Our Commitment

The American Board of First Responder Behavioral Healthcare (FRBH) establishes and enforces the national ethical and professional standards that guide behavioral health practice across public safety.

Every FRBH-certified practitioner, accredited organization, and partner is bound by these standards—ensuring that all care provided to responders is competent, confidential, equitable, and accountable.

Our Standards and Code of Ethics define how excellence is practiced, not just how it is measured.

Purpose

The FRBH Standards and Code of Ethics exist to:

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

• Promote professional integrity and cultural competence across the responder behavioral health field.

• Establish consistent expectations for ethical conduct, confidentiality, and accountability.

• Provide a transparent framework for decision-making and oversight among FRBH-certified practitioners and accredited agencies.

Every FRBH-certified practitioner and accredited organization pledges to uphold the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and cultural respect for the nation’s first responders and their families.

Core Ethical Principles

• Integrity and Accountability

  • Act with honesty, transparency, and professionalism in all interactions. Decisions must prioritize the well-being and safety of those served.

• Confidentiality and Trust

  • Protect all personal and operational information with the highest level of discretion and compliance with applicable privacy laws (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, etc.)

• Competence and Cultural Alignment

  • Demonstrate and maintain specialized knowledge of responder culture, trauma, and evidence-based practice. Continuous learning and supervision are required.

• Equity and Non-Discrimination

  • Deliver services without bias, ensuring equal access to care regardless of rank, role, identity, or belief.

• Ethical Collaboration

  • Work collaboratively across disciplines and systems with respect, transparency, and professionalism.

• Prevention of Harm

  • Take all reasonable steps to prevent physical, emotional, or moral harm to those served and to intervene when safety or ethics are at risk.

• Professional Boundaries and Conduct

  • Maintain clear and appropriate boundaries. Avoid conflicts of interest and dual relationships that compromise objectivity or client trust.

• Research and Data Integrity

  • Conduct and report research, data, and outcomes honestly, accurately, and solely for the purpose of improving systems of care.

• Responsibility to the Profession

  • Represent FRBH with integrity, contribute to public trust, and advance the field through mentorship, leadership, and ethical example.

FRBH Standards of Practice

The FRBH Standards operationalize these ethical principles across both individual practice and organizational systems, forming the foundation of national accreditation and certification.

• Practitioner Standards

  • Leadership & Governance: Uphold the FRBH Standards and Code of Ethics; report ethical concerns promptly.

  • Clinical & Support Services: Deliver culturally competent, trauma-informed, evidence-based care.

  • Peer Support & Resilience: Maintain confidentiality and clear boundaries in peer relationships.

  • Critical Incident Response: Apply FRBH-aligned CISM and postvention protocols ethically and consistently.

  • Education & Competence: Complete continuing education and remain current in FRBH domains.

  • Data & Evaluation: Use data responsibly, maintaining confidentiality and objectivity.

• Organizational Standards

  • Leadership & Governance: Maintain ethical policies, governance oversight, and transparent reporting.

  • Clinical & Support Services: Ensure access to qualified FRBH-certified providers and systems aligned with FRBH standards.

  • Peer Support & Resilience: Operate structured, supervised peer support programs with measurable outcomes.

  • Critical Incident Response: Document, evaluate, and continuously improve incident response and recovery processes.

  • Education & Competence: Provide ongoing workforce training and quality improvement tied to FRBH benchmarks.

  • Data & Evaluation: Track outcomes, report transparently, and use data to enhance systems of care.

Compliance and Oversight

All FRBH-certified professionals and accredited agencies agree to:

• Adhere to the FRBH Standards and Code of Ethics as a condition of certification or accreditation.

• Participate in periodic audits, ethics reviews, and continuing education.

• Report suspected or confirmed violations to the FRBH Ethics Review Committee.

• Cooperate fully with investigations, remediation, and corrective action processes.

Violations may result in disciplinary actions, including probation, suspension, or revocation of FRBH credentials or accreditation status.

Report an Ethics Concern →