BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & WELLNESS INITIATIVE - FACT SHEET
The California Fire Chiefs Association is the voice of the California fire service. As such, our work has a consistent focus on firefighter wellness initiatives.
Firefighters and first-responders are heralded for their courage and unwavering commitment to protecting the public from all types of disasters. In their devotion to this duty, they are exposed to any number of tragedies that can take a toll on an individual’s mental health and emotional well-being. Without the proper resources, these events can potentially lead to post-traumatic stress and manifest themselves in several behavioral health emergencies and long-term impacts for firefighters and first-responders.
In response to this need, over the past several years, the California Fire Chiefs Association has been actively engaged in building a robust behavioral health strategy as part of a holistic approach to care for firefighters and first-responders performing their duties. The California Fire Chiefs Foundation is committed to assisting its membership with Behavioral Health assistance, funding, and vetted resources.
The California Fire Chiefs Association partners with allied partner agencies including the California Professional Firefighters, California Office of Emergency Services, the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee, and local first responder support services. This joint labor-management initiative works to develop and implement firefighter behavioral health principles and practices for prevention, intervention and post-crisis strategies through awareness campaigns, training, legislative action, and a peer support network.
Our programs have already provided life-saving interventions for firefighters suffering serious behavioral health emergencies including crisis intervention, in-patient treatment programs, and immediate access to critical behavioral health support services.
“It is our position that we need to provide mental health and wellness resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all firefighters. Like other injuries, early detection, access to culturally competent mental health specialists and proper screening can help reduce the effects of post-traumatic stress. Many insurance providers cap the costs related to mental health and wellness assistance, and treatment centers for mental health programs are often out of the reach of the average firefighter.”, 2023 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control.
The California Fire Chiefs Foundation is seeking donors and corporate sponsors to support out mission of reducing firefighter suicides and providing for immediate access to intervention services.
We hope you will join us in this critical initiative.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DONATE:
Visit us online at https://www.calchiefs.org/page/CFCFoundation
Give us a call at (916) 923-9455 | Email our Foundation President at mheine@calchiefs.org
Mail a donation to: CalChiefs Foundation, 808 R Street, Suite 209, Sacramento, CA 95811
“To strengthen and advocate for the California Fire Service through leadership, unity and collaboration.”