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Mental health center outlines federal grant-funded first-responder wellness program with therapy dog
Summary
A federal first-responder wellness grant supports a mental-health center program that provides peer support, marketing and transportation for outreach to 9-1-1 centers; the program includes a therapy dog, Moe, who visits dispatch centers and supports debriefing for call-takers and first responders.
Amy Zabel of the mental health center told the committee the center is using federal first-responder wellness dollars for marketing, transportation and to support personnel, and introduced Valerie Melendez and a therapy dog used in outreach.
Staff said the federal grant was extended through June 2026 after funds were redistributed to programs that had not spent all their allocations. The grant does not directly fund clinical services but helps pay for the staff position and activities that connect the center to first-responder agencies. Valerie described outreach to combined Kankakee and Iroquois 9-1-1 centers, where the therapy dog participates in on-site debriefing and peer-support sessions. "It's amazing how most animals help people," one committee member observed.
Staff said the dog is certified for certain response roles and that the program plans additional certifications such as school response and bomb-threat protocols where appropriate. Committee members asked operational questions including coverage area and how the program is integrated with other first-responder supports; staff said the dog and handler deploy for debriefing and support after critical incidents and during outreach events.
No formal decision was taken; staff asked for committee awareness and support as they continue outreach and training.
