National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER AMERICA'S FALLEN FIRE HEROES, TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ASSIST THEIR FAMILIES IN REBUILDING THEIR LIVES, AND TO WORK WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE FIREFIGHTER DEATHS AND INJURIES.

FAMILY PROGRAMS - PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FALLEN FIREFIGHTER SURVIVORS TO ASSIST THEM IN REBUILDING THEIR LIVES. CREATED DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, NFFF CONNECT IS AN ONLINE HUB THAT PROVIDES A "COMMUNITY" FOR FAMILIES WHEN THEY CAN'T GATHER IN PERSON. RESOURCES INCLUDE VIDEOS, WORKSHOPS, NEWS AND TOOLKITS FOCUSING ON SELF-CARE, WELLNESS, AND HELPING OTHERS.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 PROVIDES COUNSELING TO FAMILY MEMBERS STRUGGLING WITH GRIEF.MONTHLY VIRTUAL SESSIONS INCLUDE A STATE CONNECTIONS GROUP WHICH 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. TO HELP SUPPORT FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR FIREFIGHTERS' DEATH, A MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP IS HELD FOR FAMILIES WHOSE FIREFIGHTER DIED DURING THAT MONTH.FIRE HERO FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK MEMBERS PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT TO NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES. FAMILIES WERE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH NETWORK MEMBERS. THERE WERE 347 NETWORK MEMBERS WHO SENT 4470 REMEMBRANCE CARDS TO FAMILIES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DEATH. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED 134 GRIEF BROCHURES TO SURVIVORS IN 12 STATES. PREPARED AND SENT SIX ISSUES OF THE JOURNEY DEALING WITH LOSS AND SURVIVOR-TO-SURVIVOR SUPPORT. EACH ISSUE WAS SENT TO MORE THAN 3,200 SURVIVORS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARED TO SPOUSES, LIFE PARTNERS, CHILDREN, AND STEPCHILDREN, ENABLING THEM TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. 56 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED.HELD VIRTUAL BEREAVEMENT CAMPS TO HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH THE LOSS OF A PARENT. CAMP PROVIDES CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND GAIN TOOLS TO COPE WITH THEIR GRIEF. 26 CHILDREN AGES 7-17 ATTENDED THE HAL BRUNO COMFORT ZONE CAMP AND 15 CHILDREN AGES 4-6 ATTENDED THE CAMP HAL CAMP.

FIRE SERVICE PROGRAMS - THE EVERYONE GOES HOME (EGH) PROGRAM AND THE 16 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF THE NFFF'S FIREFIGHTER LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH AND INJURY PREVENTION EFFORTS. THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CULTURE OF THE NATION'S FIRE SERVICE CAREER, VOLUNTEER, COMBINATION AND WILDLAND. THE EFFORTS ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THROUGH THE EGH PROGRAMS, 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 EGH ADVOCATES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, EGH ADVANCES COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS BY 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. 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 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 - NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN OCTOBER, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES HONORING 82 FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN 2019, 87 FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN 2020 AND 46 FIREFIGHTERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE NFFF PROVIDED LODGING, MEALS, AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. 626 FIRE HERO FAMILIES ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND. GRIEF AND OTHER COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED FOR FAMILY SURVIVORS. 329 HONOR GUARD UNITS AND 156 FIRE SERVICE FAMILY ESCORTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN HONORING THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 67 FAMILY SURVIVORS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS RETURNED TO ASSIST WITH NEW FAMILY REGISTRATION AND NEW FAMILY DAY ACTIVITIES. DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE MEMORIAL SERVICES WERE HELD FOR FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY AND NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITS ON ATTENDANCE WERE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE HEATH AND SAFETY OF ALL.