Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance has recently launched a scholarship program that provides higher education financial assistance to surviving children and spouses of firefighter suicides.
Jeff Dill, founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, has established this scholarship program in memory of those who might have struggled with personal issues in their lives and felt suicide was their only way to remove their internal pain and suffering.
It is the intent of FBHA to honor these fallen firefighters and to recommend to others, that if you are suffering from depression, PTSD, stress, addictions or other behavioral health issues, please seek help as soon as possible.
FBHA continues to travel across the US educating firefighters/EMS personnel on suicide prevention and awareness, and they don’t fall short of providing focus on the families that surround their brotherhood.
It is through this commitment and leadership that the development of this scholarship program for surviving family members exists. FBHA has named five scholarships for families of firefighters who have died by suicide. Jeff has met and formed bonds with these families, finding a way to honor his brothers by naming these scholarships after them.
They are as follows:
1. Firefighter Jack Slivinski Jr. Scholarship
2. Firefighter Scott Charles Bellucci Scholarship
3. Firefighter/Paramedic Todd A. Diercks Scholarship
4. Firefighter Timothy J. Karnisky Scholarship
5. Firefighter Michael Bonanno - New York City Fire Department Ladder 7- Scholarship
Scholarship amounts will be determined by the amount of funding donated to this program. The minimum with be $500 and the maximum $1,000.
Scholarship applications are now available and will be awarded approximately four weeks after the deadline of July 31, 2013.
Applications can be found by visiting Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance's website at www.ffbha.org.
If you or your organization would like to donate to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance Scholarship program please visit www.ffbha.org and look for the donation tab.
ABOUT FBHA Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) is a 501(c) (3) organization established to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides.
The mission of the FBHA is to collaborate, develop and implement behavioral health awareness, prevention, intervention, and post crisis strategies to provide firefighters with an easily accessible and confidential source of information. Using best practices and protocols,
FBHA promotes awareness, education and training, communication, integration of services, resources and support to the men and women of the fire service and EMS. In furtherance of these goals, FBHA undertakes educational projects aimed at chaplain programs that deal with behavioral health issues of firefighters/EMS, survivors and their families. Contributions to FBHA may be deductible from Federal income, gift and estate taxes under the Internal Revenue Code.
FBHA Founder Jeff Dill holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois and currently a Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, Illinois Counseling Association, Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Illinois Professional Firefighter's Association and is also an alumni member of International Association of Fire Fighters.
He is dedicated to educating firefighters and emergency personnel on the importance of behavioral health and suicide awareness.
