National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

TO HONOR AMERICA'S FALLEN FIRE HEROES; SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, AND ORGANIZATIONS; AND WORK TO REDUCE PREVENTABLE FIREFIGHTER DEATH AND INJURY.

FAMILY PROGRAMS - PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FALLEN FIREFIGHTER SURVIVORS (FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS) TO ASSIST THEM IN REBUILDING THEIR LIVES. PEER SUPPORT GROUPS MEET WEEKLY. THE 90-MINUTE SESSION ENABLE FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS TO MEET INFORMALLY WITH OTHER FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, STRUGGLES, AND IDEAS ON COPING WITH GRIEF. PROFESSIONALLY FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUPS ARE HELD EACH WEEK THROUGH ZOOM. LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST PROVIDE COUNSELING TO FAMILY MEMBERS STRUGGLING WITH GRIEF. MONTHLY VIRTUAL SESSIONS FOSTERS CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN FAMILIES TO HELP BUILD LOCAL CONNECTIONS, SHARE INFORMATION, AND FIND RESOURCES CLOSER TO HOME. MEN FORGING AHEAD PROVIDES GRIEVING FATHERS, SONS, SPOUSES AND LIFE PARTNERS A PLACE TO DISCUSS THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCES IN GRIEF AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. A MONTHLY REMEMBRANCE SUPPORT GROUP IS HELD FOR FAMILIES WHOSE FIREFIGHTER DIED DURING THAT MONTH TO HELP SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR FIREFIGHTERS' DEATH, FIRE HERO FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK MEMBERS PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT TO NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES. FAMILIES WERE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH NETWORK MEMBERS. THERE WERE 356 NETWORK MEMBERS WHO SENT 4,630 REMEMBRANCE CARDS TO FAMILIES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DEATH. THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHED SIX ISSUES OF THE JOURNEY FEATURING ARTICLES WRITTEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT PROVIDE SURVIVOR-TO-SURVIVOR SUPPORT AFTER EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF A FIREFIGHTER IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY. EACH ISSUE WAS SENT TO MORE THAN 3,500 SURVIVORS AND POSTED ON THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARED TO SPOUSES, LIFE PARTNERS, CHILDREN, AND STEPCHILDREN, ENABLING THEM TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. 41 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN 2022.HELD TWO VIRTUAL BEREAVEMENT CAMPS TO HELP CHILDREN AGES 4-6 COPE WITH THE LOSS OF A PARENT. 17 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE VIRTUAL CAMP HAL PROGRAMS. CAMP PROVIDES CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND GAIN TOOLS TO COPE WITH THEIR GRIEF. A WEEKEND BEREAVEMENT CAMP WAS HELD IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-17. 55 CHILDREN ATTENDED. WHILE CHILDREN WERE AT CAMP, PARENTS ATTENDED SESSIONS PROVIDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE GRIEF PROCESS. A FIRE HERO FAMILY WELLNESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN ROCHESTER, NY. WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON PROACTIVE APPROACHES THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED TO NAVIGATE THE GRIEVING PROCESS AND BUILD RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING GRIEF.HOSTED THE FIRST MEN'S RETREAT FOR MEN IN THE FIRE HERO FAMILY COMMUNITY (HUSBANDS, LIFE PARTNERS, FATHERS/STEPFATHERS, SONS/STEPSONS, BROTHERS/STEPBROTHERS) IN ESTES PARK, CO. 21 MEN PARTICIPATED. THE RETREAT FOCUSED ON THE WAYS GRIEF CAN MANIFEST AND EVOLVE AND PROVIDED TIPS ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOURSELF AND FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT GRIEF REACTIONS. FOR CHILDREN OF FALLEN FIREFIGHERS AGES 18-25 A YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT WAS HELD IN ESTES PARK, COLORADO. GRIEF CALLS FOR A REORIENTATION OF SELF; 15 ATTENDEES LEARNED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ORIENTATION PRACTICES TO USE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND HOW TO INTERGRATE THE LOSS IN A WAY THAT HONORS THEIR FIREFIGHTER PARENT AND PAVES A WAY FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD.

FIRE SERVICE PROGRAMS - THE 16 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE NFFF'S PROGRAMMING AIMED AT REDUCING PREVENTABLE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS AND INJURIES IN THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS GENERATED FROM THE INITIATIVES PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CULTURE OF THE NATION'S CAREER, VOLUNTEER, COMBINATION AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS. THE EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THROUGH THE INITIATIVES, THE NFFF DEVELOPS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LIFE SAFETY TRAINING AND OFFICER DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE A MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS FIRE OFFICER. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AT NO- OR LOW-COST VIA THE NFFF'S ONLINE FIRE HERO TRAINING NETWORK AND/OR THE NFFF AVOCATES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT ADVANCE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH REDUCING THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF FIRES; SUPPORTS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS; AND ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR TRAINING, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ADDRESSING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF STRESS. THE NFFF ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT ASSISTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO BOTH PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. "TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN" TRAINS OFFICERS IN PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING, SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION, FAMILY, FIRE CHIEF, INCIDENT COMMANDER, COMPANY OFFICER AND CO-WORKER SUPPORT, AND BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AND CO-WORKERS. LOCAL ASSISTANCE STATE TEAMS ARE MOBILIZED UPON REQUEST TO OFFER BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM LOGISTICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. THESE TRAINED TEAMS, LOCATED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE, ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS.

MEMORIAL WEEKEND A NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN MAY, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES HONORING 148 FIREFIGHTERS. 108 WHO DIED IN 2021 AND 40 FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE NFFF PROVIDED LODGING, MEALS, AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. 704 FIRE HERO FAMILIES ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND. GRIEF AND OTHER COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED FOR 349 FAMILY SURVIVORS. 462 HONOR GUARD UNITS AND 230 FIRE SERVICE FAMILY ESCORTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN HONORING THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 126 FAMILY SURVIVORS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS RETURNED TO ASSIST WITH NEW FAMILY REGISTRATION AND NEW FAMILY DAY ACTIVITIES. MORE THAN 5,500 ATTENDED THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE. THE MEMORIAL SERVICES WERE LIVE STREAMED AND BROADCAST OVER THE INTERNET.