Two Florida organizations leading the charge to support first responders’ mental health have joined forces.
UCF RESTORES – a national leader in trauma management and clinical mental health treatment – and the 2nd Alarm Project – a pioneering organization dedicated to enhancing first responder behavioral health and resilience – are widely recognized and trusted within Florida’s first responders for providing transformative programs and initiatives that measurably enhance the well-being of those they serve.
As of Jan. 1, 2025, the 2nd Alarm Project now operates as part of UCF RESTORES. Kellie O’Dare, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the 2nd Alarm Project, has joined UCF RESTORES as its deputy executive director.
Combined, the organizations will aim to deliver unparalleled behavioral health resources for first responder communities across Florida and beyond. While UCF RESTORES and 2nd Alarm Project focus their combined experience on first responders, their families, and public safety organizations, UCF RESTORES will also continue its broader mission of serving military veterans, active-duty personnel, and trauma-affected civilians.
“UCF RESTORES has long been committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based care for first responders,” said Deborah C. Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, executive director of UCF RESTORES and trustee chair and Pegasus Professor of Psychology and Medical Education. “With the addition of the 2nd Alarm Project and its robust resources, we’re building on that foundation to ensure that no first responder faces the challenges of their job alone. Together, we are setting a new standard of care and support for first responders and their families.”
Established in 2011 with the mission to “restore lives, families, and communities,” UCF RESTORES provides cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment for first responders; active-duty and retired military; veterans; and, survivors of mass violence and natural disasters.
UCF RESTORES’ highly successful intensive outpatient program combines individual exposure therapy, group treatment, and advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR)-assisted exposure therapy, to deliver an approach that has achieved unprecedented success, with 66-76% of participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD following treatment.
UCF RESTORES has provided direct psychological clinical treatment for more than 500 military veterans and 1,000 first responders; the program has also trained nearly 2,500 first responders in peer support. Further, the UCF RESTORES team has spent nearly 750 hours responding to critical incidents, including several hurricanes, school shootings, and the Surfside condo collapse.
The 2nd Alarm Project began in 2019, in the wake of Hurricane Michael, to support Northwest Florida fire service members and has grown to serve as a comprehensive resource for first responders and their families throughout the state of Florida. Key accomplishments include peer support training facilitation for nearly 450 specialists, delivery of behavioral health navigation support to over 1,400 first responders and their families, and education of more than 4,000 first responders through tailored programs. The group has also developed innovative resources like the Behavioral Health Access Program Toolkit, the 2nd Alarm Project mobile app, and specialized programs for families, retirees, and cadets.
“The 2nd Alarm Project was founded to transform the wellbeing of first responders and their families. Being part of a firefighter family – and deeply connected to this community – I recognize how vital it is to have support that genuinely understands and addresses the unique challenges they face,” said O’Dare. “With UCF RESTORES, we’re taking a critical step forward in ensuring that every first responder family has access to the care they need – not just to survive, but to thrive.”
In coming together, UCF RESTORES and the 2nd Alarm Project plan to address critical system gaps for first responders and their families, including:
- Tailored mental health training for clinicians and first responders;
- App-based peer support networks;
- Behavioral health access program (BHAP) development for first responder departments;
- Behavioral health navigation support; and,
- Cutting-edge clinical treatment solutions designed specifically for first responders and their families.
Support for UCF RESTORES has included research grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and funding from the Florida Legislature. UCF RESTORES’ Rosengren Trauma Clinic is named in honor of UCF alumnus Jim Rosengren and his wife, Julia.
If you are a first responder, peer, family member, or clinician interested in learning more about trauma therapy or training, please visit UCFRESTORES.com or call UCF RESTORES at 407-823-3910 to learn more.
For more information about UCF RESTORES, visit www.UCFRESTORES.com, explore the organization’s 2023 Annual Report here, and follow UCF RESTORES on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information about the 2nd Alarm Project, visit https://2ndalarmproject.org/, explore the organization’s Impact Report here and follow 2nd Alarm Project on Facebook and Instagram.