First H.E.L.P. Training

FirstNet – Built With AT&T provides First Responders with grant funded training provided First H.E.L.P..

FirstNet ® – Built with AT&T builds Mission Ready First Responders with First H.E.L.P. #ResponderReadiness Training
 

Auburn, MA January 19, 2022 – FirstNet – Built with AT&T and First H.E.L.P. have teamed up to provide dozens of communities and thousands of first responders with world-class mental health training through First H.E.L.P.’s #ResponderReadiness Workshop Series. 
First H.E.L.P. Chief Learning Officer Joe Willis worked with Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, the Director of Responder Wellness at FirstNet to organize this training opportunity.  Dr. Courie says, “the intent of this program is to bring high-quality mental health training to as many First Responders as possible.  Especially in rural communities.”  The vast majority of the nation’s emergency response capability is considered rural and covered by small groups of dedicated but often under-resourced first responders.  Many communities have volunteer fire and EMS departments, a handful of police officers, and rely on regional dispatchers.  Many states require mental health training but often this requirement is unfunded.  FirstNet is working to ease the burden for these communities by providing high-quality training at no cost.  
The two organizations hope to see this training reach as far into these rural communities as possible.  While the training is open to federal, state, and large municipal responders, priority will go to smaller communities.
First H.E.L.P.’s  #ResponderReadiness workshop series is a unique program that brings together all types of first responders and mental health providers in a cohesive training program where all participants develop skills built around a common set of principles.  Readers can learn more about the training on the First H.E.L.P. website.  

First Help will deliver two types of training at 20 locations throughout the country, focusing first on rural and suburban communities.  

3-Day Workshop Series

First H.E.L.P.’ s 3-Day workshop series allows communities to train up to 200 participants in dynamic and interactive 4-hour training events. The program consists of four (4) 4-hour workshops and a Train-the-Trainer program. Delivered on-site from Monday through Wednesday. The three days of training consists of two 4-hour #ResponderReadiness Workshops, one 4-hour #SupervisorReadiness Workshop, and one 4-hour #ProviderReadiness Workshop.  This grant focuses first on Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The state of Illinois will also receive a number of 1-Day workshops. This opportunity brings the #ResponderReadiness workshop to 400 First Responders in Illinois and targets Champaign,

Cook, DuPage, Grundy, McHenry, McLean, Ogle, Rock Island, Sangamon, and Stephenson Counties.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our community and we take their health and wellness seriously,” said Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. “This program has proven successful and we’re hoping our collaboration will allow more first responders to feel equipped both mentally and physically to handle their jobs.”
FirstNet, Built with AT&T is a public- private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government. It is designed to improve communications among first responders and members of the public safety community, allowing first responders to communicate and collaborate with one another during everyday situations, big events or emergencies.
This training program reinforces the strategic priorities established by the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) to support first responders and their families. The mission of the FNHWC is to integrate responder, community, industry, and academic capabilities to support the health, wellness, and readiness of American first responders.
FirstNet recognizes that first responders face significant health risks because of the work they do for our communities and the First H.E.L.P. mission aligns perfectly to support these men and women across every level of their profession.