Submit Your Interest Form
Fill out the mentor or mentee interest form to let us know what you’re looking for and a little about your situation.
You Don’t Have To Navigate
Hard Times Alone
Being part of the fire service community comes with unique challenges that many people outside the fire community may never fully understand.
There may be moments when you feel isolated, exhausted, worried, or overwhelmed by the demands of supporting a firefighter and managing family life.
During those times, connecting with someone who has lived the realities of fire family life and can offer encouragement, can make all the difference.
Peer Support Services
for the Fire Family
It can help to talk with someone who understands the challenges that come with long shifts, missed holidays, time apart, unpredictability, and stress.
Our peer support services are for firefighter spouses and partners who need support from others within the community.
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One-on-one conversations with peer mentors -
Group discussions with other spouses and partners
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Guidance during difficult periods -
Resource referrals and guidance
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Ongoing check-ins and encouragement
Peer Support Groups for
Spouses and Partners
Wondering how other spouses and partners handle the demands of fire family life? Connect with others who genuinely get it.
Talk through communication and connection challenges, parenting and family life, stress during difficult periods, and supporting your firefighter partner while caring for yourself.
How the Peer Mentor Support Program Works
From first questions to closing day, here’s what you can expect.
We Make the Right Match
Based on your situation and preferences, we’ll connect you with the right peer mentor.
Connect on Your Terms
Mentoring sessions are designed to occur virtually through formats such as Zoom or FaceTime. However, we will work with you to find a format that best fits your situation.
Ongoing Support
Stay connected through regular check-ins and resources designed around your needs throughout fire family life.
Become a
Fire Family Mentor
Your experience in a fire family may help another spouse or partner feel more prepared and supported.
A team of mentors, fire spouses, and partners will provide trusted, relatable guidance, reducing isolation and offering strength from those who’ve walked a similar path.
Emotional Support
Offer a safe, empathetic space to talk through challenges, stress, or trauma.
Shared Experience
Normalize feelings by sharing personal stories and lived experience in fire family life.
Resource Navigation
Help identify and connect families to relevant mental health, wellness, and community services.
Relationship Guidance
Support healthy communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy building within fire marriages and relationships.
Self-Care Strategies
Encourage practices to manage anxiety, burnout, and secondary trauma.
Crisis Support
Be a steady presence during difficult seasons like disasters or health emergencies.
Community Building
Help foster connection, reduce isolation, and create a sense of belonging.
Ongoing Check-ins
Provide consistent encouragement and accountability throughout the healing process.
Become a Fire Family Mentee
Looking for someone who understands the realities of fire family life, including long shifts, constant change, and emotional challenges?
Joining the program as a mentee can help you feel supported and understood by people who have been there too. You’ll get:
- A thoughtful match with a trained fire family mentor
- Weekly check-ins and compassionate support
- A safe place to talk openly about the realities of fire life
- Guidance and tools for balancing family dynamics
- Access to trusted resources and referrals
- Opportunities to connect with the fire family community
Mentee
Support Program
Why Peer Support Matters
Behind every statistic is a firefighter, spouse, child, or family navigating the challenges that can come with fire service life.
While these experiences are often faced quietly, they affect thousands of members of the fire community every year.
- 67% of firefighters are more likely to develop PTSD compared to civilians
- Fire departments are three times more likely to lose a firefighter to suicide than to a line-of-duty death in any given year
- Children of Public Safety Personnel often struggle with stress, worry, and sadness
- Spouses of firefighters report feeling like they carry most of the responsibility at home, often feeling like a single parent
Request Support or Connect With a Peer Mentor
Talk with someone who understands the unique challenges of being part of the fire service community and find support that fits your situation.
Benefits, Assistance, and Support for Families of Fallen Firefighters
When firefighters, spouses, partners, children, and loved ones experience hardship connected to injuries, medical emergencies, natural disasters, or other difficult circumstances, the Fire Family Foundation is there.
Ways to Give
Online Banking: Firefighters First members can donate directly through online banking
Mail a Check: Fire Family Foundation, 1520 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
Mail a Check: Fire Family Foundation, 1520 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
The Foundation also honors the memory of fallen firefighters and the brave families who carry their legacy forward.
We provide emergency relief and financial assistance to help you regain stability and move forward with support from a community that understands.
Firefighters First covers all overhead expenses, so 100% of every donation goes directly to fire families.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peer Mentor Support
When should I look for peer support services?
Many spouses and partners reach out during stressful seasons, major life changes, difficult calls, relationship strain, or anytime they feel like they need someone to talk to.
How do I know if I could benefit from peer mentor support?
If you’re feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and mentally exhausted, if you feel like you’re carrying everything on your own, peer mentor support may help you process your feelings and stay connected with your partner.
What are some signs I may benefit from peer mentor support?
Common signs can include:
- Feeling anxious or on edge
- Trouble sleeping or relaxing
- Feeling emotionally exhausted
- Pulling away from friends or family
- Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities at home
- Difficulty coping after a difficult call or major incident
Who are peer mentors in your Peer Mentor Support Program?
Peer mentors are seasoned firefighter spouses and partners. They have lived through situations like yours and completed program training to help support others.
Is this therapy or clinical counseling?
No. Our peer mentors are not therapists or counselors. Peer Mentor Support provides peer-based guidance and encouragement.
Can I participate if I’m new to the fire service lifestyle?
Yes. Many people use the Peer Support Program as they adjust to the routines and unpredictability of fire family life.
Are peer support groups confidential?
We ask everyone participating in peer support groups to respect each other’s privacy so everyone feels comfortable speaking honestly.
What if I’m not comfortable sharing in a group setting?
Group support isn’t the right fit for everyone. You can choose one-on-one peer mentor conversations if you prefer. We’ll help you find an option that feels comfortable for you.
Can I request support for a specific challenge or season of life?
Yes. Whether you’re navigating parenting challenges, relationship stress, schedule changes, a major incident, or emotional burnout, we’ll help connect you with the right type of peer support.