American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH)
The Gold Standard for Responder Behavioral Health
Responder behavioral health has never had a unified national authority—until now.
The American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) is the national accrediting body that sets and enforces the standards responder behavioral health systems must meet.
For the first time, public safety has one national benchmark built specifically for high-risk, trauma-exposed professions.
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The Crisis
Responder trauma isn’t just a workplace issue—it’s a public safety crisis.
Any call, any shift, any moment can bring trauma. And unlike the general public, responders face this exposure repeatedly.
Studies now show trauma levels equal to—and often greater than—combat veterans. Yet most behavioral health programs serving them still rely on general population models not built for this reality.
The result: inconsistent care, uneven support, and no unified national system.
FRBH is changing that through national accreditation, certification, and standards designed specifically for responder work.
Why It Matters
Despite the demands of responder work, most agencies still lack consistent, responder-specific behavioral health standards. The impact is measurable:
1 in 3 first responders develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—nearly twice the rate of the general population. (SAMHSA, 2018)
85% report symptoms of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, or substance use. (University of Phoenix Survey, 2017)
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in multiple responder fields. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021; First H.E.L.P., 2025)
The average adult experiences fewer than 3 traumatic events; responders face hundreds over a career.
These outcomes are not inevitable. They are the result of systems without standards.
Introducing Sustained Functional Resilience ™ (SFR)
A system where responders never have to ask for help—because support is built in.
Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR) is a systems-based organizational framework that embeds proactive, culturally aligned behavioral health support directly into agency operations. Instead of relying on responders to recognize they’re struggling or navigate services on their own, SFR ensures the system identifies stress early, initiates support automatically, and maintains long-term readiness.
Because no responder should have to carry the burden of asking for help—the system should already be taking care of them.
What Makes SFR Different
Unlike traditional wellness programs, SFR redesigns the entire behavioral health system—not just the services—so agencies can prevent crises instead of react to them.
Core Components of the SFR Framework
Proactive Organizational Readiness: Support is activated by design, not triggered by crisis or self-advocacy.
Culturally Aligned Support Structures: Built to match responder culture so engagement is natural, trusted, and stigma-free.
Clear Governance & Accountability: Defined roles and responsibilities eliminate gaps where responders typically fall through.
Defined Boundary Across Roles: Supervisors, clinicians, chaplains, and wellness staff understand their distinct functions in the system.
Sustainable, Consistent System Performance: Stability that endures leadership changes, staffing transitions, and operation demands.
Designed for Trauma-Exposed Workflows: Recognizes cumulative trauma as a constant, enabling the system to stay ahead of the need.
First responders face repeated, high-intensity trauma—and the systems meant to support them have never been designed for that reality. SFR provides the first unified organizational framework built specifically for modern public safety.
What FRBH Does
We accredit public safety agencies that meet the national behavioral health standards rooted in Sustained Functional Resilience™—ensuring responder care is accountable, consistent, and sustainable across the entire organization.
We certify clinicians, chaplains, peer professionals, program administrators, and social workers trained in responder-specific behavioral health, establishing the national competency benchmark for those who support the field.
We drive research, publish national guidance, and shape policy reforms that embed behavioral health standards into public safety at the state and national levels, strengthening the entire responder ecosystem.
We expand access to accreditation, training, and certification through scholarships and financial support—ensuring under-resourced and rural departments are not left behind.
Who We Serve
FRBH supports behavioral health systems across:
Fire Service
EMS & Paramedicine
Law Enforcement
Dispatch / 911
Corrections
Emergency Management
Search & Rescue
Crisis Response & Social Workers
What Makes FRBH Different
FRBH is the only organization that:
establishes national behavioral health standards for public safety
recognizes responder trauma as a chronic exposure, not a short-term condition
anchors care in Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR)
accredits agencies based on structural, cultural, and clinical readiness
certifies clinicians and peer supporters in responder-competent care
integrates culture, clinical care, leadership, and operational reality
supports long-term monitoring and functional readiness
provides the Behavioral Health Ecosystem for Public Safety
FRBH brings the same consistency to behavioral health that accreditation brings to hospitals, fire training, policing standards, and emergency management.
A National Movement for Accountability and Care.
FRBH is shaping the future of responder behavioral health—where every responder, every agency, and every professional operates under a unified national standard. Through our Behavioral Health Ecosystem for Public Safety, we united science, standards, and compassion to sustain those who serve on the front lines of every community.
Those who protect us deserve a system worthy of their service.