Agencies that serve emergency responders in Grady County will receive more training to help them emotionally support emergency responders who experience psychological trauma following critical incidents. The boost comes from a $10,000 Arvest Foundation grant to the National Emergency Responders Assistance Program (ERAP).
“The pain and anxiety emergency responders feel from the traumatic and debilitating critical incidents they experience is lonely and overwhelming,” National ERAP Executive Director Doug White said. “Through the donation from the Arvest Foundation, ERAP has the opportunity to bring them together in our three-day emergency responder critical seminar to help them begin their mental health healing process. The donation gives them hope and an opportunity to get their lives back.”
“We are pleased to present this donation on behalf of the Arvest Foundation to ensure the National ERAP can continue to deliver this critical service to our emergency responders,” Arvest Bank Chickasha Community President Karene Sandra said. “We are thankful for the role that our first responders play each day in handling critical incidents. We are happy to play a small role in ensuring they receive any emotional and psychological support needed.”