John McGinness – Sacramento Sheriff (ret), adjunct professor at CSU Sacramento
Sacramento County, CA Sheriff (ret) “Law enforcement officers are not merely professionals doing a critical job, they are people who are called to enter into public service in a unique way. Generally speaking, it is fair to assume that most people are equipped to deal with the predictable conflict and suffering that impacts their life. However, law enforcement officers are called to serve in a manner that subjects them to an extraordinary amount of grief and suffering. Contemporary policing leadership calls for emotional intervention when officers are subject to concentrated incidents of strife and anguish. However, the families of those professionals are not included in that effort, and will inevitably be damaged by vicarious exposure to events that exceed the level humans should be expected to endure. Through the THRIVE program, Janine D'Agostini has worked with her team and developed an effective means to address the need of a first responders’ family support group. This effort is critical to success, in a manner that assists those who have sacrificed so much to help society. I heartily endorse this Guidebook that describes how to set up and run a family support program.”
