Talking to someone who has lived the same experience can lower the barrier to opening up in a way that individual conversations with someone outside the profession sometimes can't. Nationally, 75% of first responders identify a lack of culturally competent providers as a key obstacle to getting help (Jacobowitz et al., 2025, NYS First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment). SC4i's groups are built specifically to close that gap, since they're led with an understanding of first responder culture rather than requiring participants to explain it first.

This approach reflects a broader pattern in how people find SC4i. Most new clients, 75%, arrive through peer referral, meaning first responders are the ones recommending SC4i to colleagues based on their own experience with the organization.

Group activity to date

Since 2017, SC4i has held 83 Code 4 Together group sessions and 69 SMART Recovery group sessions. These groups run alongside SC4i's individual counseling, training, and family support programs as part of the same continuum of care.

Who can join

Current and former first responders, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, and military personnel, are eligible to participate.