About Us
Fire Family Peer Support
Our Story
It all started with a Chaplain who was also a spouse. As a Chaplain, she wanted to offer support to family members of firefighters. She was able to meet some family members but quickly saw that there was a greater need, and it needed to come from a non-religious group. The idea of support was always at the core of why she became a Chaplain, and her experience with support groups and volunteer teams led her to create a framework for peer support with and for families. She understood that the cross on her badge was a barrier for many. It was essential to her that everyone was represented and felt comfortable approaching the group as it was made up of people in various relationships with a firefighter, from partner or significant other to parent or child. The purpose of this group is to make sure that any member of a firefighter family had someone to turn to that understands the ins and outs of living with this profession. She approached the department and the union with this idea and received tremendous support.
Two other family members jumped on board and they began turning the ideas into practices and with a core group of founding volunteers, a few members of the IFD Health & Safety Division, and IAFF Local 416, Fire Family Peer Support was born.
What We Do
Peer Support
We are one of you. We are all family members of firefighters. We understand what it means to live with this the profession.
Confidentiality
We will never share anything outside of peer support. We will not share how we met you.
Family Fun Events
We want to host family-friendly events for the whole department multiple times per year.
Station Family Events
We will promote family events at each station to help family members get to know each other.
With Your Help, We Can Reach More Families
In order to provide care for individuals and families we need volunteers and donors. We would love to find ways for you to partner with us.
Our Mission & Approach
Peer support care givers are family members or partners of an IFD firefighter who have completing training to be effective and helpful care givers. Each care giver continues to participate in continuing education while serving. Care givers meet regularly in accountability groups to receive support, encouragement, and still able to engage in healthy relationships. Each care giver commits to meeting regularly with their care recievers for the duration required. While everything said to a care giver is confidential, they are a mandatory reporter of abuse. Care givers will never say they met a person through peer support; only care receivers may reveal that. Care givers may refer a care receiver to professional assistance if the need exceeds their expertise.
Care receivers are family members or partners of an IFD firefighter who have reached out to peer support. Care receivers determine the length of time they receive support, but must commit to regularly meeting with their assigned care giver. Not responding to calls or missing in-person meetings will result in a termination of support. If a care receiver would like to change care givers, they will need to reach out to leadership with a request. Care recievers also commit to confidentiality as their care giver may share personal information with them. Fire Family will never make initial contact or act on a referral, each care receiver must reach out for assistance on their own behalf.
Fire Family Peer Support plans to host family friendly events throughout the year. The entire department will be invited to attend these events. There will be some events that are only for those involved in peer support as a care giver or care receiver. We will also encourage family day events at individual fire stations or administrative buildings.
Our Leadership
Christina Cesnik, Executive Director
Amy Clegg, Director of Community and Family & interim Board Secretary/Treasurer
Hannah O’Connor, M.J., Psy.D., HSPP, Clinical Director & Board Member
Captain Brandon Dreiman, Training Director & Board Member
Chief Doug Evans, Chairman of the Board
Deputy Fire Marshall Tim Gallagher, Local 416 Peer Support, Board Vice Chair
Chief Doug Abernathy, Board Member
Chaplain Mike Gatliff, Board Member
Our Partners & Sponsors
