July 29, 2020
Relief after rescue
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Graphic provided by Central County Fire & Rescue Central County Fire & Rescue has launched the Community Crisis Assistance Program is a first of its kind mental health initiative that provides free counseling services with licensed professional counselors who are trained in helping people navigate the aftermath of physical and mental trauma.
Central County Fire & Rescue’s Community Crisis Assistance Program provides free counseling services to help people navigate the aftermath of mental trauma By Brett Auten For first responders, looking out for others is an innate characteristic. Central County Fire & Rescue is taking that belief and extending it further past the moment of impact. When neighbors and a passerby rescued two residents from a burning home in June, it got the wheels spinning for Central County Public Information Officer Jason Meinershagen. The potential is there to leave civilians scarred and possibly suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress. Central County firefighters brainstormed on how to help these residents recognize potential PTS and
begin the healing process, and the Community Crisis Assistance Program was born. In partnership with its Community Outreach program and two local mental health care professionals, the Community Crisis Assistance Program is a first of its kind mental health initiative that provides four free counseling services with licensed professional counselors who are trained in helping people navigate the aftermath of physical and mental trauma. “We have amazing residents who are always supportive of us and we want to give back that support,” Meinershagen said. “It is about giving a hand up not a hand out. If we can help them up and out of a hole, if you have that
ability, why wouldn’t you?” Meinershagen feels that the program places Central County on the front lines in the battle against PTSD and mental health awareness and raises the bar of how local first responders support their communities through their outreach efforts. “The Community Outreach has been dedicated to supporting our community after the fire in many ways for over 20 years already, and this new initiative is an extension of our commitment to working together to support our community in whatever way we can,” Meinershagen said. “The therapists have See ‘RESCUE’ page 2
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