NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION

FAMILY PROGRAMS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING SPOUSES AND LIFE PARTNERS, CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND SIBLINGS, WHO NEED IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM SUPPORT AFTER THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE. THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER CAN OFTEN BE MORE IMPACTFUL TO THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE LINE OF WORK AND THE VERY PUBLIC AND OFTEN TRAUMATIC NATURE OF THE DEATH. EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT PEER SUPPORT IS OF TREMENDOUS BENEFIT IN HELPING PEOPLE WORK THROUGH THEIR GRIEF, AND SOMETIMES COUNSELING AND CLINICAL SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING THE TOOLS BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO ADJUST AND RECOVER AFTER THE DEATH OF A FIREFIGHTER. PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FIRE HERO FAMILY NETWORKTHE FIRE HERO FAMILY NETWORK BEGAN IN 1997 TO PROVIDE NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE BENEFIT OF CONNECTING WITH OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE LOSS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A FIREFIGHTER. IN 2012, THE NFFF CREATED AND PILOTED A ONE-DAY, IN-PERSON PEER SUPPORT TRAINING WHICH ADDRESSES TOPICS INCLUDING: GOALS, ROLES, & RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEER SUPPORT; READINESS FOR PEER SUPPORT; RESOURCES FOR FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT; VERBAL & NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS; AND EMPATHY. MORE THAN 100 TRAINED MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE TO REACH OUT TO NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR LOSS CAN PROVIDE. AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TRAINING IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A 30-MINUTE ONLINE PROGRAM THAT ENABLES POTENTIAL PEERS TO REVIEW THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF NFFF PEER SUPPORT.ONLINE RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS FOR FAMILIES AND AGENCIESTHE NFFF OFFERS MANY ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN RESPONDERS INCLUDING: THE JOURNEY, A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION EDITED BY THE NFFF'S GRIEF SPECIALIST THAT FEATURES ARTICLES WRITTEN BY FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS. THERE WERE SIX ISSUES OF THE JOURNEY PUBLISHED AND 8,080 COPIES DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE FIRE HERO FAMILIES. VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS INCLUDING PEER SUPPORT GROUP, FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUP, PEER SUPPORT FOR TEENS, MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP, REMEMBRANCE GROUP DURING THE ANNIVERSARY MONTH OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS. SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR 1,245 ATTENDEES. REMEMBRANCE CARDS ARE SENT OUT IN HONOR OF OUR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS ANNUALLY DURING THE MONTH OF THEIR LOSS; 5,114 WERE SENT OUT BY 355 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS IN-PERSON PROGRAMS FOR FIRE HERO FAMILIESEVERY YEAR THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION PROVIDES A FULL CALENDAR OF RETREATS, EVENTS, AND CAMPS, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT OUR FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY. MANY EVENTS ARE TARGETED TOWARD DEFINED COHORTS, SUCH AS CHILDREN, SPOUSES, OR PARENTS OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS, TO PROVIDE EACH GROUP WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE TYPES OF EVIDENCE-INFORMED SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS FOR RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMATIC LOSS. GROUP ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON GRIEF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MOVEMENT, CREATIVITY, AND PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, ALL DIRECTED TOWARD HELPING FAMILY MEMBERS MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY, REBUILD THEIR LIVES, AND EXPAND THEIR NETWORK OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. HAL BRUNO CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERSTHIS WEEKEND BEREAVEMENT CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-17 PROVIDES TWO SEPARATE TRACKS TO SERVE CHILDREN AT THE APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL. IT ALSO INCLUDES A PARENT COMPONENT FACILITATED BY A CHILDREN'S GRIEF SPECIALIST. THE CAMP PROGRAM HAS THREE COMPONENTS:COMFORT ZONE CAMP - COMFORT ZONE CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 7-17 PROVIDES TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ARTS AND CRAFTS, GAMES, AND A BONFIRE, ALONGSIDE INTENSIVE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY LED BY LICENSED GRIEF THERAPISTS. THE SCHEDULE IS BASED AROUND THE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL. CAMPERS ARE PAIRED WITH "BIG BUDDY" ADULT VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE SCREENED AND TRAINED TO SERVE AS MENTORS THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF CAMP. THE MIX OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDES CAMPERS WITH AN ENVIRONMENT TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR PEERS, DEFINE THEIR OWN GRIEF, LEARN POSITIVE COPING SKILLS, AND RECEIVE VALIDATION AND POSITIVE SUPPORT FROM OTHERS. IN 2024 WE HOSTED 56 ATTENDEES. CAMP HAL (HEALING AFTER LOSS) THIS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-6 IS LED BY A LICENSED THERAPIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE GRIEVING. WITH SUPPORT FROM NFFF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, THE CAMP PROGRAM USES PLAY THERAPY AND EXPRESSIVE THERAPY TO HELP CHILDREN EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN THEIR NATURAL LANGUAGE. CAMP HAL INCLUDES A MIX OF ACTIVITIES APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AGE GROUP, AS WELL AS SOME ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS TOGETHER. CHILDREN STAY WITH THEIR PARENT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN CAMP SESSIONS. IN 2024 WE HOSTED 96 ATTENDEES. PARENT SESSIONS WHILE THE CHILDREN ATTEND CAMP, THERE IS A TWO-PART SESSION FOR ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. THE FIRST SESSION, FACILITATED BY A CHILDREN'S GRIEF SPECIALIST, FOCUSES ON STRATEGIES FOR PARENTING AND SELF-CARE. THE SECOND SESSION IS A FACILITATED ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WHERE PARENTS CAN SHARE PARENTING CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES AND BUILD COMMUNITY. ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE NFFF STAFF PROVIDES DINNER AND ACTIVITIES FOR CAMP HAL CAMPERS SO PARENTS CAN HAVE A BREAK AND SPEND TIME CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER. WINTER RETREAT THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE AN ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING TIME OF YEAR FOR A FAMILY THAT HAS LOST A LOVED ONE. OPEN TO ALL AGES AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THIS EVENT FOCUSES ON SERVICE, GIVING BACK TO OTHERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, SELF-CARE, REFLECTION, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE WALKED A SIMILAR PATH. ATTENDEES HELP TO DECORATE THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL SITE AND THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL CHAPEL FOR THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND ATTEND THE SERVICE. FIRE HERO FAMILY RETREATSSEVERAL TIMES EACH YEAR, THE NFFF HOSTS SMALL RETREATS FOR SELECT GROUPS WITHIN THE FIRE HERO FAMILY COMMUNITY. BASED AROUND A SIMILAR STRUCTURE, THESE INTENSIVE EVENTS PROVIDE SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRIEF, COPING STRATEGIES, STRESS MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, AND HEALING. PARTICIPANTS FORM CLOSE CONNECTIONS AND HAVE TIME TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE BONDS CREATED DURING THESE EVENTS OFTEN LAST FOR YEARS AND HELP PARTICIPANTS FACE GRIEF AS IT COMES, WITH SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING. RETREATS ARE OFTEN ORGANIZED BY RELATIONSHIP TO THE FALLEN FIREFIGHTER BUT CAN ALSO BE CREATED AROUND A COMMON LIFE EXPERIENCE, THERAPEUTIC MODALITY, OR OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS. COMPONENTS OF THESE EVENTS INCLUDE GRIEF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PRACTICAL SKILLS, CREATIVE OUTLETS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND BREAKOUT DISCUSSION GROUPS. INHERENT IN EACH RETREAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS THAT WE NEED COMMUNITY TO NAVIGATE GRIEF AND THAT THE ENDURING CONNECTION TO OUR LOVED ONE WHO DIED CAN REMAIN A SOURCE OF COMFORT, STRENGTH, AND GUIDANCE. EXAMPLES OF RETREATS INCLUDE:SPOUSES AND LIFE PARTNERS RETREAT THIS RETREAT IS DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF A PARTNER. THE FOCUS IS ON HELPING ATTENDEES INTEGRATE PAST AND PRESENT, EXPLORE CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS, STRENGTHEN SUPPORT, AND DEVELOP PERSONAL GOALS FOR LIVING A RESILIENT LIFE. PARENTS AND SIBLINGS RETREAT THIS EVENT COVERS THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF GRIEVING THE DEATH OF A CHILD OR SIBLING. TOPICS EXPLORED INCLUDE CHANGES IN FAMILY DYNAMICS, HOW A DEATH IN THE FAMILY CHANGES EVENTS AND MILESTONES, AND POSSIBLE SECONDARY LOSSES SUCH AS MISUNDERSTANDING AND ESTRANGEMENT. ATTENDEES SHARE EXPERIENCES, DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF GRIEF, AND DISCOVER THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. ADULT CHIL 1,876,399 DREN RETREAT THE DEATH OF A PARENT MEANS THE LOSS OF ONE OF OUR FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS, AND CHILDREN OF ANY AGE FEEL THAT LOSS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AT EACH NEW LIFE STAGE. MILESTONE EVENTS BECOME REMINDERS OF LOST TIME AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE LIFE WITH THE PARENT WHO DIED. FINDING SUPPORT FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR LOSS CAN HELP ADULT CHILDREN ADJUST COURSE AND REFOCUS ON BUILDING INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIVES. MEN'S RETREAT EMOTIONAL PROCESSING AND EXPRESSION CAN LOOK DIFFERENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN. GRIEF IS A COMPLEX EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND MEN OFTEN FEEL THEY MUST PROJECT STRENGTH, MASKING OR HANDLING THEIR EMOTIONS ALONE. MANY MEN PROCESS THEIR GRIEF THROUGH ACTION, AND HANDS-ON PROJECTS FOCUSED ON SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE GIVE A MUCH-NEEDED OUTLET AND ALLOW TIME AND SPACE TO PROCESS FEELINGS. DURING THIS EVENT, MEN IN THE FIRE HERO FAMILY COMMUNITY ENGAGE IN FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE PROJECTS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.

FIRE SERVICE PROGRAMS - THE 240 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NFFF'S PROGRAMMING AIMED AT REDUCING PREVENTABLE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS GENERATED FROM THE INITIATIVES PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CULTURE OF THE NATION'S CAREER, VOLUNTEER, COMBINATION AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS. THE EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THROUGH THE INITIATIVES, THE NFFF DEVELOPS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LIFE SAFETY TRAINING AND OFFICER DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE A MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS FIRE OFFICER. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AT NO- OR LOW-COST VIA THE NFFF'S ONLINE FIRE HERO TRAINING NETWORK AND/OR THE NFFF ADVOCATES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH REDUCING THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF FIRES; SUPPORTS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS; AND ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR TRAINING, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ADDRESSING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF STRESS. THE NFFF ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT ASSISTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO BOTH PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. "TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN" TRAINS OFFICERS IN PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING, SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION, FAMILY, FIRE CHIEF, INCIDENT COMMANDER, COMPANY OFFICER AND CO-WORKER SUPPORT, AND BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AND CO-WORKERS. LOCAL ASSISTANCE STATE TEAMS ARE MOBILIZED UPON REQUEST TO OFFER BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM LOGISTICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. THESE TRAINED TEAMS, LOCATED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE, ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS.