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Transform the way you take care of your people with services built by and for those who wear the badge. From leadership to the line, we bring real‑world law enforcement insight, trauma‑informed strategies, and practical tools that actually work in the field and at home. When you invest in this work, you’re not just “checking a box”—you’re reducing burnout, liability, and turnover, strengthening recruitment and retention, and protecting the people and culture your whole community depends on.
Badges & Breakthroughs, LLC offers evidence-based, peer-led training and consulting designed specifically for public safety agencies, first responder organizations, and their families. All programming is rooted in lived experience, current research, and a deep understanding of law enforcement, fire, EMS, corrections, dispatch, and emergency services culture.
All training is designed to be delivered in-person only. No virtual or hybrid training options are available. All programming is customized specifically to fit your agency’s schedule, shift patterns, and operational needs. Travel expenses (airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals) are billed separately at cost for in-person delivery.
Discipline-Specific Training: Corrections
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Our Training & Consulting Menu
Focus: Agency-wide culture change, stigma reduction, and systems that actually support mental health.
Core Modules:
• The Psychology of the Job: Cumulative trauma, operational vs. organizational stress, moral injury, and hypervigilance
• The Hidden Cost of the Call: Suicide, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use among first responders
• Stress, Sleep, and the Nervous System: Hyperarousal, shift work, sleep deprivation, and evidence-based regulation tools
• Stigma, Shame, and “Taking a Knee”: Barriers to help-seeking, culture of silence, and changing the narrative
• Families and the Job: Secondary trauma, communication breakdowns, and protective strategies for partners and kids
• Working with EAP and Clinicians: Cultural competence, confidentiality concerns, and how to vet and partner with providers
• Resource Mapping: Building a layered resource network (EAP, internal support, external peer support, vetted clinicians)
• Policy & Practice Integration: SOPs, benefits, and wellness policies that support—not punish—help-seeking
• Program Evaluation & Sustainability: Metrics, feedback, and continuous improvement for wellness initiatives
Deliverables:
• Agency-specific wellness roadmap
• Recommended policy language for mental health, peer support, and critical incident response
• Implementation coaching (quarterly for 6 months, in-person or phone)
Investment: $8,000 per 40-hour package
Focus: Building and launching an effective in-house peer support team that exceeds the standards of both the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
This comprehensive, in-person training equips selected members with peer counseling skills, crisis intervention techniques, and clear boundaries to provide early, non-clinical support. The Badges & Breakthroughs, LLC Peer Support Training Program far exceeds and surpasses both IACP and IAFF minimum requirements and is built to the highest standards for first responders, backed by current research on first responder psychology and evidence-based material.
IACP and IAFF Standards Alignment:
This program is NOT an International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) approved peer support program (which is 16 hours in length), nor is it limited to the IACP peer support guidelines. However, the Badges & Breakthroughs, LLC training program incorporates all core topics from both the IAFF and IACP Peer Support Training curricula, including:
• How to approach a member of concern and establish trust
• Establishing and maintaining confidentiality
• Providing emotional support and active listening
• Determining whether a crisis is developing
• Referring to available resources (EAP, clinical providers, chaplains)
• Educating others about behavioral health and resilience
• Understanding scope of practice and ethical boundaries
• Post-critical incident peer support protocols
The program exceeds IAFF and IACP minimum requirements with 40 hours of training (vs. IAFF’s 16 hours) and includes extensive scenario practice, realistic role-plays, agency-specific policy development, and continued post-training support.
Core Curriculum (13 Modules):
• Module 1 — Peer Support Overview, Structure, and Key Considerations: Purpose, scope of practice, boundaries, role limits, and program activation
• Module 2 — Normalizing Common Mental Health Challenges: Stress injuries, depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep issues, and relationship strain
• Module 3 — Stress and Trauma: Operational stress, critical incident stress, cumulative trauma, and vicarious trauma; recognizing early warning signs
• Module 4 — Peer Counseling Techniques: Active listening, open-ended questions, reflective responses, validation, and scenario-based practice
• Module 5 — Moral Distress and Moral Injury: Understanding how moral conflict shows up in first responders and how to support peers
• Module 6 — Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention: Recognizing risk factors, asking directly, immediate response steps, and post-incident support
• Module 7 — Substance Misuse and Addictions: Recognizing problematic alcohol and substance use, having difficult conversations, and referral pathways
• Module 8 — Managing Anger, Frustration, and Annoyance: Understanding chronic stress manifestations and helping peers with conflict and irritability
• Module 9 — Family and Support System Considerations: Impact on families, partners, and children; when and how to involve support systems
• Module 10 — Supporting Peers Through Grief and Loss: Line-of-duty deaths, medical retirements, and presence-based support
• Module 11 — Supporting Military and Veteran Personnel: Cultural considerations and coordination with veteran-specific resources
• Module 12 — Peer Supporter Self-Care and Wellness: Recognizing secondary trauma, maintaining boundaries, and team-level sustainability
• Module 13 — Liability, Ethics, and Documentation: Confidentiality limits, mandatory reporting, legal considerations, and documentation practices
Deliverables:
• Trained Peer Support Team with certificates of completion
• Peer Support Team handbook (roles, procedures, call-out criteria)
• Sample SOPs and consent/confidentiality language
• Referral pathway framework with vetted local and national resources
• Quick-reference guides, conversation scripts, and checklists
• Six months of ongoing consultation (monthly or quarterly, phone or in-person)
Investment: $10,000 per 40-hour package
Focus: Building, developing, and sustaining an effective multi-disciplinary Sexual Assault Response Team from the ground up.
This comprehensive, in-person program provides the full framework for establishing or strengthening a multi-disciplinary SART, including team structure, roles, coordination protocols, trauma-informed response, forensic interview integration, and responder wellness. This program goes far beyond introductory SART overviews and delivers a complete, operationally ready SART team.
Core Curriculum:
• SART Foundations and Multi-Disciplinary Team Structure: Roles of law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy, forensic nursing (SANE/SAFE), and medical providers; team coordination and communication protocols
• Neurobiology of Trauma and Victim-Centered Response: Understanding how trauma affects memory, disclosure, and behavior; applying trauma-informed principles to every stage of response
• Trauma-Informed Victim Interviewing for SART Members: Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) techniques, narrative-based approaches, and avoiding re-traumatization
• Sexual Assault Investigation Best Practices: Evidence collection coordination, chain of custody, documentation standards, and investigative timelines
• Working with Diverse and Vulnerable Populations: Cultural competency, LGBTQ+ considerations, individuals with disabilities, male victims, and underserved communities
• Case Review, Coordination, and Quality Assurance: Multi-agency case staffing, tracking outcomes, identifying gaps, and continuous improvement
• Prosecution Coordination and Court Preparation: Building prosecutable cases, witness preparation, and expert testimony coordination
• SART Program Policy and MOU Development: Drafting memoranda of understanding, inter-agency agreements, activation protocols, and confidentiality policies
• Vicarious Trauma and Responder Wellness for SART Teams: Secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and self-care strategies specific to sexual assault responders
• Scenario-Based SART Exercises: Full team simulations including mock cases, coordinated responses, and after-action reviews
Deliverables:
• Fully trained SART with certificates of completion
• SART program handbook (team roles, activation protocols, case review procedures)
• Template MOUs and inter-agency agreements
• SART policy and procedure recommendations
• Referral pathway framework for victim services and advocacy
• Six months of ongoing consultation for SART implementation and case review support
Investment: $10,000 per 40-hour package
Focus: Comprehensive understanding of polygraph science, application, legal considerations, and practical use in law enforcement and public safety settings.
This training provides public safety professionals with a thorough understanding of polygraph science, examination procedures, legal frameworks, and practical applications. This program is designed for investigators, internal affairs personnel, hiring managers, and leadership who interact with or rely on polygraph results in their operations. This is a knowledge and application program, not a polygraph examiner certification course.
Core Curriculum:
• History and Science of Polygraph: Origins, physiological basis, and evolution of polygraph technology
• How Polygraph Examinations Work: Instrumentation, measurement channels (cardiovascular, electrodermal, respiratory), and examination phases
• Polygraph Examination Techniques: Comparison Question Test (CQT), Relevant/Irrelevant (R/I), Concealed Information Test (CIT), and directed lie techniques
• Pre-Employment and Pre-Screening Polygraph: Application in hiring, background investigations, and security clearances
• Criminal Investigation Polygraph: Using polygraph as an investigative tool, confession facilitation, and case advancement
• Internal Affairs and Administrative Polygraph: Application in misconduct investigations, policy violations, and integrity testing
• Legal Framework and Admissibility: Federal and state laws, Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), case law, union considerations, and Daubert standards
• Interpreting Polygraph Results: Understanding charts, quality assurance, inconclusive results, and limitations of polygraph testing
• Countermeasures and Deception Detection: Recognizing attempted countermeasures and supplementary behavioral indicators
• Ethical Considerations: Examiner ethics, examinee rights, informed consent, and avoiding coercion
• Integrating Polygraph into Investigations: Coordinating polygraph results with interview and interrogation strategies, case management, and prosecutorial coordination
Deliverables:
• Certificate of Completion in Polygraph Awareness and Application
• Reference manual covering polygraph science, techniques, and legal frameworks
• Sample policies for polygraph use in pre-employment, criminal investigation, and internal affairs
• Case study examples and discussion materials
Investment: $8,000 per 40-hour package
Target Audience: Instructors, training officers, wellness coordinators, peer support program leaders
Program Description:
This intensive certification program trains instructors to deliver peer support training within their own agencies, regions, or training academies. Participants learn not only peer support content but also instructional methods, scenario facilitation, and program management. All instruction is delivered in-person.
Core Curriculum:
• Peer Support Foundations: Research, ethics, scope of practice, and confidentiality
• Instructional Design for Peer Support Training: Adult learning principles and scenario-based teaching
• Teaching Peer Counseling Skills: How to train active listening, empathy, and appropriate boundaries
• Suicide Prevention Training Delivery: Teaching others to recognize risk and intervene safely
• Critical Incident Support Training: Preparing instructors to teach post-incident peer response
• Facilitating Difficult Conversations: Role-play instruction and feedback techniques
• Program Implementation & Supervision: Supporting peer teams, documentation, and quality assurance
• Train-the-Trainer Practice Sessions: Supervised delivery of training modules with feedback
Certification Requirements:
• Complete 40 hours of in-person training
• Deliver practice training modules with passing evaluation
• Demonstrate competency in peer support skills and instructional delivery
• Submit implementation plan for training rollout in home agency
Deliverables:
• Instructor Certification in Peer Support Facilitation
• Complete training curriculum with PowerPoint slides, handouts, and facilitator guides
• Scenario bank and role-play scripts
• Program management toolkit (policies, forms, evaluation tools)
• Six months of consultation support for certified instructors
Investment: $12,000 per cohort (up to 15 instructors)
Target Audience: Training officers, wellness coordinators, FTOs, academy instructors
Program Description:
This certification prepares instructors to deliver wellness and resilience training to first responders across disciplines. Covers mental health education, stress management, and building resilient teams. All instruction is delivered in-person.
Core Curriculum:
• Foundations of First Responder Mental Health: PTSD, burnout, moral injury, substance use
• Teaching Stress Management & Resilience Tools: Practical techniques for trainees
• Delivering Stigma-Reduction Training: Changing culture through education
• Family Impact & Work-Life Integration: Training responders to protect home relationships
• Instructional Strategies for Wellness Content: Engaging reluctant learners and overcoming resistance
• Practice Teaching & Feedback: Supervised delivery of wellness training modules
Deliverables:
• Instructor Certification in First Responder Wellness Training
• Wellness training curriculum (slides, handouts, reference materials)
• Resource library for trainees (self-assessment tools, technique guides)
• Three months of instructor consultation support
Investment: $8,000 per cohort (up to 20 instructors)
Focus: Deeper, evidence-informed understanding of trauma as it shows up in first responders, plus practical tools.
Core Modules:
• Trauma 2.0: PTSD, complex trauma, and occupational stress injury across disciplines
• Moral Injury & Organizational Betrayal: When policy, leadership, or the system conflicts with personal values
• Investigations & Secondary Trauma: Long-term exposure to SA, CAC, homicide, CSAM, and mass casualty incidents
• High-Risk Populations: Dispatchers, junior members, medically retired, and retirees
• Identity, Transition, and Retirement: Leaving the job, medical retirement, and loss of role
• Long-Term Impact of Trauma: Chronic pain, health conditions, and aging with a first responder history
• Integration with Clinical Care: How peer support and leadership collaborate with clinicians on complex cases
Deliverables:
• Custom resource map for culturally competent clinicians and programs
• Optional case consultation (de-identified) for leadership/peer teams
Investment: $8,000 per 40-hour package
Focus: Leaders as culture-shapers in high-trauma environments.
Core Modules:
• Trauma-Informed Leadership in Public Safety: Leading people who are routinely trauma-exposed
• The Supervisor’s Dilemma: Supporting personnel without breaking the mission
• The Leader’s Role in Mental Health: How supervisors shape help-seeking and culture
• Recognizing Personnel in Crisis: Behavioral, performance, and safety red flags
• Post-Critical Incident Leadership: Communications, modified duty, peer support, and follow-up after major events
• Navigating Fitness-for-Duty & Disclosures: Legal, ethical, and trust considerations; balancing welfare and readiness
• Reducing Organizational Stressors: Schedules, overtime, staffing, policies that drive burnout
• Communicating About Mental Health: What to say, what not to say, and how to respond when someone opens up
• Family Impact & Leadership Responsibility: Supporting families of personnel during crises, critical incidents, and IA/litigation
• Sustaining Wellness Initiatives: Avoiding “check-the-box” trainings; building programs with accountability and metrics
Deliverables:
• Leadership playbook for mental health and wellness
• Coaching sessions with command staff and/or union leaders
Investment: $8,000 per 40-hour package
Focus: Advanced forensic interview training covering child forensic interviews, sexual assault victim interviews, bias-aware interviewing, experiential interviewing, and combined-technique application.
This program is highly hands-on and scenario-based. Participants will engage in extensive role-play exercises, mock interviews, live scenario simulations, and peer-reviewed practice sessions throughout the entire 40 hours. Any refusal to participate in scenario exercises, role-plays, or practical applications will result in failure to pass the program. There are no exceptions. Full participation is mandatory for certification.
Core Curriculum:
Block 1: Child Forensic Interviews (8 Hours)
• ChildFirst Protocol and Forensic Interview Methodology
• Developmental Considerations: Age-appropriate language, cognitive capacity, and suggestibility
• Building Rapport with Child Victims and Witnesses
• Narrative Practice and Free Recall Techniques for Children
• Recognizing Indicators of Coaching, Contamination, and False Allegations
• Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Coordination at Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)
• Scenario-Based Practice: Live child forensic interview simulations with peer and instructor feedback
Block 2: Sexual Assault Victim Interviews (8 Hours)
• Neurobiology of Sexual Assault Trauma: Memory fragmentation, tonic immobility, and delayed disclosure
• Trauma-Informed Interview Framework for Adult Sexual Assault Victims
• Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) Application
• Interviewing Reluctant, Recanting, and Non-Disclosing Victims
• Cultural Competency in Sexual Assault Interviews: LGBTQ+, male victims, vulnerable populations
• Coordination with SART, SANE/SAFE Nurses, and Victim Advocates
• Scenario-Based Practice: Full sexual assault victim interview simulations
Block 3: Bias-Aware Interviewing (8 Hours)
• Understanding Cognitive Bias in Investigative Interviewing: Confirmation bias, anchoring, tunnel vision
• Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Victim Credibility Assessments
• Recognizing and Mitigating Interviewer Bias in Real Time
• Bias in Report Writing and Case Documentation
• Cross-Cultural Interviewing: Race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and socioeconomic factors
• Ethical Interviewing Standards and Avoiding False Confessions
• Scenario-Based Practice: Bias identification exercises and corrective interview techniques
Block 4: Experiential Interviewing (8 Hours)
• Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI): Full methodology and application
• Sensory-Based Questioning: Eliciting experiential details (sights, sounds, smells, physical sensations)
• Understanding Trauma Responses During Interviews: Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn
• Moving Beyond “What Happened?” to “What Was That Like?”: Shifting interview paradigms
• Interviewer Wellness: Managing vicarious trauma during difficult interviews
• Scenario-Based Practice: Full experiential interviews with structured debriefs
Block 5: Combining Techniques — Integrated Interview Application (8 Hours)
• Combining FETI, Cognitive Interview, and Narrative-Based Techniques in a Single Interview
• Adapting Interview Strategy Based on Victim/Witness Type, Developmental Stage, and Trauma Presentation
• Complex Case Interviews: Cases involving multiple victims, conflicting accounts, and delayed reporting
• Interview Planning, Preparation, and Post-Interview Documentation
• Expert Testimony Preparation: Articulating interview methodology in court
• Capstone Scenario: Full integrated forensic interview simulation (instructor-evaluated, pass/fail)
• After-Action Review and Individual Feedback Sessions
Deliverables:
• Certificate of Completion in Forensic Interviewing (upon successful completion of all scenario requirements)
• Forensic Interview Reference Guide and Protocol Manual
• Scenario bank and practice scripts for continued agency training
• Interview planning templates and documentation forms
• Post-training consultation (3 months) for case-specific interview strategy support
Investment: $12,000 per 40-hour package (up to 15 participants)
Target Audience: Law enforcement instructors, SART coordinators, training officers, academy instructors
Program Description:
This certification program prepares instructors to train multi-disciplinary sexual assault response teams and deliver trauma-informed interview training. Ideal for agencies building or expanding SART programs. All instruction is delivered in-person.
Core Curriculum:
• SART Foundations: Multi-disciplinary team structure, roles, and coordination
• Trauma-Informed Response: Neurobiology of trauma and victim-centered approaches
• Teaching Forensic Interview Techniques: ChildFirst and trauma-informed interview methods
• SART Team Training Delivery: How to facilitate multi-agency SART trainings
• Vicarious Trauma & Responder Wellness: Teaching self-care for SART members
• Case Review & Quality Assurance: Training teams on effective case coordination
• Instructional Methods for Sensitive Content: Delivering trauma content safely and effectively
• Practice Teaching Sessions: Supervised delivery with instructor feedback
Certification Requirements:
• Complete 40 hours of in-person training
• Demonstrate competency in trauma-informed instruction
• Deliver practice SART training module with passing evaluation
• Submit SART training implementation plan
Deliverables:
• Instructor Certification in SART Training
• Complete SART training curriculum (slides, handouts, case studies)
• SART program development toolkit (MOUs, protocols, policies)
• Trauma-informed interview training materials
• Six months of consultation for certified SART instructors
Investment: $12,000 per cohort (up to 12 instructors)
Single trainings can be booked as 60–90 minute sessions, half-days (4 hours), or full-days (8 hours). All sessions are delivered in-person only. Topics can be mixed and matched across disciplines.
Core Mental Health & Wellness Topics
• Cumulative Trauma and Burnout in First Responders
• PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety in Public Safety: What They Are and What They Aren’t
• Hypervigilance On and Off Duty: How to Turn It Down
• Sleep, Shift Work, and Recovery: Making Rest a Safety Issue
• Moral Injury and Betrayal in the Job
• Suicide Risk, Safety Planning, and How to Ask the Question
• Substance Use, Numbing, and “High-Functioning” Coping
• Grief, Line-of-Duty Death, and Survivor’s Guilt
• Returning to Work After a Critical Incident
• Identity Beyond the Badge, Patch, or Rig
Peer Support Training Modules (Individual Sessions)
Each module from the 40-hour Peer Support Core Team Training (Package 2) can be booked as a standalone session. These modules incorporate IAFF and IACP Peer Support Training standards and can be delivered as 60–90 minute sessions, half-day, or full-day formats. All sessions are in-person only.
• Peer Support Overview, Structure, and Key Considerations
• Normalizing Common Mental Health Challenges
• Stress and Trauma: Recognition and Early Intervention
• Peer Counseling Techniques: Active Listening and Reflective Response
• Moral Distress and Moral Injury in First Responders
• Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention
• Substance Misuse and Addictions: Conversations and Referrals
• Managing Anger, Frustration, and Conflict
• Family and Support System Considerations
• Supporting Peers Through Grief and Loss
• Supporting Military and Veteran Personnel
• Peer Supporter Self-Care and Wellness
• Liability, Ethics, and Documentation for Peer Teams
Advanced Peer Support and Leadership Modules
• Designing and Evaluating Peer Support Programs (Admin & Leadership)
• Peer Support Program Integration with County and Regional Resources
• Peer Counseling Skills Lab: Live practice, feedback, and advanced micro-skills
• Advanced Suicide Prevention & Postvention for Peer Teams
• Managing High-Risk Cases: When to Escalate and How
• Post-Critical Incident Peer Support: Structured Response Protocols
• Supporting Young Members and Early-Career Personnel
• Peer Team Supervision and Quality Assurance
Skills-Focused Labs
• Difficult Conversations for Supervisors and Peers (scripted, role-play heavy)
• Crisis Communication & De-Escalation Inside the Agency
• Practical Regulation Tools: Grounding, breathing, and reset drills for on and off duty
• Navigating Social Media, Public Scrutiny, and Viral Incidents
• Micro-Trainings for Roll Call/Shift Change (15–20 minute modules)
Specialized Investigations and Response
• Trauma-Informed Victim & Witness Interviewing (SA, CAC, homicide focus)
• Ethical, Evidence-Based Interrogation: Minimizing Moral Injury and False Confessions
• Interviewing While Trauma-Aware: How Investigator Wellness Impacts the Box
• SART 101: Building an Effective Sexual Assault Response Team
• SART 201: Advanced Sexual Assault Response for Team Members
• Critical Incident Stress and Investigative Teams (OIS, in-custody death, major crimes)
• Child Forensic Interview Fundamentals (standalone session)
• Bias-Aware Interviewing for Investigators
• Experiential Interviewing Techniques (FETI overview)
• Polygraph Awareness for Investigators and Leadership
Forensic Interviewing Modules (Individual Sessions)
Each block from the 40-hour Forensic Interviewing program (Package 6) can be booked as a standalone full-day session. All sessions are hands-on, scenario-based, and delivered in-person only.
• Child Forensic Interviews: ChildFirst Protocol, developmental considerations, and practice simulations
• Sexual Assault Victim Interviews: Trauma-informed frameworks, FETI application, and victim engagement
• Bias-Aware Interviewing: Cognitive bias recognition, implicit bias mitigation, and ethical standards
• Experiential Interviewing: FETI methodology, sensory-based questioning, and trauma response management
• Combined Techniques Interview Application: Integrated forensic interview simulations and capstone exercises
À La Carte Pricing
Session Length Investment
60–90 minute session $500
Half-day (4 hours) $1,500
Full-day (8 hours) $2,500
Multi-day series (2–3 days) $2,200 per day
All à la carte sessions are delivered in-person only. Travel expenses (airfare, lodging, ground transportation, meals) billed separately at cost.
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