Fire Service Behavioral Health: Identification, Treatment & Prevention

Estimated watch time: 2 hrs 2 minutes

Presentation Materials:

Molly Jones, LSW

Clinical Education Coordinator for Advanced Recovery Systems

Molly Jones, LSW is a Clinical Education Coordinator for Advanced Recovery Systems. In this role, Molly is responsible for providing clinical education and training to various client populations, treatment providers, and other behavioral health stakeholders across the country. Molly provides in-person, virtual, and on-demand behavioral health education and is able to cover a wide variety of topics under the behavioral healthcare umbrella.

Molly is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Colorado and based out of Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining the ARS Community Outreach Team in August 2019, Molly worked in a variety of social work settings. She has worked in direct practice, counseling older adults, adolescents, high acuity clients, and other populations struggling with various mental health and substance abuse related issues, as well as a Permanency Planning Worker for the Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Division in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Molly has worked in the field of Social Work since 2013, and holds the philosophy that all individuals, with proper support and awareness, possess the ability to learn, change, and grow to achieve the highest quality of life and sense of self possible.

Molly earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Family Life Education with a focus on Gerontology from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. In her time with Advanced Recovery Systems, Molly has primarily worked with first responders and their families, as well as the International Association of Fire Fighters and various municipalities across North America. Molly is the Peer Team Clinician for the IAFF’s 9th District Peer Support Team, has been featured in news publications and mental health podcasts, and provided clinical oversight to local non-profits in Colorado.

 

Aderemi Benson, LCPC, C-EMDRT, C-DBT

IAFF COE Clinical Director

Aderemi “Remi” Benson, LCPC, is the Clinical Director for the International Association of Fire Fighters Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and served as Lead Clinician at the program prior to her appointment as Clinical Director. Remi is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) which she frequently utilizes with fire service clients.

Objectives and Summary:

This training will highlight behavioral health best practices for fire service members as developed by the IAFF Center of Excellence, the dedicated experts in the treatment of fire service professionals.

Clinical Education Coordinator Molly Jones, LSW, will be joined by IAFF Center of Excellence Clinical Director, Aderemi Benson, LCPC, to discuss insight gleaned from the program’s experience treating more than 2,300 fire fighters, paramedics and dispatchers from every U.S. state and several Canadian provinces over the last five years. These diagnoses include post traumatic stress, substance use disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and more.

Molly and Aderemi will highlight methods for identifying behavioral health needs in oneself and peers, access to treatment and expectations during and after this time, as well as prevention strategies to address growing behavioral health issues. Attendees will gain greater insight into themselves, peers, and the behavioral health landscape as a whole.

Presentation Materials: