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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/
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VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Award $144k in Grant Money to Texas Volunteer Fire Departments2/16/2015  AUSTIN, TX – VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 86 volunteer fire departments across Texas. Funds awarded through the Firefighter Safety, Training & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $144,000 and will enable these departments to participate in a certification program, attend critical workplace safety training, and/or set up training/wellness programs to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries. Over $300,000 in grant requests were received. 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. “This award will serve as valuable funding that will enable us to better serve our community,” said Dennis Bailey, Lieutenant & Training Coordinator of Sunset Volunteer Fire Department. “This grant, I can assure you, will allow our members to actively pursue formal certification that will develop them into safer firefighters. Thanks again for your contribution to making our community safer." To see a full list of 2015 Safety, Training & Wellness recipients, CLICK HERE. Grantees will be recognized at the SFFMA Conference June 12-17, 2015 in Galveston, Texas.   The Texas A&M Forest Service has made changes in regards to HB 2604 & TIFMAS Grant Assistance Programs for FY 2015. To see all the changes to each Rural VFD Assistance Grant, click the links below:
HB 2604 Changes for FY 2015 TIFMAS Changes for FY 2015 To learn more about HB 2604, CLICK HERE. To learn more about TIFMAS, CLICK HERE. 2015 HB 3667 Grant: Workers' Compensation, Death, and/or Disability coverage - The 77th Texas Legislature (HB3667) created the Rural VFD Insurance Program and is funded by a 2% sales tax on the sale of fireworks. The program provides reimbursement grants for Texas firefighters to obtain workers compensation, death and disability insurance from private insurance companies. Each year more than 400 fire departments and 11,000 firefighters take advantage of the grant offering.
Who is eligible... Any chartered, non-profit volunteer or part-paid/volunteer fire department is eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. All qualified 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). What is eligible... Any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (Workers' Compensation, Death, and/or Disability Insurance) is eligible. The insurance coverage must include a workers' compensation or similar benefit, and a death benefit. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums. How much will it pay... The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage, up to a maximum of $112.00 per fire department member covered in the calendar year 2015. How to apply... It's easy, simply complete the following forms and submit via fax or mail. Please submit these forms only once during the enrollment period of December 2014 thru August 2015.
FAX: (979) 845-6160 Mail: Texas A&M Forest Service Capacity Building Department 200 Technology Way, Suite 1162 College Station, TX 77845-3424 For more information... Call: 979-458-6505 Email: ffins@tfs.tamu.edu Historical Funding Summaries FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant application period is now open. The deadline for submitting grant applications is 5:00 PM EST on December 5, 2014.
Don’t miss the opportunity to receive federal grant funding for critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to provide effective public and fire fighter safety in your communities. Click Here: http://client.prod.iaff.org/#contentid=5136 2015 Firefighter Safety, Wellness & Training Grant Application - VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are proud to again sponsor a need-based grant program for fire departments in Texas. Grants will be awarded to reimburse departments for 1) Individual member certification dues/fees, 2) Incident Safety Officer or Driver/Operator class expenses, and/or 3) Health & Wellness Programs. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage all departments to participate in certification programs and training/wellness programs to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts and proof of training attendance in order to receive the grant funds. Grant deadline is December 31, 2014.
Who is eligible: •All volunteer or mostly-volunteer (over 50%) fire departments that serve a population of 50,000 orless and are legally organized in Texas. What is eligible: •Part I – 2015 annual individual certification dues for SFFMA (NOT department dues) or TCFPcertification fees •Part II – Student course materials and travel expenses (up to $150 per day per person) for IncidentSafety Officer and/or Driver/Operator training during calendar year 2015 (travel expenses includetravel to/from, meals/tips, hotel/dorm) •Part III – 2015 costs for equipment or professionals to develop an in-house Health & Wellness Program How it works: •Departments can apply for Part I, Part II, Part III or all three parts •Departments should apply for assistance first (completed grant application and W-9) by 12/31/14 •Applications will be reviewed and notice will be sent to those awarded a grant by 1/31/15 •Departments will then be responsible for sending in paid receipts and course completioncertificates for each student attending the requested training program in order to receivereimbursement How to Apply: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM USING ANY OF THREE METHODS BELOW. Mail to: VFIS of Texas 3420 Executive Center Dr, #301 Austin, TX 78731 Fax to: 512-448-9929 E-mail to: vfisoftexas@vfistx.com 
By Kevin Mulrooney (www.FireEngineering.com)
Without a doubt, receiving a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) award is much more fun than managing it. Especially since most fire departments submit several applications under the various programs over many years until they receive the happy news. But managing the award is equally as important as receiving it. When our clients receive awards, we present them with some common sense guidelines on how to document expenditures, avoid conflicts, and maintain good records. Our recommendations are based much more on logical book keeping than any accepted fiscal standard. In fact, it's largely based on how we operate our business practices. "The number one issue we have with our awardees comes within the first minutes of award notification," said Tom Devaney, Director of Operations at JSK Inc/Grant-Guys. "The initial question almost immediately is, 'Can we use the money for something else? We don't want that anymore.'" The short answer is no. If you applied for an item and were awarded that item, it is highly unlikely the award will be greatly altered. This is is because the questions are computer scored for various items, and the narrative was approved by the peer review committee for that specific item. The reality is that much of the AFGP is based on the honor system. As citizens and firefighters, it's up to us to be honest and keep good records. But many awards are audited. Recently, one of our clients was the subject of an AFGP desk review. We assisted the fire department for two reasons: first, we wanted to learn what should be documented to help our other clients in the future; and secondly--and most importantly--it was the right thing to do. Read the Full Article Here Kevin Mulrooney is a 30 year volunteer firefighter/EMT/Hazmat Tech. He is the owner of JSK Inc., "the Grant-Guys." JSK is NY’s largest fire grant writing firm securing a record $2 million by round four of the 2013 AFGP. JSK represents 200 fire departments in nine states. http://jskpublicsafety.com/ |
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