The Washington State First Responder Wellness Program was established in 2024 through House Bill 2311. The mission of the First Responder Wellness Program is to assist first response agencies across the state with their efforts to foster positive mental and physical well-being amongst their personnel, with the goal of eliminating occurrences of job-related post-traumatic stress and suicide.
Additional information to be included below the summary:
This program addresses wellness, PTSD, and suicide amongst first responders through several different efforts and training programs. In accordance with RCW 5.60.060, “first responders” include law enforcement officers, limited authority law enforcement officers (as defined in RCW 10.93.020), firefighters, emergency services dispatchers and recordkeepers, emergency medical personnel, current or former members of the Washington national guard acting in an emergency response capacity, coroners and medical examiners and their agents/employees, and co-responders (as defined in RCW 71.24.025). The program includes:
- A four-year Task Force – The First Responder Wellness Task Force is made up of a diverse representation of the first responder community, mental health professionals, and representatives from state and tribal agencies. The Task Force is charged with developing model policies for first responder peer support programs and making recommendations for improving first responder wellness, as well as managing and preventing PTSD and suicide amongst first responders.
- Peer Support Training – Training is provided, free of charge, to first responders interested in becoming a peer supporter or implementing a peer support program within their agency. The following elements of this program are offered to provide a comprehensive approach to first responder wellness:
- Basic Peer Support Training - This course provides attendees with the basic knowledge and skills needed to serve as a peer supporter. (40 hours, offered six times per year)
- Advanced Peer Support Training – This course enhances the training received in the basic course and helps peer supporters better understand what they have learned and experienced. (16 hours, offered four times per year)
- Executive Peer Support Training – This course is intended for leaders of first response agencies (i.e., police chiefs, fire chiefs, sheriffs, executive directors, etc.) to help them understand peer support and the critical role organizational executives play in the success of peer support programs. (16 hours, offered four times per year)
- Training for Family Members of First Responders - This course helps family members of first responders better understand the experience and personal impacts of first response work, as well as how to recognize when a loved one is suffering from PTSD and what resources are available to assist, when needed. (8 hours, offered four times per year)
- Training for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professionals – Training is provided, free of charge, to help mental health and substance use disorder professionals better understand the work, impacts of the work, culture, and professional barriers to seeking help that first responders face so they can more effectively assess and treat first responders in need of mental health or substance use disorder services. (8 hours, offered six times per year)
- Development of a Peer Support Network – Program offerings to help peer supporters address the vicarious trauma experienced by serving as a peer supporter.
- Development and Maintenance of a Directory of Culturally Competent Mental Health and Substance use Disorder Professionals – A directory of mental health and substance use disorder professionals that have received training and/or have been vetted to be identified as culturally competent to assess and treat first responders.
Download the First Responder Wellness Training Schedule
Contact Information:
- Toryono (Tory) Green | First Responder Wellness Program Manager
- toryono.green@cjtc.wa.gov
- (206) 887-2271