American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH)
Strength in Service. Support in Healing.
The American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) is an independent, national nonprofit organization that sets the benchmark for behavioral health in public safety.
We certify professionals and accredit agencies serving firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, dispatch, and corrections—ensuring care is trauma-informed, culturally competent, and evidence-based.
FRBH credentialing and accreditation represent the gold standard in responder behavioral health, ensuring those who protect us receive the highest quality of care.
What We Do
FRBH goes beyond traditional credentialing and accreditation. We bridge clinical excellence with operational reality—uniting evidence-based standards and the lived experience of public safety professionals. Through credentialing, accreditation, systems support, advocacy, and policy engagement, FRBH raises the national standard of care for those who serve.
• Credentialing: Establishing national credentials for behavioral health practitioners, social workers, chaplains, and peer professionals serving first responders.
• Accreditation: Defining and evaluating organizational standards rooted in public-safety realities and clinical best practices.
• Systems Support: Helping agencies build sustainable, culturally aligned programs that integrate prevention, intervention, and recovery.
• Advocacy & Policy: Advancing policies that reduce stigma, expand access, and strengthen resilience across the responder community.
First Responders Face Greater Health Risk
Traditional mental health systems weren’t built for first responders. They face traumatic events, life-or-death decisions, and high-stakes environments every day—yet most behavioral health frameworks were never designed with these realities in mind. FRBH was founded to change that.
The Data Speaks for Itself:
- 1 in 3 first responders develops 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)
- First responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021; First H.E.L.P., 2025)
Support the Mental Health of Those Who Serve
Your donation helps fill a vital gap—fueling advocacy, education, and outreach that ensure first responders and their families receive the care they deserve.
Disclaimer: All donations to the American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) are fully tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
A National Movement in First Responder Behavioral Health.
FRBH is both a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an independent credentialing and accrediting board. We advance the mental health and well-being of first responders while ensuring that every practitioner and agency meets the nation's highest behavioral health standards. By bridging the gap between healthcare accreditation and public safety operations, FRBH delivers a unified, trauma-informed framework that prioritizes the well-being of our emergency workforce.
