Resolution No. 37
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Health & Safety
Re: Safe Call Now – Withdrawn
1 | WHEREAS, the job of a fire fighter is physically |
2 | and mentally challenging; and |
3 | WHEREAS, the physical and emotional stresses |
4 | of our profession have an adverse impact on fire |
5 | fighters both professionally and personally; and |
6 | WHEREAS, due to these stresses some fire |
7 | fighters may suffer from problems with substance |
8 | abuse, marital and family problems, loss of a loved |
9 | one, financial problems, traumatic incident |
10 | responses, PTSD, suicide, and other behavioral and |
11 | mental health issues; and |
12 | WHEREAS, many jurisdictions simply offer a |
13 | generic Employee Assistance Program designed for |
14 | all employees; and |
15 | WHEREAS, most fire fighters are fearful of the |
16 | impact and stigma a request for help for these issues |
17 | can have on their careers, and are reluctant to take |
18 | advantage of EAP programs to ensure confidentiality |
19 | and protect their families; and |
20 | WHEREAS, without proper intervention and |
21 | treatment these issues eventually lead to tragic |
22 | situations that have bad impacts on the personal and |
23 | professional lives of fire fighters; and |
24 | WHEREAS, fire fighters need a trusted source |
25 | they can turn to when they are dealing with these |
26 | challenges; and |
27 | WHEREAS, Safe Call Now is a confidential, |
28 | comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service |
29 | specifically designed for fire fighters, police officers, |
30 | public safety personnel, and their families to speak |
31 | confidentially with trained fire fighters, police |
32 | officers, public safety professionals and/or mental |
33 | healthcare providers who are familiar with our |
34 | profession; and |
35 | WHEREAS, Safe Call Now is currently used by |
36 | fire fighters, police officers, FBI agents, ATF agents |
37 | and members of the U.S. Secret Service; and |
38 | WHEREAS, Safe Call Now communication is |
39 | legislatively protected under RCW 43.101.425 |
40 | entitling the caller to privileged communication from |
41 | any state or province; and |
42 | WHEREAS, Safe Call Now has a proven track |
43 | record of success and professional and reliable |
44 | assistance for fire fighters that far exceeds EAP |
45 | programs; and |
46 | WHEREAS, Safe Call Now is a 501(c)3 non- |
47 | profit organization, established in 2009, and managed |
48 | by a Board of Directors, that relies solely on |
49 | sponsorships, donations, and grants to fund the |
50 | organization; and |
51 | WHEREAS, the mission statement of the IAFF |
52 | Foundation is to: “Support and protect the health, |
53 | safety and welfare of fire fighters, paramedics and |
54 | their families, as well as the communities they |
55 | serve”; and |
56 | WHEREAS, the John P. Redmond Fund was |
57 | established to address the health and safety issues |
58 | associated with firefighting; therefore be it |
59 | RESOLVED, That the IAFF adopt and advertise |
60 | Safe Call Now as a critical resource and treatment |
61 | coordinator for mental and behavioral health care for |
62 | fire fighters; and be it further |
63 | RESOLVED, That the IAFF contribute $20,000 |
64 | annually, with $10,000 appropriated annually from |
65 | the IAFF Charitable Foundation and $10,000 |
66 | appropriated annually from the John P. Redmond |
67 | Fund; and be it further |
68 | RESOLVED, That the IAFF provide a |
69 | representative to serve on the Safe Call Now Board |
70 | of Directors. |
Submitted by: Local 27, Seattle, WA
Cost Estimate: ¾ cent
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