Council committee hears that firefighter cancer screenings produced dozens of referrals; long-term funding for wellness programs is uncertain
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Summary
At a March 31 Boston City Council hearing, fire officials detailed AFG-funded cancer screenings that produced dozens of referrals and flagged that key wellness and training programs depend on grants that may not be renewed. Councilors pressed for budget support.
The Boston City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice heard March 31 that Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funding has supported cancer screenings and other health programs for the Boston Fire Department, but several officials warned those programs could lapse without new grants or budget action.
Commissioner Paul Burke told the committee the AFG award ‘‘is $1,200,000,’’ and that it funds the department’s cancer-screening work and other wellness programming. Grants manager Julie Devon said under an expiring AFG award the department conducted more than 700 screenings and reported 587 dermatology screenings that produced 94 referrals for further treatment and three possible cases of melanoma.
‘‘Those funds allowed us to screen 587 members by dermatologists, and that resulted in 94 members needing referrals for further treatment and 3 possible cases of melanoma,’’ Devon said. Deputy Chief Jody Shea told the council that ‘‘as of January 2025, we’ve had 10 members diagnosed with cancer, with two deaths,’’ and urged shifting some health-and-wellness costs into the operating budget rather than relying solely on grants.
Officials described services tied to AFG and other awards that include a clinical director, a registered dietitian, an injury-prevention specialist and a 24/7 clinical vendor that can place members with therapists on short notice. Devon said the current AFG grant expires in September 2026 and that a FY24 continuation application was not awarded; solicitations for FY25 remain delayed amid a partial DHS/FEMA shutdown.
‘‘We applied for FY24 and were not awarded those funds,’’ Devon said. ‘‘The funding stream for FY27 is unknown.’’ Kevin Coyne, deputy commissioner for administration and finance, and Julie Devon said the department seeks to reallocate limited local funds and the city’s Office of Budget Management provided $100,000 this year to expand screenings, but they cautioned that many health programs remain grant-dependent.
Councilors pressed for clearer budget commitments. District 2 Councilor Ed Flynn emphasized the need to prioritize firefighter health and wellness during the budget season. At-large Councilor Erin Murphy and others asked whether cardiac screening and nutrition services are being targeted — attendees said clinicians have tailored plans to address cardiac risk factors found during screenings.
The committee did not take votes. Chair Henry Santana said the council will pull grants for forthcoming accept-and-expend action as needed and that staff will monitor pending awards. No members of the public signed up for testimony and the hearing was adjourned.
The department listed 13 active awards (eight federal, five state) totaling more than $4 million and said it will seek further grant solicitations when released. Councilors asked staff to consider moving recurring wellness functions into the operating budget to reduce reliance on uncertain federal and state awards.
