New for 2024, the Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA) seeks to recognize outstanding contributions by a masters-level clinician who’s actively working in the firefighter mental health space to provide services for firefighters and their families as needed. These clinicians include Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Educational Psychologists, and Professional Clinical Counselors.
Please use the following criteria for nominating a clinician for FSPA’s Clinician of the Year Award.
1. Impact: The clinician should be making a significant contribution to the mental health services being made available for fire departments, their personnel, and for families of firefighters.
2. Service: Demonstrated outstanding service to the fire service community. This might involve providing training, counseling, or other forms of support to firefighters and their families.
3. Scholarly Contributions: Contributions to the field through peer-reviewed scholarly work, publications, or presentations. These contributions should advance our understanding of firefighter mental health and well-being as well as their families
4. Education: Efforts to educate fire service leaders about mental health services that can benefit their personnel and their families. Bridging the gap between professional psychology and the fire service is a key goal, so nominees should actively engage in educational activities.
5. Practice: Excellence in providing services to firefighters and their families that’s commensurate with their training and scope of practice.
The FSPA aims to create a collaborative environment where psychologists, fire service leaders, and masters-level clinicians work together to “build a bridge between professional psychology and the fire service” to better address mental health challenges faced by firefighters. FSPA’s annual conference–October 3 & 4, 2024 in Washington, D.C.–provides a platform for learning, sharing knowledge, and fostering understanding between these two fields. If you’re passionate about this intersection, consider participating in their events and contributing to this important cause.
