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Behavioral health Training for First responders
Are you a first responder seeking to increase your mental and behavioral health knowledge, improve emotional regulation skills, or support a friend in crisis? The following training resources created by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) are designed for fire/ rescue, public safety, and emergency service personnel, but are available to anyone.
Clinician Training
This on-demand course offered by the International Association of FIre Fighters (IAFF) will provide clinicians a therapeutic foundation for working with fire fighters, by deepening their understanding of the fire fighting occupation and the fire service community. Approved for 1.5 continuing education hours from the National Association of Social Work (NASW).
This is a two-day in-person training designed by the IAFF for mental health clinicians who are interested in working with fire service members in a clinical or programmatic setting. Training combines traditional classroom education, skills practice, group immerion, and experiential fireground training. This course is approved for 12 continuing education hours from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the National Association of Social Work (NASW).
Fire and emergency rescue professionals are the 24/7 backbone of public safety. Chronic exposure to human suffering, cumulative trauma and chronic sleep deprivation put responders at risk for a range of acute and chronic mental health problems. In today’s fire service, there has never been a higher demand for culturally compassionate high-quality mental health care. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC at the American Counseling Association (ACA Professional Practice Summit on September 13, 2024).
Webinar Resources
The following free webinar resources are delivered by the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery outreach team, in collaboration with the IAFF behavioral health team.
This webinar explores current data on PTSD in the fire service, unique aspects of fire service trauma, co-occuring mental health challenges, the role of peer support in addressing trauma, introduction to evidence based practices for PTSD. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC (2020).
This webinar will explore "Duty-Bound Grief," a concept that has historically been overlooked but is crucial to understanding the experienced grief unique to first responders. Discussion will explore how this emotional repression can eventually affect job performance, personal relationships, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Presented by Lindsay Longo, LCSW and paramedic Rachael Belcher.
This webinar will explore available research on fire fighter suicide, identification of suicide risk and warning signs, and how to use an evidence based 5-step action plan to intervene if someone you know is considering suicide. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC & Brandon Drieman, JD, CBT-I.
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This webinar will feature one fire fighter's recovery from alcohol addiction and the essential role of peer support in his journey. Discussion will also explore signs and symptoms of substance use disorder (SUD), unique risk factors among fire fighters, the stages of addiction recovery, and various pathways to getting help. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC, fire fighters Phil O’Connell, Mike Wells, and Gordon Wilson.
This webinar will explore occupational trauma and post-traumatic growth, and recovery through the perspective of a Baltimore County paramedic with over 30 years in the field of fire and rescue. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC and paramedic Tammy Mastin.
While Fire and EMS personnel regularly witness the devastating community impact of opioid use disorder, some members struggle in silence with their own addiction.
The webinar will explore opioid addiction as a disease, best practices in opioid addiction treatment, and unique treatment considerations for fire service personnel coping with this problem. Presented by Lauren Kosc, LCPC and fire fighter Chris Coggin.