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Free Wellness Program — Hernando County, FL

Post-Traumatic
Growth Starts Here

For Those Who Serve — At No Cost
Law Enforcement · Fire · EMS · Military · Veterans
Contact Us Our Program
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Our Mission

From Stress
to Strength

First responders and military personnel face trauma at a scale most people will never know. Responders First exists to turn that weight into something different — post-traumatic growth. Evidence-based therapies. A confidential environment. Zero cost to the participant.

Our free five-day wellness program provides lodging, meals, and transportation — because the only barrier to healing should never be money.

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22%
of first responders develop PTSD from critical incidents — up to 4x the general population rate
1–5
ART therapy sessions to see measurable results — one of the fastest-acting PTSD treatments available
$0
Cost to every participant — lodging, meals, and transportation are all included at no charge
Who We Serve

Every Branch.
Every Badge.

Law Enforcement

Police officers, deputies, detectives, and corrections officers carrying the weight of daily trauma on the front lines.

Fire & Rescue

Firefighters and rescue personnel who run toward danger — and carry the images home with them long after the scene is cleared.

EMS & Paramedics

Emergency medical responders who make life-and-death decisions under pressure, often without the recognition they deserve.

Military

Active duty, reserve, and National Guard members who face the compounded trauma of combat, deployment, and transition.

Veterans

Those who served and returned home — carrying experiences that don't simply end when the service does.

Spouses & Families

Partners and significant others who share the secondary trauma of loving someone who carries the job home.

Free Five-Day Wellness Program
Evidence-Based Therapies
Confidential
No Cost to Participants
Spring Hill, Florida
Post-Traumatic Growth
Law Enforcement · Fire · EMS · Military · Veterans
Free Five-Day Wellness Program
Evidence-Based Therapies
Confidential
No Cost to Participants
Spring Hill, Florida
Post-Traumatic Growth
Law Enforcement · Fire · EMS · Military · Veterans
The Program

Five Days.
Real Results.

Arrival
Day 01
01
Arrival & Orientation
Therapy Day 2
Day 02
02
ART & iRest Sessions
Therapy Day 3
Day 03
03
Yoga & Music Therapy
Integration
Day 04
04
Integration & Next Steps
Log cabin lodging
Always Included
$0
Lodging · Meals · Transport
Day 01

Arrival & Orientation

Transportation, lodging, and meals provided from the moment you arrive. The first day is about settling in, meeting the clinical team, and building comfort with the people and the process before the real work begins.

Day 02

ART & Integrative Restoration

Your first full day of clinical treatment. Accelerated Resolution Therapy uses guided eye movements to reprocess traumatic memories, followed by iRest — a full-body relaxation protocol that retrains the nervous system's stress response at its root.

Day 03

Yoga & Therapeutic Music

Movement and connection. Multiple yoga styles adapted for first responders — focused on stress reduction, chronic pain, and PTSD symptom relief. Followed by therapeutic drumming and music group experience, building the sense of camaraderie that is often missing in traditional treatment.

Day 04

Integration & Next Steps

Building a plan that extends beyond the program. Tools for continued growth, peer connection, and follow-up resources to support the journey home — because healing doesn't stop when the program ends.

Included — No Exceptions

Lodging · Meals · Transportation

Every participant receives lodging, meals, and transportation at no cost. The program is fully funded so that financial barriers never stand between a first responder and healing.

Proven Therapies

Science-Backed.
Battle-Tested.

ART · Eye Movement Therapy

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

An eye movement technique that reprograms how the brain stores traumatic memories. Effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, addiction, and more. Most participants see significant results in just 1–5 sessions — making it one of the most efficient trauma treatments available.

iRest · Nervous System Regulation

Integrative Restoration

A full-body relaxation protocol developed from yogic meditation. iRest effectively alleviates triggers related to combat trauma, insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, and depression by retraining the nervous system's stress response at the root level.

Movement · Recovery

Yoga

Multiple yoga styles adapted for first responders and veterans — focused on improving stress response, reducing chronic pain sensation, improving sleep quality, and decreasing PTSD symptoms. No prior experience required.

Music · Community

Therapeutic Music Group

Drumming and music therapy with a clinically proven track record — reducing tension, anxiety, and stress; managing chronic pain; boosting immune function; and creating a sense of connectedness and belonging that first responders rarely find in traditional treatment settings.

About the Founder

Built by Someone Who Understands

Responders First was not built in a boardroom. It was built by a clinician who spent years sitting across from first responders and veterans — listening to what they carried, and recognizing that the standard system was failing them. Every element of this program reflects that experience.

Jesse Diaz-Franco LCSW speaking at a first responder wellness conference
LCSW Licensed Clinical
Social Worker
"The goal has never been to fix anyone. It's to give people back the version of themselves they thought they'd lost."
— Jesse Diaz-Franco, LCSW
Jesse Diaz-Franco, LCSW
Founder & Executive Director — Responders First Inc.
Master of Social Work Advanced Clinical Practice ART Enhanced Practitioner Saint Leo University

Jesse Diaz-Franco is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has dedicated his career to one purpose: making sure that the people who protect and serve their communities never have to face their hardest moments alone or without access to real, effective care.

He holds a Master's degree in Social Work with an Advanced Clinical Practice concentration and is one of a select number of clinicians nationally to hold the Enhanced Practitioner designation in Accelerated Resolution Therapy — a trauma treatment with some of the strongest clinical evidence available, capable of producing lasting results in a fraction of the time required by traditional approaches.

Jesse founded Responders First in 2019 after witnessing firsthand how the barriers of cost, stigma, and institutional distrust prevented first responders and veterans from seeking the help they needed and deserved. He designed this program specifically around the culture, the language, and the real-world experiences of those who serve.

If you are a family member searching for answers, or a first responder who has quietly carried more than anyone should have to — this program was built with you in mind. Jesse's clinical work is guided by the belief that healing is not only possible, but that every person who has given so much to others deserves the tools and the space to find it.

FAQ

Common Questions

The program is open to all active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, emergency medical volunteers, and other first responders. Spouses, partners, and immediate family members are also eligible. You do not need a department referral, a diagnosis, or paperwork from anyone to apply. If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact us — we would rather have a conversation than have someone miss out on care they need.
No. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or paperwork from your department. We work with people across the full spectrum — from those in active crisis to those who are functioning fine but know something is not quite right. If you serve or have served, or you love someone who does, you are eligible.
There is no catch. All Responders First services — the five-day wellness program, year-round one-on-one counseling, and the Saturday peer-to-peer group — are 100% free to first responders, veterans, military, and their families. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by donors, grants, and community partnerships. You will never be billed, invoiced, or asked for insurance information.
No. Responders First operates independently from any department, agency, or branch. We do not share information about your participation — or anything discussed during the program — with your employer, your chain of command, your insurance, or any government entity. Sessions are confidential and protected under standard mental health confidentiality laws. What happens in the program stays in the program.
The program is anchored at the Sandhill Scout Reservation in Hernando County, Florida — approximately one hour north of Tampa — with select sessions held at other Nature Coast locations. Most participants stay onsite for the full program week; lodging is confirmed during intake. Local transportation during the program is included. Out-of-state participants currently arrange their own travel; donor-funded travel for warriors and families is part of our growth roadmap.
ART uses guided eye movements to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories — changing how they are stored so they no longer trigger the same emotional and physical stress responses. It is evidence-based, clinically validated, and does not require you to talk through your trauma in detail. Most participants are surprised by how quickly they notice a shift; research shows significant symptom reduction in as few as 1 to 5 sessions, which is why ART is the core therapy of our program.
No. ART does not require you to verbalize trauma details out loud. Many participants tell us this is the part that finally made treatment possible — they had avoided therapy for years because they did not want to relive specific calls or deployments. With ART, you process the memory internally while the clinician guides the session through bilateral eye movement.
None. The yoga and iRest sessions are designed specifically for first responders and veterans — many of whom have never set foot in a yoga studio. The focus is on nervous system regulation, physical recovery, and stress relief — not flexibility or spiritual practice. You will be guided every step of the way by certified clinicians who understand the first responder experience and communicate in plain language.
Yes. Parallel services for spouses and significant others are a core part of how we work. The five-day program runs in two formats: six individuals, or three couples. Spouses also have access to one-on-one counseling year-round. We treat the trauma of living alongside someone managing PTSD as primary, not secondary — partners are welcome and encouraged to apply, either together or separately.
Responders First is Christian-affiliated but serves warriors of all backgrounds and faiths. Our founder Jesse Diaz-Franco is an elder and worship leader at Christ's Family Church in Homosassa. The clinical work itself — ART therapy and the wellness program — is not religious in content. We welcome anyone who needs help, regardless of their faith background or lack thereof.
Call us at 352-585-0626 or email Jesse at Jesse@RespondersFirst.us. The intake is conversational, not bureaucratic — typically a 15–20 minute call to understand your situation and what would help most. From there we will discuss whether the five-day program, one-on-one counseling, or the Saturday peer group is the best fit, and what the timeline looks like.
No Cost. No Barrier.

You've Given Enough.
Now Let Us Give Back.

The program is free. Lodging is free. Meals are free. Transportation is free. The only thing required is the willingness to show up.

Call 352-585-0626 Email Jesse
Strictly confidential · No employer notification · Open to spouses
Our Partners & Sponsors
Contact

Talk to Jesse Directly

The fastest way to start is a phone call or email. There is no application form to fill out — a brief conversation is all it takes. Every conversation is strictly confidential.

Call
352-585-0626
Mon–Fri · 9 AM – 9 PM ET
Email
Jesse@RespondersFirst.us
Replies within one business day
Spring Hill, FL · Hernando County
Strictly confidential — never shared with employers, agencies, or third parties