Legal Protections for Florida First Responders with PTSD and Mental Health Disorders (Virtual)
2024-09-17 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Join Geoff Bichler, founder and managing partner of Bichler & Longo, PLLC, in this webinar as he uncovers the legal rights and protections for Florida first responders with PTSD and other mental health disorders. With over 30 years of experience in workers’ comp and pensions for first responders, Geoff will review the latest legislation, political climate, and resources designed to support those on the front lines. His firm played a key role in passing the PTSD bill for Florida first responders in 2018.

K9 Crisis Response and Support Programs
2024-09-30 13:00 - 14:30
Explore the key aspects of K9 crisis response and K9 support, from dog selection to certification. This webinar is ideal for interested, new and experienced handlers.

IAFF Peer Support Training (Virtual)
2024-10-21 10:00 - 2024-10-23 16:00
After completing the IAFF Peer Support Training, participants will have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide support to their peers; educate brothers and sisters about behavioral health issues such as PTSD and resilience; serve as a bridge to behavioral health programs and community resources; and build or enhance their peer support programs.

Driving Success in Peer Support – Webinar
2024-10-22 13:00 - 15:00
Join us as we discuss the importance of data collection and evaluation in enhancing the effectiveness of peer support teams. This webinar will highlight methods for program evaluation, ensuring that peer support teams can measure their success and adapt to the evolving needs of their communities. Additionally, we will feature recent data collected on the needs, successes, and challenges of peer support teams in the state of Florida and nationally. Join us to discover how data-driven insights can strengthen your peer support efforts and drive better mental wellness outcomes for first responders.

IAFF Peer Support Training (Virtual)
2024-11-11 10:00 - 2024-11-13 16:00, 2024-12-16 10:00 - 2024-12-18 16:00, 2025-01-28 10:00 - 2025-01-30 16:00, 2025-02-11 10:00 - 2025-02-13 16:00, 2025-03-04 10:00 - 2025-03-06 16:00, 2025-04-08 10:00 - 2025-04-10 16:00, 2025-05-06 10:00 - 2025-05-08 16:00, 2025-06-10 10:00 - 2025-06-12 16:00
Peer support training will help participants increase their knowledge and learn the necessary skills to provide support to their peers; educate brothers and sisters about behavioral health issues such as PTSD and resilience; serve as a bridge to behavioral health programs and community resources; and build or enhance their peer support programs. This two-day in person or three-day virtual training is provided in partnership with organizations whose peer support trainings are recognized under Florida’s State Emergency Response Plan (SERP). Participants will be eligible for mental wellness peer support deployments under the SERP after completion of this training.

First Responder Marriages: Tools from the Gottman Method (Virtual)
2024-11-12 13:00 - 14:30
Join us for a specialized webinar focused on the Gottman Method, tailored specifically for first responders and their partners. Learn how to build stronger, more resilient relationships amidst the unique stresses of high-pressure professions. The Gottman Method, rooted in decades of research, offers practical tools for communication, conflict resolution, and deepening connection. This session will provide actionable strategies to navigate challenges like emotional distance, unpredictable schedules, and trauma exposure, fostering greater understanding and support in your relationship.

K9 Crisis Response and Support Programs (Webinar)
2024-12-13 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for an informative webinar on therapy dog programs, where we’ll dive into key topics such as policy development, state deployment requirements, and the critical role of K9 behavior in fostering safe, effective interactions. We’ll also explore valuable lessons learned around rules and standards, offering practical insights and best practices for successful program implementation.

Fuel Your Mind: Nourishing Your Mental Health as a First Responder (Webinar)
2025-01-21 13:00 - 14:30
As a first responder, you face unique challenges that can take a toll on your mental health. This webinar will explore common mental health symptoms experienced by first responders and provide practical strategies to improve your well-being through dietary choices.

Thwarted Belongingness: Addressing Workplace Incivility among First Responders (Webinar)
2025-02-07 09:00 - 12:00
Join us for a webinar focused on tackling workplace incivility and its impact on the mental health and well-being of first responders. Drawing on Dr. Thomas Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, we’ll discuss “Thwarted Belongingness”—the feeling of disconnection—and how it can arise in high-stress environments. Participants will learn how incivility contributes to isolation, hinders camaraderie, and heightens mental health risks, along with practical tools to foster respect and inclusivity.
This course featuring interactive, didactic learning experiences is open to all first responders and professionals serving first responders, with a particular emphasis on counties served by LSF Health Systems.

The Science, Benefits, and Emotional Support of K9s in the First Responder Field (Webinar)
2025-03-06 13:00 - 14:30
Join us for an exciting webinar exploring the incredible roles K9s play in the world of first responders. Discover their unmatched abilities, from the science of scent detection to search and rescue, situational awareness, and more. Learn how these amazing animals foster resilience, reduce stress for handlers and teams, and make a profound operational impact by enhancing safety, efficiency, and morale in high-pressure environments.

Creating and Maintaining Psychologically Safe Workplaces in First Responder Agencies (Webinar)
2025-03-07 09:00 - 12:00
Join us for an essential webinar focused on creating mentally healthy, resilient work environments for first responders. Learn strategies to foster psychological safety, reduce mental health stigma, and support well-being through trust and open communication. Discover actionable steps to build a supportive workplace where team members can thrive under pressure.

Moral Injury with Wendy Norris (Webinar)
2025-03-25 10:00 - 11:30
First responders often face ethical and emotional challenges, known as moral distress and moral injury, when their actions or experiences conflict with core values. This webinar explores the impact of moral injury on well-being, distinguishing it from PTSD, and offers strategies for prevention, healing, and fostering resilience. Participants will gain tools to address guilt, build support, and promote recovery within emergency services communities.

On the Front Lines: Understanding the Pressures and Support Systems in Law Enforcement (Virtual)
2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:00
Description: Survey information from a variety of Law enforcement officers on their stressors, support systems, and beliefs about how their agencies can best support them. Reports on innovative programs initiated by agencies to meet the mental health and wellness needs of their members. What officers want their families, communities, and peers to know about them…
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world travel to Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Twenty years later, survivors and supporters began a gathering that has grown to a series of events that take place in Washington DC annually. As we mark this year’s events, we want to focus on the changes and challenges unique to law enforcement officers.

First Responder K9s: Peer Support in Action (Virtual)
2025-06-13 13:00 - 14:30
Description: First responder K9s are specially trained dogs that support police, fire, EMS, and dispatch crews by reducing stress, offering comfort, and improving morale. They assist during critical incidents, debriefings, and community events. On this webinar we will discuss Key Roles for K9’s during deployments and go over Deployment Requirements.
Key Roles:
✔ Emotional support during and after trauma
✔ Help lower stress and anxiety
✔ Support peer teams and outreach efforts
These K9’s are trusted members of their crews—always ready to serve those who serve us.

Relief for Responders: How an Embedded Mental Health Clinician Can Enhance Behavioral Health Programs (Virtual)
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:30
Fire service and law enforcement agencies, along with other first responder organizations, increasingly recognize the importance of behavioral health programs to support employee wellness. Embedding a licensed mental health professional within your department is a critical next step in strengthening these programs. With a holistic approach to wellness, licensed mental health professionals bring unique expertise, skills, and abilities that enhance resilience, improve access to care, and support the overall mental health of your personnel.
This session will explore how an embedded clinician can empower agencies—especially within fire and law enforcement services—to proactively manage mental wellness programs, adapt to the evolving demands of the field, and stay informed on the latest developments in behavioral health. Participants will gain practical insight into how clinicians can help tailor wellness initiatives to their agency’s values, mission, and needs, ensuring long-term program success and improved responder well-being.

Suicide Contagion in the Fire Service: Understanding the Risks and Taking Action (Virtual)
2025-06-26 12:00 - 13:30
A coordinated and sustained approach is needed to shift norms, improve care access, and strengthen protective factors. Through practical action at all levels, the fire service can move toward a more supportive and responsive system, one where suicide prevention is treated as a priority and recognized as a shared responsibility. Register today for this webinar.
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., and the fire service is not immune. When multiple suicides occur in close proximity or time, they may represent a suicide cluster, often linked to contagion—where exposure to one suicide may increase risk for others. While not every exposure leads to elevated risk, certain conditions common in the fire service—such as repeated trauma exposure, strong interpersonal bonds, and high job stress—can increase vulnerability. These risks are further compounded by strained peer or supervisory relationships, limited access to trusted mental health resources, inadequate postvention protocols, and inconsistent messaging following a suicide—all of which can leave firefighters feeling isolated or unsupported during critical moments. Using the CDC’s socio-ecological model, this presentation explores how risk factors at the individual, relational, community, societal, and policy levels intersect to create environments where suicide contagion can occur. Recent suspected suicide clusters in the fire service have highlighted the urgency of this issue. Immediate and long-term strategies—ranging from postvention efforts and resilience training to peer support, leadership engagement, and policy reform—are outlined as essential tools in preventing further loss.
This is a must-attend for fire service leadership, peer teams, clinicians, and anyone committed to protecting firefighter mental health.

Redefining Readiness: Mental Wellness in the Fire Service (Virtual)
2025-08-28 13:00 - 14:30
For too long, operational readiness in the fire service has focused solely on skills and fitness. But true preparedness also requires mental resilience. In this powerful session – Lt. Jeff Orrange challenges traditional training models and makes the case for embedding mental wellness into every level of first responder development—from the academy to the field.
Learn practical strategies to build a proactive, resilient culture that values the mind as much as the body. Because peak performance starts with mental strength.

Webinar: Zero Suicide Framework for First Responders (Virtual)
2025-09-23 10:00 - 11:30
Webinar Description : Suicide prevention with first responders requires more than good intentions, it takes a plan. The Zero Suicide Framework is a nationally recognized, evidence-informed, system-wide strategy that calls for strong organizational commitment and the integration of prevention practices from leadership through the front lines. This webinar explores how the framework has been adapted… for first responder agencies to strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and embed a culture of safety and support.
Participants will learn the following:
-Each core element of the Zero Suicide Framework and its purpose
-How to adapt and apply these elements specifically in first responder environments
-Actionable strategies for implementing the model
-An operational case study demonstrating how the model was successfully adapted at the statewide level
Join us to explore how the Zero Suicide Framework can transform how first responder agencies address suicide risk and prevention.

Webinar: A Look at the Chaplaincy – Policies, Programs, and Pathways (Virtual)
2025-10-24 10:30 - 12:00
Description: Chaplains, alongside mental health professionals, peer support personnel, and K-9 peer support, provide comfort and care for the heart, soul, mind, and strength of Florida firefighters.
But what does the chaplaincy look like? How does a department start a chaplain program? What policies and procedures are needed?
Join us as we discuss these questions… and more with Chaplain Joe LaCognata, Statewide Chaplaincy Coordinator with the Florida Firefighter Safety and Health Collaborative.

Webinar: ELEVATE The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Wellness Program
2025-11-06 10:00 - 11:30
Description: This program is built on the 11 RINGS OF WELLNESS, a holistic framework addressing physical health, emotional well-being, family dynamics, spiritual strength, social connection, mental toughness, resilience, financial stability, occupational fulfillment, and leadership capacity.
Members will gain insight to a trusted hub for resources, advocacy, and support. From stress management workshops and fitness opportunities… to nutrition guidance, financial planning, and confidential peer support, this program is designed to elevate every member of the agency.
