Visit the Impact First Responders Website
The Impact First Responders program serves our community’s first responders through education, peer support, and counseling to address the chronic stress and trauma experienced on and off the job.
Stress doesn’t just happen after a bad call. Pressure also develops from the daily stressors that each first responder faces. Chronic stress often takes up the most mental and emotional capacity, and critical stress incidents are the tipping point. When first responders have informal peer support conversations, whole teams can access the tools needed to work things off their plates instead of carrying that load into every aspect of life. Once healthy practices become the regular rhythm, a critical incident doesn’t derail everything, and first responders can find themselves even stronger after the incident.
How the Program Works
Impact First Responders is a three-tiered program developed by the First Responder Resiliency Program out of Fort Worth, TX. The three basic tiers of Impact First Responder are:
Education
For outcomes to change, culture must evolve, and conversations must adapt at the peer-to-peer level. The Impact First Responders program provides extensive training and support through peer-to-peer training and interactions. Education breaks down stigmas and integrates resiliency into the culture of the organization.
Certification includes:
SCIENCE OF TRAUMA FOR LEADERSHIP
Topics include peer support in the leadership role and transformational leadership to build a robust peer support program in your department.
PEER ADVOCATE TRAINING
Covering the peer support process and the framework for building a department peer support program.
SCIENCE OF TRAUMA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
Explaining the science of trauma and the process of building a resiliency program.
FIRST RESPONDER CULTURAL AWARENESS COURSE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS
Working with the first responder culture, having a conversation with first responders to break the stigma.
Peer-to-Peer Support
Once training is complete, participating departments will have a team of peers available to provide resources. The peer program provides the education, resources, and framework necessary for a sustainable support program. Every department is different. Therefore, the peer program is adaptable to unique department-specific needs.
PEERS
All your fellow first responders are considered peers. As a trained participant, you have the freedom to provide resources to anyone in your department who may benefit from them. It does not have to be a peer advocate or director.
PEER ADVOCATES & DIRECTORS
Peer Advocates receive additional training about screening mental health and program administration. These individuals will provide information to the departments.
Counseling
Counseling is available, at no cost, to any First Responder who reaches out for help. Powered through Impact Living Services, our counselors understand first responder culture. We know life is messy.
Donate to Impact First Responders
Contact us today to request an appointment!
Kristen Sharrett, LPC-S
Program Director
kristen.sharrett@impactlivingservices.org
- (p) 434-533-1088 (Ext. 150)
- (f) 434-664-1177
