FirstNet Will Become NeoGov on January 1, 2021

A guest blog by Loss Control Consultant Troy Walsh

FirstNet Learning — the web-based safety training provided by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) — will become NeoGov on Jan. 1, 2021. 

These changes apply to existing FirstNet users and individuals currently accessing training courses through the FirstNet Learning system, who are not part of a Regional Safety Group (RSG). Is your city already part of an RSG? This may be something to look into, because as a city police, ambulance, or fire department, you already have free access to this training for your staff. 

Current RSG members: you have already been migrated over to the new NeoGov learning platform, but please read on since there are some significant changes to be aware of with the programs we are offering.

What’s behind the change?

NeoGov purchased FirstNet back in 2017 and, with the combination of these companies, we are able to have some of the best features from both.

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust is currently at the end of the three-year contract we had established with FirstNet and have renewed the contract with NeoGov for another three years. For RSG users, you have undoubtedly seen several of the new and improved features the new platform can provide if you choose to explore them. 

For those individuals who are new users or will be converting over to NeoGov on January 1, there will be a series of webinars we strongly encourage you to attend that will help speed you through your implementation process. More to come on this as we proceed closer to the transition date. 

What do these changes mean for you?

The most noticeable change will be an increase in per-user cost. Under the terms of our expiring contract, the current cost per user/seat was a standard $20 with no minimum fee for non-RSG members. With that, we were able to offer limited functionality and 61 online training courses. The majority of these were focused on OSHA and general safety courses. 

Under the terms of the new contract, the per user/seat fee will be increasing to $29 for non-RSG members but will still be free to any RSG member. There is also a new minimum fee of $261 per non-RSG city, and the fee for more than 10 employees will become $29 per user. 

So what are you getting with this price increase? Besides a much more robust training and tracking platform than was previously offered, we have included an additional 150+ online training courses (instead of the 61 courses presently offered). Several new fleet training programs will be available to everyone, as well as a large offering of additional safety and health programs. 

What we are really excited about is a new series of what is commonly referred to as “human capitol courses.” These courses cover a wide range of supervisory training — including providing effective feedback and managing change, and courses intended for a wider audience such as focusing on the customer and listening skills. This is in response to general inquires in the past asking for such programs.

Consider your leadership team: could these human capitol courses help with developing their leadership skills? Training like this is important in developing staff to help the administrative team! 

There will be additional announcements coming throughout the rest of the year and updated information on our website regarding these changes — including both upcoming training webinars and the complete course catalog listing. Please stay tuned for more information!

We do understand that an increase like this always needs to be part of any budget planning process. For that reason, we felt the need to give all existing FirstNet users a heads-up of what changes are coming your way!

Up next: Mental health resources

Stay safe,
Troy

Fire Marshals Grant Program for Turnout Gear Washer/Dryers

A guest blog by Loss Control Consultant Troy Walsh

Firefighters perform valuable services to their community, and they are encouraged to maintain good hygiene to minimize the carcinogens in the workplace. This includes their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has another Turnout Gear Washer/Dryer Grant Program for 2020-2021 to help support these efforts. 

With the success of the FY20 program, an additional $600,000 has been approved for distribution. Department awards will be granted in amounts up to $10,000 for gear washer/extractors and up to $8,000 for gear dryers.

For full details on the program and how to apply, please see the State Fire Marshal’s website — or  contact Nolan Pasell at nolan.pasell@state.mn.us or by phone at (651) 201-7218.

Applications for the 2021 program year are due at 4 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2020.

Be sure to consider this great opportunity for your fire department’s PPE maintenance and decontamination!

Up next: Online Safety Training

Stay safe,
Troy

Suicide Prevention Month: “It’s OK to not be OK”

A guest blog by Lora Setter, LMCIT Public Safety Program Coordinator

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. This week — September 6-12 — is National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide is a major public health challenge and, sadly, a disease that greatly impacts public safety.

A striking fact regarding suicide and public safety personnel is that fire and police professionals are more at risk from dying of suicide than from being killed in the line of duty.

Recently, I’ve heard two mental health professionals use the phrase, “It’s OK to not be OK” about how to normalize conversations around mental illness in public safety. One of the most important ideas in making it “OK to not to be OK” is for leaders to talk openly about their own mental health struggles.

To be a leader doesn’t necessarily mean having a formal title of leadership. Being a leader means having the courage to share your personal mental health journey in order to help normalize the conversation about mental health. 

In her book, Trauma Stewardship, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky writes: “When we acknowledge our own fear, we have the opportunity to deepen our compassion not only for ourselves but also for every being that has ever been afraid.” To admit to a mental illness takes courage, and those that are brave enough to share their personal struggles help provide “safety” to others to do the same.

Here are five action steps for helping someone in emotional pain (taken from the National Institute of Mental Health’s website):

1. Ask. “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.
2. Keep them safe. Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention.
3. Be there. Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce — rather than increase — suicidal thoughts.
4. Help them connect. Save the numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [1-800-273-TALK (8255)] and the Crisis Text Line (741741) in your phone.
5. Stay connected. Staying in touch after a crisis, or after being discharged from care, can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.

We know that public safety personnel may be at an increased risk of mental illness/PTSD due to the nature of their work. Therefore, now is the time for all leaders (both formal and informal) to help reduce the stigmas associated with mental illness and to create work environments where it’s truly OK to not be OK. 

Up next: More guest blogs

Be well!

Lora and Rob