HomeMy WebLinkAbout081026 email - FW_ 10th of 1%Even though this comment came in after the deadline, please add this comment to the public comments folder for today.
From: Bret Black <bblack@ejfr.org>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2026 9:00 AM
To: Heidi Eisenhour <HEisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Greg Ballard <GBallard@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Heather Dudley-Nollette <HDudley-Nollette@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Carolyn Gallaway <carolyn@co.jefferson.
wa.us>
Cc: EJFRCommissioners <EJFRCommissioners@ejfr.org>; Gabbie Caudill <gabbie@believeinrecoveryemail.com>
Subject: 10th of 1%
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Commissioners,
I am unable to join today’s BOCC meeting, but want to share some comments from EJFR.
EJFR is grateful for Jefferson County’s historical support, both monetarily and administratively, for EJFR CARES.
Since its inception, our program has been impactful to a variety of demographics in Jefferson County; it has literally touched every corner of our society. Over the years, CARES has
adapted and refined our focus which includes signups for food/housing/Medicare/home health, plus we provide crisis intervention, substance abuse services, delivery of medical equipment
and prescriptions, plus the varying needs of an aging community; 77% of our CARES clients are over 65 years old. Upon its inception in 2023, EJFR immediately saw the impact of the program,
where 911 medical incidents fell by more than 30%.
Title 52 RCW defines the services to be provided by fire districts as focused on just two things, 911 firefighting and 911 medical response. Although many of the CARES services and referrals
are outside the typical purview of a fire department, (typically social and public health services), EJFR sees the CARES program as BOTH directly and laterally impactful to our mission,
not only for the previously mentioned reduction in recidivism, but also an obvious improvement of outcomes, improving the quality of life for our most vulnerable neighbors.
For several years EJFR CARES has been awarded funds from the 10th of 1% fund and sincerely appreciates this support. As many you have seen, I regularly take extra time to inform our
constituents of the vital support from the County, where and whenever I am highlighting the CARES program (which is often).
Although this year’s 10th of 1% grant process did not result in continued County support for EJFR CARES, we remain optimistic and very hopeful for future support as we share the fruits
of our amazing CARES program.
Thank you,
Bret Black - Fire Chief
Cell 360-381-0292
bblack@ejfr.org <mailto:bblack@ejfr.org>