PRE-CONFERENCE REGISTRATION | MAIN CONFERENCE REGISTRATION | VENDOR REGISTRATION
VIRGINIA FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS WEBPAGE
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce the 2025 First Responder Wellness Conference in Norfolk, VA, on September 10 – 12, 2025.
Description:
Enhancing first responder health and wellness not only strengthens their effectiveness on the job but also contributes to greater community safety. The DCJS and the Office of First Responder Wellness (OFRW) are committed to offering comprehensive training and resources focused on the holistic well-being of all first responder groups. This conference emphasizes the key pillars of wellness, empowering attendees to explore strategies for strengthening these pillars in both their personal and professional lives.
First responders face significant physical and mental health challenges due to the high-stress nature of their work. Behavioral health conditions like PTSD and depression can develop, with suicide rates alarmingly higher than the general population. In addition, first responders face a wide range of stressors beyond the immediate physical dangers of their jobs. These stressors can be chronic, cumulative, and deeply personal, often affecting their mental and physical well-being over time.
This conference is for first responder professionals to learn from experts in the field about resources and best practices when developing comprehensive health and wellness strategies.
Do not miss this essential training opportunity!
Keynote Topics Include:
- Leading With Grace
- Unlocking Peak Performance and Presence Under Pressure
- Situational Awareness Security
- Caring Under Pressure: How We Treat Each Other in Public Safety
- Cognitive Fitness Training: The Secret Skill to Reducing Stress and Improving Performance
- Trust, Trauma, and Treatment: A Guide to Choosing the Right Clinician
Breakout Session Topics Include:
- Tactical Stress Resilience: Hands-On Strategies for Staying Sharp & Steady
- Posttraumatic Growth: Transforming Struggle to Strength
- Life Beyond the Badge: Work-Life Balance for First Responders
- Dispatch Strong: Resilience and Recovery in the Comm Center
- Lethal Means Safety
- Therapy Dogs and Mindfulness: Wellness Lessons
- Turn Stress into Success with Mental Fitness Training
- Navigating Relationship Struggles as a First Responder
- Re-Learn to Relax
- How to Effectively Handle an Officer in Crisis
- The Recharge Code: Beating Burnout for First Responders
- And more!
Who should attend?
This conference is open to all first responder groups, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, fire/EMS, EMTs, dispatchers, and corrections. It is also open to retired first responders and civilian peer support and mental health clinicians who are culturally competent in first responder wellness.
Partial In-service Credit:
Law enforcement officers who complete this conference are eligible to receive partial in-service credit hours.
Conference Location, Dates, and Hours:
Hilton Norfolk – The Main
100 E Main St
Norfolk, VA 23510
Pre Conference: September 9, 2025, from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Main Conference:
September 10 - 11, 2025, from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
September 12, 2025, from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Meals, Travel, and Lodging:
Lunch will be served on September 10 and September 11. Participants are responsible for all other meals and travel expenses.
A limited number of lodging scholarships are available to Virginia members of the intended audience. Complete the Scholarship Application to request a scholarship. Please note that to accommodate as many of our constituents as possible, the number of scholarships awarded to a single agency will be limited.
Note: Please do not make reservations on your own if you are requesting lodging assistance from DCJS through the lodging request form above. If your request is approved, you will be added to the DCJS lodging block. If your request is not approved, you will be notified and will need to make your own arrangements
Participant Cost and Registration:
The registration fee is $50.00 per participant if paid via credit card at the time of registration. A $20 processing fee will apply to payments not made by credit card at the time of registration. Payment must be received prior to conference attendance.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS A PARTICIPANT
Note: Included in the cost of the registration is the opportunity to attend the pre-conference. Register for the pre-conference here (link).
Vendor Cost and Registration:
Vendors with first responder wellness-related products and services are invited and encouraged to participate in the conference. The registration fee for VENDORS will be $500 per vendor (for up to two (2) representatives) if paid via credit card at the time of registration. A $20 processing fee will apply to payments not made by credit card at the time of registration. Registration fee will include a skirted table, electricity and Wi-Fi, lunch, and entry into Keynote and Breakout/Workshop sessions.
Note: Nonprofits or SWaM-certified vendors are eligible for a discounted rate of $250. To register at the discounted rate, please contact Lori Walters at lori.walters@dcjs.virginia.gov.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ronald Coombs, Jr.
(804) 845-0505
Email
Chris Scuderi
(804) 278-7054
Email
Lori Walters
(804) 225-2091
Email