Membership

Created by Firefighters for Firefighters (and our families)

Our Goals

Connect all fire service members to available resources
Grow the nationwide network of peer support team members from it's current 350 active members (1/30/17)

All money is collected by United Phoenix Firefighter Charities (Local 493) and either put back into the building of the website or used to help members with mental health and wellness needs.

What is Firestrong?

This is a website designed to be a point of reference for fire service members and their families. We have found that it can be difficult during times of stress for members to find the right resources such as counselors through your department's EAP (Employee Assistance Program), mental health benefits through your medical insurance, or peer support.
Personalized website! The idea is to give your department a personalized website that you can direct all your members to go to when they need to find resources dedicated to helping members with mental wellness. Having access to a confidential webpage that isn't connected to a department intranet or city website can give a member peace of mind. We at the Local 493 have seen first hand how having this type of access can save lives and serve our members better.
Membership is easy. If having a webpage is something you are interested in please go to the top of this page and hit "Contact us" and then "30 Day Trial". Fill out and submit that form to get started on your page. Filling out this form doesn't commit your department to the cost of a webpage, but it will generate an email with more information and allow you to see how easy it is to create and edit a webpage to show your department and Local membership.

What does membership include?

International platform for your Peer Support and Chaplain Teams.
- You will have a the ability to invite and manage all Peer Team and Chaplain profiles for your department
Personalized webpage resource page specific for your department
Secured log-in for your members to gain access to a variety of personalized tools including testimonials, peer support team network and resource pages.
Placement of YOUR Fire Department logo within the FIRESTRONG.ORG website
Access to professional counselors through the Fire Crisis Network Line: 844.525.FIRE (3473) (they are trained on your resources and handle most calls over the phone, they will connect member to your local resources if there is a need).
Updated general mental health information, assessments and financial fitness programs and resources.
Mental Health professional available through email for consultation and questions

Price: $1500 per year

Public Safety Crisis Solutions

This Website is managed by Public Safety Crisis Solutions (PSCS) Tech Services Division. Additional services are available by PSCS from professionals working in the Fire Service, including:

Peer Support Team oversight by a licensed therapist and fire service staff (500 - 2000 per month, depending on size/location of department
- Includes quarterly CE's for the team. And 24/7 access to clincial staff to support your peer team
Suicide Awareness Training
Resources Development and Training
Resiliency Train-the-trainer development of department wide training
2 day peer support team training

For more info, visit their website using the following link:
http://pscrisissolutions.com/

PSCS also provides Behavioral Health Assistance Program benefits to Fire Departments. NFPA recommends BHAP over the traditional EAP services. Download the following article for details:
From EAP to BHAP

IAFF Peer Support Team Training

The stresses faced by fire service members throughout the course of their careers – multiple casualty events, violence, injury to children and the inherent dangers of fire fighting – can have a cumulative impact on mental health and well-being. Peer support programs have been demonstrated to be an effective method for providing support to occupational groups, including fire fighters.

After completing the IAFF training, members will become IAFF Trained Peer Supporters and have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide support to their peers; educate brothers and sisters about behavioral health (e.g., PTSD and resilience); serve as a bridge to behavioral health programs and community resources; and build or enhance their peer support programs.

IAFF Peer Support Training Information Guide:

https://www.iaff.org/peer-support

GET YOUR DEPARTMENT STARTED!!! 30-DAY TRIAL NOW AVAILABLE

Click on the button below to sign up:
REGISTER

How to use the website and the benefits your members would receive:

What does it look like? Here is a tutorial for managing your PEER SUPPORT and CHAPLAIN TEAMS.

As always, if you have any questions please click on the contact us menu at the top of the page and send us an email. You can also click register to get your department started. Fill out the boxes on the registration form and somebody will be in contact with you soon to discuss the options available to you.

Thank you,

Firestrong

1. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel tired out for no good reason?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

2. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel nervous?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

3. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel so nervous that nothing could calm you down?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

4. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel hopeless?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

5. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel restless or fidgety?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker? ("normal" - drink as much or less than most other people)?
	No
	Yes

2. Have you ever awakened the morning after some drinking the night before and found that you could not remember a part of the evening?
	No
	Yes

3. Does any near relative or close friend ever worry or complain about your drinking?
	No
	Yes

4. Can you stop drinking without difficulty after one or two drinks?
	No
	Yes

6. Have you ever attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
	No
	Yes

7. Have you ever gotten into physical fights when drinking?
	No
	Yes

8. Has drinking ever created problems between you and a near relative or close friend?
	No
	Yes

9. Has any family member or close friend gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
	No
	Yes

10. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
	No
	Yes

11. Have you ever gotten into trouble at work because of drinking?
	No
	Yes

14. Do you drink before noon fairly often?
	No
	Yes

16. After heavy drinking have you ever had delirium tremens (D.T.?s), severe shaking, visual or auditory (hearing) hallucinations?
	No
	Yes

19. Has your drinking ever resulted in your being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward?
	No
	Yes

1. I was bothered by things that don't usually bother me.
	Rarely or none of the time (<1 day)
	Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
	Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
	Most or all of the time (5-7 days)

13. Have you ever neglected your obligations, your family, or your work for two or more days in a row because you were drinking?
	No
	Yes

15. Have you ever been told you have liver trouble such as cirrhosis?
	No
	Yes

17. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
	No
	Yes

18. Have you ever been hospitalized because of drinking?
	No
	Yes

20. Have you ever gone to any doctor, social worker, clergyman or mental health clinic for help with any emotional problem in which drinking was part of the problem?
	No
	Yes

21. Have you been arrested more than once for driving under the influence of alcohol?
	No
	Yes

22. Have you ever been arrested, even for a few hours, because of other behavior while drinking?
	No
	Yes

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
	No
	Yes

2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
	No
	Yes

3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
	No
	Yes

Membership

Created by Firefighters for Firefighters (and our families)

Our Goals

What is Firestrong?

What does membership include?

Public Safety Crisis Solutions

IAFF Peer Support Team Training

GET YOUR DEPARTMENT STARTED!!! 30-DAY TRIAL NOW AVAILABLE

Alcohol Assessment

Alcohol Dependence Assessment

Anxiety & Distress Assessment

Depression Assessment

Drug Abuse Assessment

PTSD Assessment

4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?
	No
	Yes

6. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel so restless you could not sit still?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

7. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel depressed?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

8. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel that everything was an effort?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

9. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel so sad that nothing could cheer you up?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

10. In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel worthless?
	None of the time
	A little of the time
	Some of the time
	Most of the time
	All of the time

2. I did not feel like eating; my appetite was poor.
	Rarely or none of the time (<1 day)
	Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
	Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
	Most or all of the time (5-7 days)

3. I felt that I could not shake off the blues even with the help of my family or friends.
	Rarely or none of the time (<1 day)
	Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
	Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
	Most or all of the time (5-7 days)

4. I felt that I was just as good as other people.
	Rarely or none of the time (<1 day)
	Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
	Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
	Most or all of the time (5-7 days)

5. I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing.
	Rarely or none of the time (<1 day)
	Some or a little of the time (1-2 days)
	Occasionally or a moderate amount of the time (3-4 days)
	Most or all of the time (5-7 days)