In the demanding world of public safety, Arizona’s first responders — law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and corrections officers — face challenges that can impact their mental and emotional well-being. Recognizing the critical need for support, the Arizona First Responders Foundation (AFRF) launched PEER 100 in 2023, aiming to include a sustainable peer support culture within first responder agencies across the state.​
PEER 100’s primary mission is to establish a network of trained, trustworthy individuals within first responder agencies who can offer immediate, culturally competent peer support. This initiative goes beyond short-term solutions, building resilience, connection, and shared understanding through peer-based mental wellness tools.​
First responders often encounter intense stressors — trauma, fatigue, exposure to violence — that can significantly impact mental health. Stigma and lack of resources frequently deter individuals from seeking help. PEER 100 addresses these issues by training select members within agencies to become peer supporters, strengthening internal support systems and fostering longterm cultural shifts around mental health awareness and proactive care.​
In its inaugural year, PEER 100 trained many individuals representing first responder agencies, including police departments, fire departments, EMS, and corrections. These trained peer supporters have since utilized their skills to support colleagues, initiate department-wide wellness programs, and influence leadership attitudes toward mental health.​
Notable outcomes include increased conversations about mental health within teams, higher participation in wellness workshops and mental health services, improved morale, and decreased stereotypes around seeking help.​
Arizona’s first responder community spans both rural and urban environments. Many smaller departments lack full-time behavioral health professionals. PEER 100 fills this gap by offering access to trained individuals who are always close by, ensuring that no responder is left without support.​
To enhance accessibility, PEER 100 integrates with digital platforms such as Bulletproof and Fireproof. These confidential and anonymous resources provide law enforcement and fire service professionals, along with their families, access to mental health and wellness initiatives, addiction awareness tools, assessments, and direction towards treatment and care.​
PEER 100’s success is rooted in collaboration. The AFRF partners with behavioral health professionals, trauma experts, and public safety leadership to ensure the program remains effective, relevant, and accessible. Ongoing support includes refresher training, monthly peer check-ins, peer leadership mentoring, and integration with local employee assistance programs (EAPs) and behavioral health clinics.​
Looking ahead, AFRF plans to expand PEER 100 through:
PEER 100’s mission isn’t just well-intentioned — it’s working. According to our 2024 survey:
PEER 100 is part of a broader ecosystem supported by AFRF. Alongside mindfulness training, fitness programs, and wellness conferences, peer support bridges the gap between awareness and action. Cross-agency learning is encouraged, with police departments gaining insights from fire services and corrections officers sharing resilience strategies with EMS teams, enriching the entire public safety wellness landscape.​
Agencies and individuals interested in PEER 100 may connect with the Arizona First Responders Foundation to nominate personnel for future training cohorts, coordinate peer training sessions within their department, or collaborate on wellness-focused programs and policies. Each level of participation contributes to strengthening a comprehensive wellness network designed to support Arizona’s first responders.
Further information about available wellness initiatives is provided at https://www.100club.org/wellness-programs/. For program-specific inquiries, individuals can reach out via email at [email protected] or call at (602) 485-0100.Â
For those interested in direct engagement, upcoming outreach sessions offer valuable insights into ongoing support efforts. Registration is open at https://www.100club.org/event/.
