Page 506 - FY 2025 Adopted Operating Budget and Business Plan

Return to Table of Contents

Public Safety

Goal 1: Utilize Targeted Initiatives and Industry Best Practices and Policies to Foster a Safe
Environment
Objective 1: Improve Quality of Life and Place
Project Performance Measure(s) Department(s)
Core Mental Health • Overall satisfaction of project Fire Department
PS management
1.1.7
Summary:
The Arlington Fire Department is committed to the mental Milestone Estimated
wellness of its members, including its prevention and dispatch Completion
partners.
Awarded OOG Mental Health 11/2023
Grant
Arlington Fire Department has a PEER team consisting of 23
members available for PEER counseling and can direct members 4-hour Resiliency Class 04/2024
to professional resources 24/7. Red Chip Referral Program Ongoing
PEER Suicide Prevention 09/2024
Arlington Fire Department has contracted The Readiness Group Training
to administer professional counseling referrals through a new
“Red Chip” program. Modeled after the successful APD “Blue
Chip” program the Red Chip connects members with mental
health resources. Simply access a link through the City Portal, the
Arlington Professional Firefighters website and even via a QR
code printed on a red poker chip issued to all members.

Finally, Arlington Fire Department was able to provide a 4-hour
personal resiliency class taught by the professionals from The
Readiness Group. This class teaches members to recognize the
signs of stress, the negative health effects that it causes and
healthy coping mechanisms to help reduce it. This class was
presented to nearly 300 members of the department including
prevention and dispatch.
These programs are possible by a grant awarded to us by the
Office of the Governor, which we have applied for renewal for
2025 to continue these services.

Update:
1) Red Chip Distribution: Finalizing mid-July.
2) Referral Service Usage: The Readiness Group
reports nine instances so far.
3) Science of Trauma Training: Completed a 4-hour
resiliency training attended by 260 members from
Operations, Prevention, and Dispatch. Plans to
offer the course next fiscal year for those who
missed it.
4) PEER Team Training: Received specialized training
on Organizational Resiliency to enhance the PEER
program and provide mental health support for
department members.
5) Upcoming: Suicide Prevention training will occur
in September for our PEER team.

133