HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 651 Draft 01 2024-2026
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I STATE OF HAWAI‘I
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR THE HAWAIʻI FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY
PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, Section 46-7 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes requires the consent of the Council in order for the County to enter into an agreement with the federal government or any other
public body respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted to the County by law and furnish, expend, and receive any funds or other assistance in connection with
projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Systems Branch, has authorized approximately $2,355,000 in federally derived funds
to be provided to the County as a grant for the Hawaiʻi Fire Department Community Paramedicine Program (hereinafter, the “Program”); and
WHEREAS, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department wishes to enter into an agreement with the
State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Health, to receive these grant funds; and
WHEREAS, the County’s rural health landscape faces many challenges, such as:
911 overuse among frequent callers and underuse among isolated residents;
Behavioral health crises that result in costly emergency transport and delayed care;
Limited primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health resources, particularly in remote areas; and
Strained Emergency Medical Services (hereinafter, “EMS”) resources, causing
increased response times for emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the Program expands EMS beyond emergency response by proactively identifying and engaging high utilizers and vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, since 2016, the Program has been operating informally without dedicated funding, sustained by EMS Captains who devoted time beyond their assigned duties; and
WHEREAS, funds from this grant will be used to fund personnel, telehealth equipment and software, and provide training, travel, and program implementation materials; and
WHEREAS, the grant period runs from October 2026 through September 2027 and is anticipated to continue for a period of five years, subject to federal approval; and
WHEREAS, over the span of five years, the program aims to:
Expand proactive care provider home visits and case management;
Deploy telehealth kits and integrate with the Hawaiʻi Fire Department’s data dashboard for case tracking and reporting purposes;
Begin dispatch-driven case selection for high utilizers and vulnerable populations;
Procure and deploy two Alternate Response Vehicles to divert low-acuity and behavioral health calls from emergency medical services island-wide;
Hire a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to address behavioral health needs; and
Formalize referral agreements with Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals, and behavioral health agencies; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that,
pursuant to Section 46-7 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Health,
for the purposes hereinabove described.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi; Diane T. Nakagawa, Director of
Finance; and Daniel Volpe, Acting Fire Chief.
Dated at , Hawai‘i, this day of , 20 .
INTRODUCED BY:
MATTHEW KĀNEALIʻI-KLEINFELDER
Council Member
BY REQUEST OF THE:
Fire Chief
/
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai‘i Hilo, Hawai‘i
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai‘i on .
ATTEST:
ROLL CALL VOTE
Reference: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.
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