FY 2026 - Office of First Responder Wellness Grant Program

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Office of First Responder Wellness is offering funding to support first responder wellness for current and retired first responders. The First Responder Wellness Grant Program is designed to support the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of first responders in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This funding opportunity aims to provide resources to agencies and non-profit organizations focused on promoting the overall health and wellness of individuals who serve on the front lines of public safety, including law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, emergency communication officers, and corrections officers. Established under Executive Order Thirty-Eight (2024), the DCJS Office of First Responder Wellness will award up to $2,700,000 to first responder agencies and non-profit organizations to provide and facilitate training opportunities and establish or enhance wellness programs and peer support services to first responders.
These grant funds are to be used to support our first responders through programs addressing, but not limited to, emotional, physical, and overall personal wellness:

• Fund first responder wellness training for agency employees
• Fund registration fees, lodging, and per diem for agency employees to attend conferences related to first responder wellness
• Fund support costs for a therapy/support dog or costs for a dog already owned by an agency to attend training.
• Fund the purchase of therapeutic wellness equipment
• Provide funding for non-profit organizations to provide wellness training, resources, or direct services to first responders in the Commonwealth of Virginia

The mission of the Office of First Responder Wellness is to adopt a public health approach to first responders through primary prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery initiatives, including the development of resources that not only save the lives of our first responders but also improve their overall wellness. A First Responder is a current or retired law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) provider, emergency communications officer, or corrections officer. A first responder agency is an agency that employs law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) providers, emergency communications officers, or corrections officers. A non-profit agency is eligible to receive funding to provide wellness training, resources, or direct services to first responders in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
These guidelines contain the rules and requirements governing the Office of First Responder Wellness Grant Program and instructions for completing and submitting an application.