2026 Kansas City Fire Service Behavioral Health Symposium
About this Event
Join the IAFF Center of Excellence team and IAFF Local 42 for a continuing education training for members and peer supporters looking to expand their knowledge about behavioral health issues in the fire service.
Training is held in conjunction with Greater Kansas City Fire Fighters Local 42 and will begin at 8:30 AM EST at union headquarters at 6320 Manchester Ave, Suite 42A, Kansas City, MO 64133
Fire service members outside of Local 42 are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Complimentary lunch and certificates of attendance will be provided.
All attendees must register to participate.
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM
Event Welcome/Kick Off
🕑: 09:00 AM
What Works for Fire Fighters: Lessons from the IAFF Center of Excellence
Host: Aderemi Benson, LCPC
Info: An interactive, clinical deep dive into the IAFF Center of Excellence and behavioral health issues impacting fire fighters, highlighting lessons learned from treating more than 4,500 IAFF members and how care is tailored to the unique culture and needs of the fire service.
🕑: 11:00 AM
Narrative Control: The Process Behind Resilience and Performance
Host: Dave Wurtzel, TheFirstTwenty
Info: Under stress, the story a responder tells themselves — about the call, about themselves, about what comes next — shapes how they perform in the moment and how they recover afterward. This session breaks down narrative control as a trainable process, not a personality trait: the practical skill of shifting from being acted upon to authoring the response. Drawing on clinically-validated programming delivered to over 50,000 first responders, attendees will leave with a usable framework for building resilience, sustaining performance, and carrying a clearer sense of purpose — on the call, and in the life waiting at home.
🕑: 12:30 PM
LUNCH
Host: Lunch provided by Local 42
🕑: 01:30 PM
Sherry Sweet, Missouri Fire Fighter Critical Illness Pool
🕑: 01:45 PM
Dr. Sarah Jahnke
🕑: 03:30 PM
The Science of Self Regulation
Host: David Strother, LCSW, Valiant Therapeutic Services
Untitled agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM
Event Welcome
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
