The Trauma Survivors Foundation
About The Trauma Survivors Foundation
When a traumatic event hits, The Trauma Survivors Foundation is built to respond with counseling, peer support, meals, scholarships, and training for the people carrying the aftermath. Based in Wilmington, DE, it serves trauma survivors, families, first responders, healthcare workers, and emergency services personnel, with support that can begin in a crisis and continue after it. Donors back an organization that is already providing immediate help while also training the professionals people often turn to first.
What sets The Trauma Survivors Foundation apart is how many parts of trauma care it keeps under one roof without losing the human side of it. It has a national network of roughly 2,800 therapists, responds to traumatic incidents nationwide, and offers programs built for first responders, healthcare workers, and people affected by trauma. It also pairs direct support with practical help like meals, scholarships, and training.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Trauma Care
An integrative, trauma-informed care package that includes individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, peer support networks, trauma-informed education and training, and holistic healing modalities for healthcare professionals, first responders, survivors of complex trauma, acute trauma, and secondary trauma.
Critical Incident Response Strategies
A crisis response program that offers one-on-one peer support, post-incident debriefing, acute stress management, and rapid referral to long-term care for individuals, families, groups, corporations, and emergency services personnel.
Help a Hero
A program that helps law enforcement officers gain access to police peer counselors through the Critical Incident Response Strategies app in CarePortMD, with 24/7 support.
Foundation Food Drive
A meal-delivery initiative that provides meals to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and hospital staff during emergencies and holidays.
Trainings and Seminars
Certificate courses and seminars for first responder agencies, support professionals, and organizations on critical incident response, peer support, stress management, crisis management, and related topics.
Scholarships
Scholarships for high school and college seniors pursuing mental health careers, plus scholarships that help firefighters, police, and EMS personnel attend approved classes.
Public Safety Awards
Recognition for emergency services personnel and first responders in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey, including the Public Safety Award and the Alyse Alvini Personal Hero Award.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
To provide immediate and ongoing support to individuals and communities affected by trauma, including crisis response, trauma therapy, and training for first responders and mental health professionals nationwide.
Who they serve
Children, families, first responders, healthcare workers, trauma survivors, and emergency services personnel affected by traumatic events
Their impact
- Provided crisis intervention to 1,500 survivors of traumatic events
- Trained hundreds in trauma-informed peer support, incident response, and crisis intervention
- Delivered over 200,000 meals across 126 locations
- Delivered over 3,500 meals to frontline workers by April 10, 2020
- Maintains a network of roughly 2,800 therapists across the United States
How your donation helps
- Crisis response services and trauma therapy
- Peer support and critical incident response training
- Meals for first responders and healthcare workers during emergencies and holidays
- Scholarships for mental health students and emergency service personnel
- Access to the Help a Hero and CIRS support programs
Our story
The Trauma Survivors Foundation began after Dennis Carradin responded to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and saw a gap that kept showing up for survivors and first responders, too, access to therapists who specialized in trauma therapy. He founded the organization to connect people affected by trauma with trained trauma therapists, help restore a sense of normalcy, and provide support before, during, and after crises.
Need help?
How someone in need can access The Trauma Survivors Foundation’s services.
People affected by trauma can contact the organization by phone or through its contact page to request support. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, peer support networks, trauma-informed education and training, and access to trained trauma clinicians; law enforcement officers can also use the Help a Hero program for police peer counselor access through the CIRS app.
In their words
The Trauma Survivors Foundation exists to remind people that their story isn’t over. — Dennis Carradin
No one should feel alone in their pain. TSF is a bridge to connection, understanding, and recovery. — Dennis Carradin
We are driven by a single goal: Do our part to make the world a better and healthier place for all.
Events
St. Patrick’s Revenge 5K
annualA community 5K in Wilmington with a post-race party at The Logan House that supports first responders, healthcare professionals, and trauma survivors.
Margherita for a Mission
annualA month-long fundraiser with Seasons Pizza where a portion of every Margherita pizza sold at Delaware locations benefits the foundation.
Autumn Run Charity 5K
annualA charity 5K that supports survivors and first responders.
2-Day Critical Incident Response and Peer Support Training
scheduled trainingA two-day certificate course for first responder agencies focused on peer support and critical incident response.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles The Trauma Survivors Foundation has shared.
Current needs
- Donations for the Thanksgiving Food Drive to provide holiday meals to first responders on duty
- Volunteer support for event staff, event bartenders and servers, social media, and sponsorship support
- Funding for scholarships for mental health students and emergency service personnel
- Support for the Help a Hero program and CIRS app access
Volunteer opportunities
- Event staff
- Event bartender or server
- Social media volunteer
- Sponsorship support
- Meal preparation and delivery
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Public Safety Award
- Alyse Alvini Personal Hero Award
In the media
- 92.5 XTU, Our Delaware Valley, featured The Trauma Survivors Foundation and the Delaware Beer Fest
- 97.5 The Fanatic, Philadelphia, featured The Trauma Survivors Foundation
- WWDB-AM Talk 860, Philadelphia Focus, featured Dennis Carradin, Jr. and The Trauma Survivors Foundation
- 103.7 WXCY, The Breakfast Blend, covered the foundation’s holiday meal support
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How can law enforcement officers access peer support through Help a Hero?
Help a Hero connects law enforcement officers with police peer counselors through the Critical Incident Response Strategies app in CarePortMD, and support is available 24/7.