Updates From ResponderStrongPosted: June 2, 2017 Emergency responders across Colorado face many similar occupational challenges and stressors. Negative impacts from these occupational exposures are becoming more apparent in the form of depression, substance abuse, relationship struggles, PTSD, and suicide. With increasing awareness, individual departments across the state are searching for mental wellness supports and solutions using very limited resources. We all work in team-based environments - isn’t it ironic that we’ve been trying to handle such a significant issue in relative isolation? The ResponderStrong™ organization, created in 2016, may have the solution. ResponderStrong consists of representatives from more than 40 emergency responder agencies across Colorado working in collaboration with the National Behavioral Health Innovation Center in a privately-funded, grassroots effort whose ranks are steadily growing. They are working to create a broad platform for mental wellness that can serve emergency responders across Colorado. They are not asking for financial support from emergency response agencies. They are asking for input, expertise, guidance, and some leg work. This project has tremendous potential to better serve our population and through doing so, even better serve our communities. To better inform the program development, the group has created an electronic survey. A survey has been sent out and if you haven't taken it yet, please consider doing so. ResponderStrong is seeking one response from each agency. The survey has been designed to obtain basic information regarding what mental wellness resources are already available, what is working and what is not, and to identify what needs are not being adequately addressed across the state. Additional objectives of the survey include establishing contacts at each agency, recruiting new members, and providing data to shape the development of the program. |
Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation
The challenges faced by agency heads and departments to honorably memorialize officers who have died in the line of duty, and care for their families and department personnel are daunting. The sad reality is there will be more, and your agency could be next.
The Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation (CFHF) will bring together multi-agency professionals with a variety of specialized skills to respond,and assist any organization with a memorial service befitting a hero as needed.