Red Hook org Friends of Firefighters launches new program to support children of New York’s Bravest

A new program is supporting the mental health needs of the families and children of New York’s Bravest.

Red Hook-based organization Friends of Firefighters, which advocates for the health and wellness of firefighters, is reaching a new demographic through its “Bravest Children” program, led by counselors Zach Grill and Kia Carbone. 

The pair work with children from ages 4 to 17, helping them navigate through the stresses of their parents’ dangerous job and of every day life.

‘It’s creating a community for the kids [of] these firefighters [scattered] all across the city,” Grill said. “The kids don’t necessarily meet up with other children of firefighters. So having a sense of community that they can see that the different lifestyle that they live by being a child of firefighter does have normalcy.” 

So far, twelve families participate in the group, meeting regularly to learn about effective communication, coping skills, and resilience, all while having some fun. 

Grill and Carbone said they want to help the children deal with their struggles, and talk freely about whatever is on their mind. They do that a little differently than they might with adults — Grill connects with the kids through tabletop games like UNO and role-playing games, and Carbone through painting and drawing. There’s also Sadie, aka Boox — a service dog in training, who will someday work with the kids. 

“I want them to be able to understand why they are feeling stressed or these emotions.” Grill said.

Carbone said she takes pride in helping the younger generation, who often weren’t taught how to communicate their emotions and struggles. 

“I mean, it was like, ‘Oh yeah, learn how to talk about it,’” she said. “But then, like, not told how to. And when you don’t know how to communicate, you bury things or you lash out, it’s one or the other, and it’s not conducive to anything.” 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Carbone said, programs for children have filled up, and there are waitlists for after-school programs and programs like Bravest Children. But those kids need a place to learn and get support. 

Bravest Children helps children and families put things in perspective, she said.  An eight-year-old in the group recently told Carbone they felt that “life feels like it is moving too fast.” 

Being able to “figure out what’s going on, communicate that even if you’re communicating it to yourself, that’s something that a lot of us really struggle to do,” she said. “So I think that’s probably the most important thing.”