning in late June. If your department doesn't have Workers Comp, but are interested in a Quote, please contact us at vfisoftexas@vfistx.com or (800) 252-9435. To read Texas Mutual's full press release, please click the link below. READ MORE Through an AFG FP&S grant, FIRST is now administering the FOCUS survey on a first-come, first-served basis to 500 fire departments -- career and volunteer – a $10,000 to $15,000 value at NO COST. Get the new tool to FOCUS your department on a safer culture The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) and the Center for Firefighter Injury Research & Safety Trends (FIRST) at Drexel University have partnered to help you FOCUS on your safety culture. FOCUS- the Fire Service Organizational Culture of Safety survey- was developed through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant R&D Program specifically for the fire service and is a tool that will provide your fire department with objective data to assess your safety culture. A validation study showed for every 10-point increase in FOCUS score, there is on average a...
 “...In my heart I believe that we promote a safe culture…, but it was gratifying to see that others in our organization believe this to be true also…I like the fact that I can now put actual numbers to what has previously been a ‘gut feeling’.” – Fire Chief “We are very appreciative for the insight, and the data gives me a goal to shoot for and a way to measure it. Some of the info I had a gut feeling about, but others were completely a surprise.” – Fire Chief Now through an AFG FP&S grant, FIRST is administering the FOCUS survey on a first-come, first-served basis to 500 fire departments -- career and volunteer – at no cost. Interested in administering FOCUS?
Fill out this WORKSHEET (you’ll need to enter the data online, so doing it before will save you time) Filled out the Worksheet? Submit your information online HERE PLEASE NOTE: Only one entry per fire department will be accepted (i.e. Chief, Commissioner, Safety Officer). In addition, FIRST strongly encourages departments to involve their IAFF Local in FOCUS Assessment, if applicable. Need additional information about FOCUS & what’s involved in assessment? CLICK HERE After administering the FOCUS survey your fire department will receive:
“This training takes you into the world of data and science. Learning to understand data and science allows departments to go deeper into the world of safety. In time this will allow facts to be the rule in place of opinion or theory.” – FOCUS Culture Camp Participant “I believe the part where we broke down the data for our organization was the most enjoyable. It helped me understand more about my organization and what I must do when I return home to prepare our people for the future of improving our safety culture. It showed me that the people are the ones that create the safety culture in any organization.”– FOCUS Culture Camp Participant Please direct any questions to either of the following FIRST Team members: Andrea Davis Senior Project Manager aly25@drexel.edu, 267-359-6059 Lauren Shepler Outreach & Communications Manager ljs326@drexel.edu, 336-309-1411 The FIRST Center website: www.drexel.edu/dornsife/FIRST FDSOA’s Website: https://www.fdsoa.org/  Having a claim on one of your insured vehicles can be frustrating. However, what can be even more frustrating is when you discover unsatisfied repairs on your vehicle after you get it back from the shop and after VFIS has already paid out a claim to you. This can be incredibly disheartening when you have to send your vehicle back to the manufacturer for repair, which could end up taking months, and could come at the expense of your department if the claim has already been paid and no additional damage been found. We've noticed events like this occurring much more frequently that they should. Therefore, we advise you to do a walk-around of your vehicle after it is repaired or to call the manufacturer to follow up with any questions before you receive the vehicle back, just to ensure that all necessary repairs were done effectively and correctly. The extra time taken here can help you avoid the extra headaches and costs associated with further repairs.
You can download a Vehicle Preventative Maintenance Risk Communique below, or if you need to add a vehicle to your Policy, contact us at vfisoftexas@vfistx.com or (512) 448-9928. Download  Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, especially in the Emergency Services field, but is oftentimes neglected. All First Responders are encouraged to attend these sessions at Randall County Fire Dept. Station 1 in Amarillo, TX on April 2nd & 3rd. #MentalHealth #SickNotWeak Contact Jeremy Baker @ amsbaker3@suddenlink.net or (806) 679-8243 if you have any questions. 
Congratulations to the 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Recipients!VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are pleased to announce they have awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 78 emergency responder organizations across Texas. Funds awarded through the 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $233,000 and will enable these organizations to implement or enhance a health and wellness program for their members to prevent on-duty deaths and injuries. 105 applications were received requesting more than $447,000 in grants. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients. “I believe that with this grant we can get everyone fired up about some physical fitness!!” said Barry Mitchell, Assistant Chief of Kountze Volunteer Department. “Many members have wanted to do this for health reasons and for the comradery it brings. This will benefit several of my firefighters that have some significant health issues. The closest "GYM" is 15 miles away in another city and the "Big Box" gyms, as I call them, are over 25 miles away. So as you can see, going to the gym takes a lot more time and money than most people. This will give a benefit to our members that is wanted and needed.” Each recipient submitted an application outlining a specific need or project the grant would fund. This is the fifth consecutive year Texas Mutual and VFIS of Texas have awarded these grants to emergency responders across the state. “These grants directly impact our emergency responders by improving their health and wellness, better preparing them to serve our communities,” Barbara Marzean, President of VFIS of Texas, said. “The more we can do to support these initiatives, the more we can reduce and prevent emergency responder injuries and deaths.” Grant recipients will be recognized at the SFFMA Annual Conference June 23-27, 2018 in Arlington. See a full list of 2018 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness grant recipients below:
The 2019 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant should open for submissions in Fall 2018.  CYBER LIABILITY POLICY & CYBER SECURITY RESOURCES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONSEmergency Service Organizations often handle personal information related to residents, businesses and patients, as well as their own employees. More and more often this information is stored electronically. Billing information, social security numbers, health information, human resources, and legal records are examples of electronic files that need to be secure and confidential. Additionally, Email has evolved into a mission critical business function for many organizations and for this reason, it has also become the primary mechanism used by Cyber Criminals to gain access to protected systems.
Utilize the following resources to ensure your department is taking the necessary steps to be protected from Cyber threats: • Cyber Security Self-Assessment: http://bit.ly/1niFISF • Help Identify "Phishing" Emails: http://bit.ly/2BRku54 • Data Breach Precautions Risk Communiqué: http://bit.ly/2E66U31 • Email Fishing Precautions Risk Communiqué: http://bit.ly/2DWT9jR • Cyber Liability Infographic: http://bit.ly/2Ebsyme Cyber Liability and Privacy Crisis Management coverages are included with your VFIS Management Liability Policy, but the Management Liability Policy is an optional add-on to our standard Package Policy. If you are unsure if you have this coverage or not, please contact our offices at vfisoftexas@vfistx.com or (800) 252-9435 to ensure your department is fully protected from Cyber threats. If you are not a client, contact us and we can provide you a Free Quote. |
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VFIS of Texas NEWSHere you will find helpful information regarding firefighters, ems responders, and updates in insurance policies. 
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Licensed & doing business in the following states only: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, & Mississippi