Healing Trauma by Strengthening Firefighter Families

Wildfire relief

Central LA County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley West LA San Fernando Valley Gateway Cities South Bay Long Beach Antelope Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Firefighters and their families face chronic exposure to trauma, long shifts, and high-stress environments that often result in anxiety, PTSD, substance use, strained relationships, and even suicide. While firefighters serve as protectors in crisis, their own families are left navigating emotional strain without adequate support. Too often, spouses and children silently endure the secondary impact of trauma. The Fire Family Foundation seeks to reduce this burden by addressing the deep need for connection, healing, and resilience. Our goal is to ensure fire families feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive—not just survive.

To address the significant mental and emotional toll experienced by firefighters and their families, the Fire Family Foundation will implement a comprehensive series of trauma-informed, family-centered initiatives. We will launch weekly virtual support sessions for spouses and partners, led by trauma experts, to promote peer connection, increase understanding of trauma’s impact, and equip participants with self-help tools and strategies. These sessions provide a consistent, accessible space for fire family members to feel seen, heard, and supported.
We will also host couples retreats that focus on restoring connection, enhancing communication, and rebuilding intimacy—offering a healing space away from the stressors of daily life.
To broaden impact, we will organize conferences for spouses, partners, and children, designed to increase knowledge of trauma’s effects and provide skills for resilience and healing within the family unit.
Finally, we will create an online portal that connects fire families with trusted mental health and wellness resources, promoting access to the support they need. These efforts will not only reduce the hidden toll of trauma on fire families—they will foster stronger relationships, prevent crisis, and build a culture of support within the firefighting community. By investing in the emotional health of those who stand behind every firefighter, we help ensure our heroes and their families are not just surviving—but truly thriving.

If this initiative is successful, Los Angeles will be home to a more resilient, emotionally supported fire community. Firefighter families will no longer suffer in silence—spouses, partners, and children will feel seen, connected, and equipped with tools to navigate trauma and stress and manage the long-term effects of trauma. Rates of isolation will decrease as families build stronger bonds and access consistent care. The ripple effect of healing will extend across departments, neighborhoods, and generations—ultimately strengthening the emotional health of those who serve and protect Los Angeles. Los Angeles will become a model of how to care for the caregivers. Firefighter families—so often invisible in the trauma recovery process—will have access to consistent, trauma-informed support. As families strengthen and heal, we’ll see reduced burnout, improved mental health, and more stable relationships—contributing to a healthier, more resilient Los Angeles overall.