For Fort Worth Police & Fire Departments Wellness Program to Address Moral Injury

After announcing its new Wellness Unit and related initiatives just three months ago, the R3 Wellness Program has extended its deadline for additional program partners for the Fort Worth Police and Fire Departments R3 - Respond, Restore, Resolve Wellness program. R3’s new deadline to receive applications for complimentary support services is August 30, 2024. Apply here.

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First responders hike in the Colorado mountains as part of their resiliency training with the American Warrior Association, a training partner within R3: Respond. Restore. Resolve. (Photo: Business Wire)

Desired program partners include organizations who can offer “free of charge” or donated services in the areas of financial literacy, marriage and family counseling support, addiction/substance abuse, moral injury cumulative build-up counseling and general physical health; and have a proven history of working with first responders and first responder-related issues and environments. Qualifications for program partners include at least three years of providing care to first responders and must be a 501(c)3 organization.

Partner organizations and programs will be reviewed and approved through the R3 Partner Vetting Committee within the Police and Fire Department Wellness Unit which houses the R3 Program.

“We continue to hear from program participants how life changing this training is for first responders, their families and ultimately, our communities,” said American Warrior Association Executive Director Anna Heil. “In an alarming trend, more first responders lose their lives to suicide than in the line of duty. Because of this stark reality, we must continue our commitment to helping them deal with the daily long-term impacts of moral injury. We have no choice.”

R3 offers benefits that extend across all fronts. First responders gain access to crucial tools and resources enabling them to address moral injury, ultimately fostering resilience and well-being. For departments and agencies, the program promotes a healthier workforce, leading to reduced absenteeism and improved overall performance and morale. Together, these efforts will directly benefit the community by enhancing officers’ mental strength to de-escalate situations; ultimately strengthening relationships between first responders and the communities they serve.

Rooted in Fort Worth, R3 is designed for scalability with the AWA at the helm to ultimately guide its expansion across the nation. The first of its kind, the R3 program serves as a model for addressing first responder wellness, ensuring communities everywhere can benefit from its innovative approach.

About AWA/R3

The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The AWA is dedicated to honoring our Nation’s military, veterans, first responders, and their families in mind, body, and soul.

R3 - Respond. Restore. Resolve. — American Warrior Association (AWA) (awa-usa.org)

FWPD, The City of Fort Worth, & FWFP Alongside the American Warrior Association Launch R3 Program

Susan Medina, 817.707.1306 Brooke Goggans, 617.680.1048 The Collaborative