NVFC First Responder Helpline:

Confidential Assistance When You Need It

The NVFC First Responder Helpline, offered through Provident, provides PTSD and mental health services to every National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) member and their household family.

Find 24/7, confidential counseling, resources, and referrals to assistance for a range of issues, including:

• Stress management
• Depression
• Family conflict
• Anxiety
• Relationships
• Financial or legal concerns
• Substance misuse
• Grief or loss
• Problem gambling
• Child or elder care

The First Responder Helpline can provide up to five telephone coaching sessions (or the number of sessions allowed by state law) with master’s degreed counselors who identify stress triggers, teach coping techniques, and develop an ongoing stress management plan.

In addition, this program offers consultation, resources, and referrals for the everyday concerns that can cause distractions and loss of focus when a first responder needs it most, including:

Family – Childcare, elder care, adoption research and referrals

Legal – Access to attorneys are for 30-minute phone or in-person legal consultation

Financial – Referrals to consultants to assist with debt management, credit problems, retirement planning, or college funding

How to Access the NVFC First Responder Helpline:

If you are an NVFC member, go to the NVFC web site and login to the members-only section. Go to the membership benefits page to find the number.

If you are not an NVFC member, join for just $21 at www.nvfc.org/join to access the First Responder Helpline and all membership benefits.

Chiefs: The First Responder Helpline has many features similar to an employee assistance program and can be a great resource for your department. Consider providing NVFC membership, which includes this benefit, for your department's members. It's only $21 per person per year!



** Note: The NVFC First Responder Helpline is a benefit for NVFC members and their household family that replaces the Fire/EMS Helpline that had previously been offered. Departments still displaying the old Fire/EMS Helpline number should remove those materials as that line has been discontinued. **