by STATEN ISLAND, NY – Friends of Firefighters (FOF), a nonprofit organization, recently launched “The Bravest Children” program to meet the mental health needs of FDNY families.
Established in the aftermath of September 11, “The Bravest Children” program was designed to provide care to the FDNY community and provide mental health care to the children of New York’s Bravest.
Friends of Firefighters is the leading independent provider of free and confidential mental health and wellness services for active and retired FDNY firefighters and their families.
In recent years, FOF has experienced an increase in demand for mental health care, with an increase of almost 50% in the number of clients and a 300% increase in counseling sessions in the past five years.
As suicide rates among firefighters remain nearly double that of the general population and the risk of suicide exceeds the call of duty, FOF is committed to dismantling the stigmas surrounding mental health care in the firefighting community.
“The Bravest Children” program is a new initiative aimed at supporting the youngest members of the FDNY family by offering group sessions for children ages 6 to 11 at FOF’s historic firehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. These sessions create a safe space for children to express their feelings and develop healthy coping mechanisms alongside peers who share similar experiences.
As needs dictate, the program will be expanded to include other age groups and family participation.
“With demand on our mental health services at an all-time high – underlined by a record 4,500 counseling sessions last year – ‘The Bravest Children’ provides a vital lifeline for the youngest members of our fire community – helping to ensure that the children of those who serving and protecting our city will receive the care and attention they deserve,” said Nancy Carbone, Executive Director of Friends of Firefighters. “We are deeply grateful to the council members and leaders whose advocacy made this vital program possible.”
The launch of this program was made possible by $70,000 in discretionary funding from local elected officials, including members of the New York City Council and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. Of this, Fossella, a longtime supporter of FOF, contributed $10,000.
“The Bravest Children” program marks an important milestone in FOF’s mission to provide comprehensive care to the FDNY community.
For more information about Friends of Firefighters, visit their website, Instagram and Facebook.
