CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – The Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System (CECOMS) will receive $5,478 through the State of Ohio’s First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience program to support the recruitment and wellness needs of Ohio’s first responders.

CECOMS will use this funding for online peer support, stress and resiliency courses, and peer support certification. CECOMS will partner with the 911 Training Institute to obtain training for six staff members.

“Emergency call-takers are truly the very first responders, and therefore experience high rates of PTSD, clinical depression, and stress as a result of the life-saving work they do every day,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “We are grateful for Governor Mike DeWine and the State of Ohio for their support for first responders and understanding of the impact this job has.”

The Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program is administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. The program awards funding for initiatives that support wellness programs addressing mental, physical, and emotional health issues unique to first responders; recruitment and retention efforts to restore workforce levels; onboarding and training costs; and explorer programs to engage young adults about first responder careers.