Who We Are

The Ottawa First Responders Foundation (OFRF) supports the mental wellness of Ottawa’s Police, Fire, and Paramedic personnel, veterans, retirees, and their families. We bridge service gaps and provide financial assistance for needs beyond traditional mental health services to ensure long-term well-being.

Individual Counselling Fund – One-on-One

The Individual Counselling Fund offers financial assistance for counselling services, covering up to $1,000 per quarter, paid directly to the counsellor.

Important Notes:

• Missed appointments: If you miss an appointment without a valid reason, your service provider may bill you directly. OFRF will not cover missed appointments.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• be active or retired Ottawa First Responders or their family members over 18;
• have established contact with a service provider at the time of application;
• have a City of Ottawa ID is required to verify eligibility;
• provide their peer-to-peer contact’s name and contact information within their service if a City of Ottawa ID is unavailable (This allows us to verify this information for confirmation purposes).

Application Process

• Applications are reviewed within five business days based on funding availability.
• Once approved, payment is made directly to the service provider via EFT.
• Applicants may reapply for additional funding if needed.

Additional Information

• Not all requests may be accommodated due to limited funds.
• Confidentiality: All applications will be managed with the highest level of confidentiality.
• First-time applicants may qualify for reimbursement for services rendered up to 60 days prior to application.