— Photo by Nikkigee3312
From The New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com):
The T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University has partnered with Thrive Global and Creative Artists Agency to launch #FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative to support first responders as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effort seeks to provide first responder healthcare workers with physical and psychological resources during a time when the nation depends upon them. Donations to the fund will be used to provide protective equipment needed by these workers, as well as to provide services—such as childcare, mental health counseling, and virtual workshops—that will help these workers manage their own health while caring for others. Working with public and private sector partners including the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, and the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services, the initiative is mobilizing local and national groups at multiple levels to support first responders with the resources they need to care for themselves and others.
“As this crisis continues to unfold, it’s important for those on the frontlines to be fortified with essential equipment while being supported to care for themselves. Doing so will allow frontline healthcare workers to be more effective, more resilient and have more of an impact when we all take these proactive steps,” said Michelle Williams, dean of the Harvard Chan School. “We must remember that in this time of crisis, the results of these steps are measured in lives saved.”
