Why do we need the FIRST program?

Our cities are only as good as our emergency services.  Business will not come to our cities or our state if our emergency services, and most importantly our police personnel, are not up to par, motivated, and mentally, physically and emotionally up to the task at hand. Things such as Superbowls, Olympics, and very large events that would be good for our cities and for our state, will not choose Texas if the emergency services and their personnel are not fit for duty. All government officials have indicated that as far as “catastrophes” go, it is really only a question of “when” and “where”, not “if”.  In this climate, and especially in Texas, we are vulnerable.  We want our police personnel to be able to afford to get the help that they need, and have resources to turn to for this assistance.  What good does it do for an overweight, overstressed, unmotivated, police officer to try to apprehend a criminal?  We want our police officers to feel good, healthy and motivated, to do the job(s) that the rest of us want them to do so that we may feel, AND BE, safe.  They put their lives on the line for us, daily, and suffer consequences from doing so, and very often have nowhere to turn to put the pieces back together when they may come apart.

Why can they not just use their health benefits for these services?

First of all, very often in small towns, small communities and small budgets, mental health benefits and overall wellness inspired benefits are not included despite the amounts of stress experienced, by most emergency responders.  Secondly, if emergency responders to have mental health benefits, they very often include providers who are not well experienced, and do not have much experience in working with the stress and other sometimes overwhelming issues found in an emergency responder’s career path.  Also, because of “fitness for duty” issues in most emergency responder occupations, there is a fear on the part of the emergency responder to seek help for fear that it will “get back” to the department, and they could lose their job, position, rank, and therefore their career, pension, etc. 

How is the FIRST Program funded?

 Individual Co-Payments - For individual counseling services- police personnel will pay a “co-pay” similar to what they would pay if they were using their mental health benefits. This generates a small amount of income from the people using these services, but also serves to get them to “invest” in their treatment and treatment plan.  Additionally, the counselors and wellness providers will have a lower negotiated fee, similar to what they would if they were involved in a managed healthcare network of some kind. 

Grants – There are many federal and state grants available for assistance in emergency service responder community. From what I have gathered in talking to people that have worked in the non-profit arena, federal and state funds are more easily accessible and more often approved for an established non-profit organization.  The separate programs that we would provide, are each eligible in their own right for different grant opportunities (research, counseling and wellness program)

Private Funding – I believe, whole-heartedly, that people, individuals, businesses, and corporations, are willing to donate to the betterment of the law enforcement community.  I think if they knew some of the restrictions, stressors and inherent problems in this population, they would be willing to donate and support this cause, be a “corporate sponsor”, etc., (think gun sponsors, ammo, tactical “gear” sponsors, emergency responder technical manufacturers, etc.) The community at large is aware that police officers are underpaid and overworked, and that they work in a dangerous environment so that “we” can feel a little safer. 

Who are the Service Providers?

The FIRST program will secure a provider list of wellness, stress management and counseling professionals that have extensive experience in depression, stress management, relationship issues, substance abuse, nutrition, health/fitness and overall wellness enhancing and stress management providers who also have experience in working with emergency responders.  These providers will be pre-screened by the Executive Director of the FIRST program, and will have agreed to provide services for a lower fee to those patrons referred by the FIRST program.  They will agree to take a partial payment (co pay) from the emergency responder seeking services, and will then bill the FIRST program for the balance due of the negotiated fee.