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—and one that defines what it means for a system to take responsibility so responders never have to ask for help.
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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, often for decades.
Responders face repeated, high-intensity trauma, yet most behavioral health programs rely on general population models not designed for this reality.
The result: uneven support, inconsistent care, and systems that rely on responders to ask for help.
FRBH is changing that through national standards and accreditation that place responsibility on the system—not the responder.
Why It Matters
Despite the demands of responder work, most agencies still lack consistent, responder-specific behavioral health standards. And the impact is clear:
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 that depend on responders to self-identify and ask for help. FRBH establishes the standards that prevent that burden from falling on responders.
Introducing Sustained Functional Resilience ™ (SFR)
A system where responders never have to ask for help—because the system takes responsibility.
Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR) is a systems-based organizational framework that embeds proactive, culturally aligned behavioral health support into everyday operations. It shifts the burden from responders having to ask for help to systems that identify stress early and activate support consistently and automatically.
Because no responder should carry the responsibility of asking for help—the system should already be taking care of them.
What Makes SFR Different
Unlike traditional wellness programs, SFR strengthens the behavioral health system itself—not just individual programs. It creates a unified, proactive approach that is culturally aligned, consistent, and designed for the realities of high-risk, trauma-exposed work.
Core Components of the SFR Framework
Proactive Readiness: Support is built into daily operations, not dependent on self-advocacy.
Culturally Aligned Support : Designed to match responder culture so engagement is natural and stigma-free..
Clear Accountability: Roles and responsibilities are defined so gaps are closed before responders fall through them.
Role Clarity: Everyone involved in care knows their lane and how they contribute to the system.
Stable System Performance: Designed to stay consistent through leadership changes, staffing shifts, and operational demands.
Built for Trauma-Exposure: Recognizes cumulative trauma as a constant and ensures the system stays ahead of need.
First responders face repeated, high-intensity trauma—but their support systems have never been designed for that reality. SFR provides the first unified, high-level 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™—verifying that systems are accountable, consistent, and capable of supporting responders without relying on them to ask for help.
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 trauma-exposed workforces.
We conduct 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 all public safety and frontline service fields, including:
Fire Service
EMS & Paramedicine
Law Enforcement
Dispatch / 911 Communications
Corrections
Emergency Management
Search & Rescue
Crisis Response & Social Services
These professions face repeated, high-intensity trauma—and deserve systems designed specifically for the realities of their work.
What Makes FRBH Different
FRBH is the only organization that:
establishes national behavioral health standards built specifically for public safety
recognizes responder trauma as a chronic exposure requiring system-level solutions
anchors standards in Sustained Functional Resilience™ (SFR), the first framework where systems—not responders—carry the responsibility for activating support
accredits agencies based on structural, cultural, and clinical readiness—not programs alone
certifies clinicians, chaplains, peer professionals, and wellness staff in responder-competent care
integrates culture, leadership, clinical practice, and operational reality into one unified system
supports ongoing monitoring, continuous improvement, and functional readiness
provides the Behavioral Health Ecosystem for Public Safety—the first unified architecture for responder behavioral health systems
FRBH brings the same rigor and 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 defining the future of responder behavioral health—one unified national standard built on system responsibility and Sustained Functional Resilience™. Through our Behavioral Health Ecosystem for Public Safety, we align science, standards, and compassion to create systems that support responders automatically and consistently.
Those who protect us deserve a system worthy of their service.