New York, MARCH 26, 2024—First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing programs and services to first responder families of U.S. State and Federal first responders, which includes firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchers, today announced that it will be providing up to 150 hours per month of free and confidential mental health resilience counseling to children of Hawaii first responders through a partnership with Seaglass Mental Health. FRCF will provide up to 10 hours every month of expert therapy—at no cost to families—to help first responders’ children manage, process and deal with a range of emotional challenges specific to their unique needs.
“Children of first responders can experience a variety of mental health issues due to the stress, trauma, and uncertainty that their parent(s) experience in their line of work,” said Jillian Crane, President and CEO of First Responders Children’s Foundation. “This can manifest in the form of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbances, and developmental delays. Children of first responders may need extra emotional support due to the high-stress environment that their family is in, so FRCF is making available to them up to 10 hours of counseling with culturally competent, trauma-trained therapists.”
“We at Sea Glass Mental Health are thrilled to partner with the First Responders Children Foundation. This partnership symbolizes our commitment to the well-being of first responders’ families and our gratitude for their service. Together, we aim to create a supportive community that values mental health and ensures those who protect us have the support they need. This partnership marks a significant step towards accessible mental health care and honors the sacrifices of our first responders and their loved ones,” said Jaena Abarzua, Founder & Clinical Therapist of Sea Glass Mental Health.
The First Responders Children’s Foundation Resiliency Program will start accepting applications immediately for first responder families living in Hawaii. Applications can be found online at 1stRCF.org.
The First Responders Children’s Foundation Resiliency Program has been developed to be:
• Free
• Confidential and anonymous
• Provided by licensed mental health professionals
The FRCF Resiliency program is currently available in Seven states including California, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Texas.
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ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION (FRCF)
First Responders Children’s Foundation is a national foundation that provides programs and resources that address the specific needs of children of first responders. The Foundation focuses on critical areas, including scholarships, financial assistance grants; bereavement assistance, mental health counseling for children; disaster relief; and community engagement programs to foster positive relationships between first responder agencies and the communities they serve. FRCF was founded over 22 years ago in response to 9/11 when 800 children lost a first responder parent. Additional information about FRCF can be found at www.1stRCF.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1strcf.
ABOUT SEAGLASS MENTAL HEALTH
Sea Glass Mental Health (SGMH) is a woman and therapist-owned group mental health practice that provides Telehealth individual, couples and family therapy services across Arizona and Hawaii. SGMH is a solution-focused practice rooted in helping clients find the emotional support they need to live the life they want. It is our mission to provide mental health care that is safe, compassionate and results-focused. SGMH pledges to offer fast access to a therapist, accessible and affordable care. We understand that mental health is not a ‘one-size-fits all’ service. Our therapists will work with you so you can take the steps needed to move forward. Additional information about SGMH can be found at www.seaglassmentalhealth.com and on Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram.