Officer Wellness and Behavioral Health Support and Suicide Prevention Grant Program

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SUICIDE PREVENTION Grant PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS:

The WA Legislature allocated funding to WASPC to establish a behavioral health support and suicide prevention program for law enforcement officers. WASPC awarded funding $283,673.88 for the period of February 15, 2022 to June 30, 2022 and $304,067.88 for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The application for this grant is now closed. Please click here to see the news release, including the roster of funded agencies. 

Officer Wellness RESOURCES:

The following information is being shared for your information. WASPC does not warranty or endorse the following resources. 

Articles and Reports:

• WA Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Taskforce Report – December 2021
• SB6570 Law Enforcement Personnel Workforce Survey Results (Survey Questions) – November 2021 
• DOJ – Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office – Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness (LEMHWA) Program Resources
• Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Report to Congress – April 2019
• Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies – April 2019

Officer Resources:

• Code4 Northwest
• Safe Call Now
• Behind the Badge Foundation
• All Clear Foundation
• Responder Strong – Free resource for first responders
• VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Program – Free program that is provided by IIR with BJA grants
• Serve & Protect
• Copline
• 911 Overwatch
• Desert Waters Correctional Outreach – Correctional Officer Wellbeing

• Brothers in Healing

• First Responder Support Network
• West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat
• Yoga for First Responders
• First Responder Wellness by Simple Recovery
• Stronger Families
• My Steady Mind
• First Watch Wellness
• Responders First NW
• Harbor of Grace
• Deer Hollow Recovery
• IACP - Officer Safety and Wellness
• First Responders First
• Alcohol Help for First Responders
• Mindful Badge
• Pain Behind the Badge – Suicide Prevention Seminars
• Blue Help
• Blue Wall Institute
• SIGMA Tactical Wellness
• NW Health Services

Training:

• First Responder Support Network Basic Peer Support Training
• FBINAA Officer Resiliency, Safety & Wellness Video Series
• Academy Hour Training
• SHIFT Wellness – Online video series 
• Code 4 Counseling – Online and in-person
• 1^st Responder Conferences – Multiple Dates and locations
• IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium 2023 – Anaheim, CA March 3-5, 2023
• Resilience Immersion Training – Sherman, OR February 24-26, 2023
• Tactical Trauma Training | Tulalip, WA March 30, 2023
• Tactical Trauma Training | West Richland, WA September 8, 2023
• LODD LE Executive Training with Behind the Badge | April 17-18, 2023, Spokane
• Critical Incident Stress Management – Behind the Badge | Moses Lake, WA June 13-15, 2023

• LODD LE Executive Training with Behind the Badge | Lynnwood, WA August 8-9, 2023

Program Ideas and Examples: 

• Building a Successful Officer Wellness Program – Stockton, CA – March 2020
• Bend Police Department Wellness Program
• Building and Sustaining an Officer Wellness Program: Lessons from the San Diego Police Department
• Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training – Officer Safety & Wellness
• Access to gym equipment and allow for working out during shift if possible
• Contracted MHP to be available for consulting, check-ins and referrals
• Provide fitness trackers (e.g., Oura rings, fitbit watches, etc.)
• Personal trainer consultant
• Nutrition consultant
• Financial planning consultant
• Healthy meals in breakrooms (e.g., MealPro, Factor 75, etc.)
• Family events or date nights that include a presentation on wellness (financial, relationships, communication, etc.)
• Quick wellness presentations during shift briefings or quarterly/yearly wellness presentations
• Agency library of books on officer wellness and resiliency
• Sponsor employee (and spouse) attendance at a retreat or training
• Supplement medical co-payments for physicals, metabolic health screenings (heart attack and chronic disease prevention in LE), and MHP appointments.  Bring a provider to the station and allow for blood draws/consults during work hours (programs or screenings similar to SIGMA)
• VR headsets can be used for meditation, calming and workouts

For additional information on WASPC's Behavioral Health Support and Suicide Prevention Program for Law Enforcement Officers please contact Terrina Peterson at [email protected] or (360) 486-2386.