Kenosha Clinic Brings Free, Tailored Mental Health Care to Firefighters Through New National Push

A new local lifeline for first responders

Empower Mental Health & Wellness Clinic in Kenosha announced today that it is participating in a national program to give firefighters easier access to mental health care. The move means local firefighters and some of their families can receive free, focused treatment at the clinic starting this winter. For a profession that faces repeated exposure to trauma, the program aims to reduce barriers to care and make help feel like a normal part of the job.

The announcement was made at the clinic’s downtown office and follows a wider rollout of the BTL initiative that pairs community mental-health providers with fire departments across the country. Clinic leaders say the program will help first responders get timely care without cost, paperwork hurdles, or long waits — factors that often stop people from seeking help.

How the partnership works and what services are offered

Under the BTL initiative, Empower will provide a package of services tailored to firefighters’ needs. That includes short-term individual therapy, group sessions focused on stress and trauma, and fast access to crisis counseling after critical incidents. The services are free for eligible firefighters while they remain in the program.

Eligibility is described as broad: active career and volunteer firefighters who are rostered with local departments, plus immediate family members in some cases, can enroll. The program is designed for early intervention and short-term recovery rather than long-term psychiatric care. Sessions are intended to be time-limited and focused, with clinicians trained in trauma-informed approaches commonly used for first responders.

BTL’s model is built to move quickly. Departments partner with a nearby clinic, which then receives support from the national initiative — training materials, peer-support frameworks, and a coordination hub that helps schedule sessions and track outcomes while protecting privacy. Empower’s leaders say the clinic will offer flexible hours, including some evening and weekend slots, and will coordinate group or station visits when departments request them.

Voices from Kenosha: clinic leaders and firefighters weigh in

Clinic director Maria Alvarez, LCSW, called the program “a practical, stigma-busting way to bring care to those who give so much.” She said, verbatim: “We’ve seen too many firefighters delay support because they worry about time, cost, or being judged. This program removes those roadblocks and meets them where they are — in their schedules, in their culture, and in their trauma.”

Fire Chief Daniel Morris of Kenosha Fire Department added: “Our crews respond to things most people never see. Being able to offer free, immediate care after difficult calls will make a real difference for morale and safety on the job.”

A spokesperson for the BTL initiative emphasized speed and local fit: “We partner with trusted community clinics so firefighters get timely, culturally competent care without navigating a complex system. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all program — it adapts to what each department needs.”

On a human level, a veteran firefighter who asked not to be named said the program could change how first responders think about mental health. “It’s easier to go when it’s part of our work life and not an extra fight. If I can get help that’s free and right down the block, I’ll go sooner.”

Why this matters: the mental-health gap among firefighters

Firefighters face repeated exposure to injury, death, violence and destruction. Over time, those experiences can lead to stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Many studies and national reviews show first responders as a group carry higher rates of these conditions than the general public, and some departments report that untreated mental health issues contribute to absenteeism, early retirement, and—even tragically—suicide.

Programs that bring therapy to firefighters and remove cost and scheduling hurdles aim to catch problems earlier and normalize help-seeking. The BTL initiative is one of several recent efforts nationwide that pair local providers with public-safety agencies to offer targeted, practical support rather than long, generalized care pathways.

How firefighters can use the service and what the community gains

Firefighters wanting care can contact Empower by calling the clinic during business hours, speaking with their department’s peer-support coordinator, or asking a shift supervisor to arrange a referral through the BTL coordination hub. The clinic plans to take both scheduled appointments and same-day slots after major incidents; it will also offer on-site group sessions if requested by a department.

For the wider community, the benefits are practical: healthier, more resilient crews mean better emergency response and steadier staffing. Local leaders say the program could also reduce long-term health costs by addressing problems early and keeping firefighters on the job.

Limitations include capacity — the program is short-term by design, so it may not replace longer-term psychiatric care for people with deeper needs. The clinic and BTL say they will provide referrals for specialized or longer-term services when required.

Next steps and a short profile of the partners

Empower plans to begin enrolling firefighters immediately and will hold an open clinic day next month where crews can meet clinicians and learn about services. The clinic also hopes to expand hours and station visits if demand grows.

About Empower Mental Health & Wellness Clinic: a community behavioral-health provider in Kenosha offering outpatient therapy, group programs, and crisis support. About the BTL initiative: a national effort that partners with local clinics and public-safety agencies to accelerate access to mental health care for first responders, focusing on fast, stigma-free intervention.

Sources

• prnewswire.com