McHenry Township Fire Protection District
Phone: (815) 385-0075
Lt. Joe Winkie
Peer Support Lead
Peer Support
Our mission is to cultivate a compassionate and empowering community where individuals facing similar challenges come together to share experiences, provide mutual understanding, and foster personal growth. We are dedicated to creating a safe and non-judgmental space where peers support one another, promoting mental and emotional well-being, resilience, and the journey towards recovery. Through active listening, empathy, and shared wisdom, we aim to inspire hope, reduce isolation, and strengthen the bonds that empower each member to navigate life's challenges with dignity and strength.
“To be in this business,
everybody thinks you have to have thick skin and be tough.
The main thing I always tell people is, you have to have compassion.”
-Wayne Amore (MTFPD Fire Chief 1998-2009)
Our Peer Support program is dedicated to building Awareness, Resiliency, and Wellness through Education, Stigma reduction, and providing an avenue for access to professional resources as needed. We aim to create, maintain, and if needed restore our first responders to mentally strong and healthy men and women capable of providing the highest level of care to our citizens.
In support of the MTFPD Peer Support mission the chiefs have signed a pledge in support of the "Make it Safe Firefighter Initiative". This pledge recognizes the difficulties in asking for help and pledges to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. This initiative takes into account the need for Peer Support programs to be properly trained and established. The chiefs' support acknowledges this, and will allow for the creation of these much needed resources. It is our hope that this signed pledge will show that the risk to mental well-being from the stress associated with firefighting and EMS duties will give confidence to our members to seek help through our Peer Support program. Thank you to the chiefs for supporting and encouraging this program!
