Governor Greg Abbott Welcomes First Responders to Capitol; Recognizing May 14 as Moral Injury Awareness Day Statewide
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Texas Governor Greg Abbott invited first responders and American Warrior Association (AWA) leadership to the Capitol on May 14 to commend the group on its recent launch of R3 Respond, Restore, Resolve, and their commitment to raising awareness of moral injury.
'Texas will always support our first responders who selflessly serve on the frontlines every day to keep Texans safe,' said Governor Greg Abbott.
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Moral injury, a condition distinct from post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs when individuals engage in, witness, or fail to prevent actions that violate their moral beliefs, causing feelings of guilt, shame and loss of trust. Moral Injury Awareness Day will be recognized annually in Texas.
'Texas will always support our first responders who selflessly serve on the frontlines every day to keep Texans safe,' said Governor Greg Abbott. 'Texas will now officially recognize Moral Injury Awareness Day to educate people about moral injuries and the impact they have on our first responders. Texas will continue to provide the heroic men and women who answered the call to serve with the resources and support they need to heal from unseen injuries. We are eternally grateful to all first responders who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of their communities and their fellow Texans across our great state.'
Recently, AWA launched R3 Respond. Restore. Resolve to provide first responders with practical tools and resources to address moral injury, improve resilience, and promote healing. R3, initially launched in March 2024 in Fort Worth, provides first responders with practical tools and resources to address moral injury, improve resilience, and promote healing. To date, R3 has implemented programming with the city of Fort Worth Fire and Police Departments, city of Dallas Fire and Police Departments and DFW International Airport.
R3 offers benefits that extend across all fronts. first responders gain access to crucial tools and resources enabling them to address moral injury, ultimately fostering resilience and well-being. For departments and agencies, the program promotes a healthier workforce, leading to reduced absenteeism and improved overall performance and morale. Together, these efforts will directly benefit communities by enhancing officers' mental strength to de-escalate situations; ultimately strengthening relationships between first responders and the communities they serve.
About R3/AWA
Rooted in Texas, R3 is designed for scalability with the AWA at the helm to ultimately guide its expansion across the nation. The first of its kind, this program serves as a model for addressing first responder wellness, ensuring communities everywhere can benefit from its innovative approach.
The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The AWA is dedicated to honoring our Nation's military, veterans, first responders, and their families in mind, body, and soul.
For more information on Moral Injury Awareness Day or the R3 initiative, visit: https://www.awa-usa.org/programs/r3-program.
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