First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support Services Act (FR-CARA)

In 2022 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded a four-year grant to provide resources to first responders and members of other key community sectors at the state, tribal, and other government levels to train, carry and administer Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) approved drugs and devices for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose.  The Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (KDADS) then awarded grants to two programs.  Those grantees are:

  •    DCCCA, Inc.
  •    Phillips County EMS  

Awardees are expected to develop plans that will:

  • Develop a First Responder-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) program in rural Kansas to address the reversal of overdoses from Opioids and other drugs.
  • In each county of each region identify local agencies, organizations, and other key community sectors that will benefit from having access to additional overdose treatment services.
  • In each region, conduct local professional/public training programs to address personal safety around licit and illicit drugs and use of Naloxone in preventing death from overdose.
  • In each region, track the number of warm handoffs at each first responder incident including crisis team members, peer supports, family members, friends, and others to assure access to comprehensive care.
  • In each local community/county jail, provide personal safety training around licit and illicit drugs and the use of Naloxone to reverse overdoses for jailers; provide information about referral to SUD treatment for all inmates at discharge.

Information, training, and Naloxone is now available to every Kansas resident in the identified regions for free – there is absolutely no charge.

If you have questions about this grant, please contact Robin Hanson at [email protected]. 

Participating Counties

A map of Kansas with the 105 counties of Kansas represented. Counties participating in the grant are highlighted in yellow. All but 12 counties are highlighted. The list of participating counties is also available just below the picture.
  • Region One Counties - Cheyenne, Rawlings, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ness, and Rush
  • Region Two Counties – Greeley, Wichita, Scott, Lane, Hamilton, Kearney, Finney, Hodgeman, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, and Clark
  • Region Three Counties – Barton, Rice, McPherson, Marion, Pawnee, Stafford, Reno, Edwards,
  • Kiowa, Pratt, Kingman, Comanche, Barber, Harper, Sumner, and Cowley
  • Region Four Counties – Smith, Jewell, Republic, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Clay, Ottawa, Lincoln, Ellsworth, Dickinson
  • Region Five Counties -Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Wabaunsee, Jefferson, Morris, Osage, Johnson, Linn, Anderson, Coffey, Lyon, and Chase
  • Region Six Counties – Greenwood, Woodson, Allen, Bourbon, Elk, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua, Labette, and Cherokee

For More Information

For information on Naloxone availability in the state, please contact DCCCA, Inc.         

For training and information specifically in Regions 1 and 4, please contact Phillips County EMS   

For training and information specifically in Regions 2, 3, 5, and 6, please contact DCCCA, Inc.