National Curriculum for First Responder Behavioral Healthcare
Building Cultural Competence and Clinical Readiness in First Responder Care
The FRBH Core Curriculum equips behavioral health practitioners with the specialized knowledge and cultural competence needed to effectively serve those who serve others. Each domain reflects the operational realities, occupational hazards, and unique psychological demands of public safety and frontline service work. Through this comprehensive program, practitioners develop a deep understanding of first responder culture, trauma exposure, resilience, and the systemic factors that shape wellness and performance across fire, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, and health and human services communities.
-
-
Culture and Occupational Realities of Responders
Introduces the culture, structure, and daily realities of fire, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, and allied frontline personnel such as caseworkers, crisis coordinators, and victim advocates. Practitioners learn how rank, shift work, camaraderie, and occupational identity shape worldview, resilience, and help-seeking behaviors across disciplines.
Introduces the culture, structure, and daily realities of fire, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, and allied frontline personnel such as caseworkers, crisis coordinators, and victim advocates. Practitioners learn how rank, shift work, camaraderie, and occupational identity shape worldview, resilience, and help-seeking behaviors across disciplines.
-
-
-
Trauma, Moral Injury, and Cumulative Stress
Explores how repeated exposure to trauma, moral conflict, and human suffering affects responders over time. Emphasizes recognizing occupationally specific trauma patterns and integrating moral-injury awareness into clinical work.
Explores how repeated exposure to trauma, moral conflict, and human suffering affects responders over time. Emphasizes recognizing occupationally specific trauma patterns and integrating moral-injury awareness into clinical work.
-
Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention
Examines the unique risk factors, warning signs, and barriers to care within first responder populations. Provides evidence-based strategies for intervention and for supporting agencies after a suicide loss.
Examines the unique risk factors, warning signs, and barriers to care within first responder populations. Provides evidence-based strategies for intervention and for supporting agencies after a suicide loss.
-
Substance Use, Sleep, and Family Systems
Analyzes how operational stress, shift work, and sleep disruption contribute to substance use and family strain. Practitioners learn to contextualize clinical presentations within the responder lifestyle and design recovery-supportive interventions.
Analyzes how operational stress, shift work, and sleep disruption contribute to substance use and family strain. Practitioners learn to contextualize clinical presentations within the responder lifestyle and design recovery-supportive interventions.
-
-
-
Peer Support and CISM Integration
Clarifies how peer-support and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) programs operate inside agencies. Clinicians learn to collaborate with peer teams, provide clinical consultation, and understand boundaries between peer and professional roles.
Clarifies how peer-support and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) programs operate inside agencies. Clinicians learn to collaborate with peer teams, provide clinical consultation, and understand boundaries between peer and professional roles.
-
-
-
Confidentiality, Ethics, and Legal Considerations
Reviews ethical and legal complexities specific to working with first responders, including confidentiality in small communities, dual relationships, mandated reporting, and fitness-for-duty communications.
Reviews ethical and legal complexities specific to working with first responders, including confidentiality in small communities, dual relationships, mandated reporting, and fitness-for-duty communications.
-
Neurodiversity, Disabilities, and Special Populations in Public Safety Response
Helps practitioners understand the emotional and operational impact on responders who engage with neurodiverse individuals, people with developmental disabilities, or other special populations. Emphasizes clinical empathy and contextual awareness when debriefing or supporting responders after these encounters.
Helps practitioners understand the emotional and operational impact on responders who engage with neurodiverse individuals, people with developmental disabilities, or other special populations. Emphasizes clinical empathy and contextual awareness when debriefing or supporting responders after these encounters.
-
-
-
Navigating Systems: EAP, OWCP, Return-to-Duty, and Leadership Interfaces
Explains the organizational systems that influence responder wellness. Practitioners gain insight into EAP processes, workers’ compensation (OWCP), return-to-duty evaluations, and leadership communication channels.
Explains the organizational systems that influence responder wellness. Practitioners gain insight into EAP processes, workers’ compensation (OWCP), return-to-duty evaluations, and leadership communication channels.
-
Program Development, Data, and Outcomes Evaluation
Prepares clinicians to contribute to or lead responder wellness initiatives. Covers needs assessment, outcome measurement, and data-informed program evaluation to demonstrate effectiveness to agency leadership.
Prepares clinicians to contribute to or lead responder wellness initiatives. Covers needs assessment, outcome measurement, and data-informed program evaluation to demonstrate effectiveness to agency leadership.
-
-
-
Equity and Stigma Reduction in Public Safety
Addresses cultural and gender identity factors that shape stigma and access to care within responder communities. Teaches clinicians to recognize systemic barriers and foster inclusive, psychologically safe environments.
Addresses cultural and gender identity factors that shape stigma and access to care within responder communities. Teaches clinicians to recognize systemic barriers and foster inclusive, psychologically safe environments.
-
Operational Stress, Resilience, and Performance Psychology
Connects occupational stress to performance and recovery. Practitioners examine resilience models, tactical stress management, and how mindset identity, and purpose influence responder well-being.
Connects occupational stress to performance and recovery. Practitioners examine resilience models, tactical stress management, and how mindset identity, and purpose influence responder well-being.
-
Crisis Leadership and Organizational Culture
Explores leadership styles, organizational culture, and communication patterns that affect responder behavioral health. Practitioners learn to support leadership engagement and advise agencies on cultivating psychologically healthy workplaces.
Explores leadership styles, organizational culture, and communication patterns that affect responder behavioral health. Practitioners learn to support leadership engagement and advise agencies on cultivating psychologically healthy workplaces.
-
-
-
Technology, Telehealth, and AI in First Responder Behavioral Health
Examines emerging technologies—telehealth, digital platforms, and AI-assisted tools—used to enhance access and early intervention in responder care. Emphasizes ethics, privacy, and effective virtual engagement.
Examines emerging technologies—telehealth, digital platforms, and AI-assisted tools—used to enhance access and early intervention in responder care. Emphasizes ethics, privacy, and effective virtual engagement.
-