Code of Ethics and Ethical Framework

Our Commitment

The American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) establishes and administers a national Code of Ethics and Ethical Framework governing how responder behavioral health systems are designed, governed, and held accountable across public safety.

All FRBH-accredited organizations and affiliated entities operating within FRBH-aligned systems are required to adhere to this Code of Ethics. The Code ensures that responder behavioral health protection is delivered through accountable, governed, and transparent organizational systems, rather than informal, discretionary, or ad hoc arrangements.

This Code of Ethics defines how ethical responsibility is embedded into organizational systems, governance, and oversight. It does not regulate individual clinical practice, licensure, professional certification, or treatment decisions.

Purpose

The FRBH Code of Ethics and Ethical Framework exist to:

  • Safeguard the welfare, dignity, and rights of responders and their families

  • Promote system-level integrity, cultural alignment, and ethical governance across public safety

  • Establish national expectations for confidentiality, accountability, and organizational responsibility

  • Define ethical obligations of organizations entrusted with responder behavioral health protection

  • Provide a transparent framework for oversight, enforcement, and continuous system improvement

Adherence to this Code of Ethics is a condition of FRBH accreditation and organizational affiliation.

Core Ethical Principles

Integrity & Systems Accountability

Organizations shall operate with honesty, transparency, and professional responsibility. System design and governance shall prioritize responder welfare, safety, and public trust.

Confidentiality & Trust

Organizations shall implement lawful, system-level confidentiality protections through formal policies, controls, and oversight mechanisms consistent with applicable federal and state requirements (e.g., HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2). Confidentiality shall not rely on discretionary or informal practice.

Operational Alignment & Cultural Understanding

Behavioral health systems shall be governed with demonstrated understanding of responder culture, cumulative trauma exposure, and public safety operational realities.

Equity & Non-Discrimination

Organizations shall ensure non-preferential, equitable access to behavioral health system protections regardless of discipline, rank, role, identity, or belief.

Ethical Systems Collaboration

Interagency and interdisciplinary collaboration shall occur through formally governed, documented systems. Informal, undocumented, or personality-driven arrangements shall not substitute for accountable system design.

Prevention of Harm

Systems shall be designed to anticipate predictable occupational risk, support early intervention, and protect responders from avoidable psychological, moral, or organizational injury.

Conflicts of Interest & Boundary Protection

Organizations shall maintain clear structural boundaries and prevent conflicts of interest, dual roles, or undue influence that compromise system integrity or responder trust.

Data Integrity & Protection

System-level data shall be accurate, lawfully managed, and used exclusively for system oversight, quality improvement, and accountability—not for discipline, retaliation, or individual performance evaluation.

Public Trust & Stewardship

FRBH-accredited organizations act as stewards of responder behavioral health systems and are responsible for maintaining public trust through ethical governance and accountability.

Ethical System Expectations (Organizational)

This Code of Ethics is operationalized at the organizational system level and informs accreditation review, verification, and enforcement. It does not replace or duplicate FRBH accreditation standards.

FRBH-accredited organizations shall maintain:

  • Ethical leadership and governance structures

  • Non-punitive, confidential access pathways within behavioral health systems

  • Governed peer support and responder assistance infrastructures

  • Verifiable critical incident and post-exposure system processes

  • Workforce education aligned with FRBH system expectations

  • Ongoing system evaluation and accountability mechanisms

Compliance & Oversight

FRBH-accredited organizations formally agree to:

  • Adhere to the FRBH Code of Ethics and Ethical Framework

  • Participate in scheduled reviews, audits, and verification processes

  • Report material ethical or system failures

  • Cooperate with remediation and corrective action requirements

Violations may result in:

  • Corrective action requirements

  • Probationary status

  • Suspension of accreditation

  • Revocation of accreditation

  • Changes to public accreditation status

Ethical review processes are administrative and system-focused. They do not constitute clinical investigation, professional discipline, or licensure action. All enforcement actions are governed by FRBH’s formal accreditation and governance processes.

Scope Clarification

FRBH does not regulate:

  • Individual licensure

  • Clinical practice

  • Professional certification

  • Treatment decisions

Ethical enforcement applies exclusively to organizational systems, governance, and accountability structures, not to individual clinicians or professional conduct.