The cumulative stress and trauma firefighters experience does not only impact the firefighter, but their family members as well. Unfortunately, most wellness programs stop at the firefighter and fail to engage family members. Without proper family support, the firefighter’s stress can increase significantly, impacting their effectiveness and potentially causing them to leave the profession or the organization they work for. This talk will discuss relatable stories about the common barriers administration experiences when attempting to “bring wellness home” and share a variety of effective ways departments can overcome those barriers in order to increase family support and ultimately improve the effectiveness of their wellness program.
Learning Objectives:
The participant will be able to identify 2-3 ways family support will improve their organization and efforts towards employee wellness.
The participant will be able to identify 2-3 common barriers that get in the way of organizations being able to successfully engage and support firefighter family members.
The participant will learn how to successfully implement at least 3 strategies of family support and engagement that will greatly benefit their wellness program and efforts.