Midland City Council at its meeting Tuesday unanimously approved using federal funds to purchase the Cordico app for first responders so that they have easy access to wellness resources whenever they might need them.
On his first day as the city's director of public safety, Charles Blumenauer talked with City Council how he learned about Cordico a few years ago at a conference and that he's eager to bring this resource to Midland.
Blumenauer retired Friday as chief of the Midland Fire Department.
“I gave the speech every year to graduates of rookie school, and I'd tell families that they need to be there for their firefighters,” he told the Reporter-Telegram after the meeting. “They see stuff that people don't see on an everyday basis, that they shouldn't see on an everyday basis — but they see it.”
And it's not just firefighters who have tough jobs.
“I don't think police get enough credit for the stressful situations they face,” he said.
As a 29-year veteran in the firefighting industry, Blumenauer said he wishes he had a resource like Cordico when he had faced tough times.
“Our first responders go through a lot of stressful stuff. They go through life issues,” he said. “There's a lot of things in this app that gives them access to help.”
Cordico will be tailored to provide wellness resources available locally on top of national resources that can be used. Twenty staff at MFD and 20 at the Midland Police Department will be trained to offer peer support.
App usage is anonymous, though Blumenauer told media that he can see what services are being offered, which will be beneficial in helping determine if trends are forming and, thus, showing where to put resources toward addressing common issues.
The app is also available to first responders' spouses and is free to use.
Funding for the app comes from the national opioids settlement, which flows from the federal government to local and state governments.
Blumenauer said the city is in the process of finalizing its contract with Lexipol, which offers the Cordico app. After the deal is complete, peer training will begin and first responders will learn how to use the app and what resources are available.
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