Partnerships
A creative partnership emerged in 2020 to address the physical and emotional stress experienced by first responders of drug overdose patients in Oklahoma. The Injury Prevention Service, a division of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, partnered with the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity within the Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Science to create a unique program. Across the spectrum of potential interventions, there are only a few approaches shown to actually reduce the stress and pressure of participants who experience above average traumatic events in the course of their occupations. The Mindful First Responders program leverages the powerful impact of these proven mindfulness and movement activities.
A creative partnership emerged in 2020 to address the physical and emotional stress experienced by first responders of drug overdose patients in Oklahoma. The Injury Prevention Service, a division of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, partnered with the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity within the Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Science to create a unique program.
Across the spectrum of potential interventions, there are only a few approaches shown to actually reduce the stress and pressure of participants who experience above average traumatic events in the course of their occupations. The Mindful First Responders program leverages the powerful impact of these proven mindfulness and movement activities.
Program Facilitators
Steve Hoppes, PhD
After a clinical career as an Occupational Therapist working in geriatric rehabilitation and dementia care, Steve Hoppes, Ph.D., was an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. He has studied mindfulness extensively under renowned teachers, including Jon-Kabat Zinn, Sharon Salzberg, Norman Fischer, Adyashanti, and others. He teaches mindfulness at Women in Recovery, and has presented mindfulness to the OU and OSU Schools of Medicine, Tulsa Health Department, Pittsburgh County Health Department, Educare, CAP Tulsa, Street School, and others.
Candice Primm, LCSW, IMH ®
Candice has been a therapist for 10 years. She received her Masters of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 2012. Candice was an elementary school teacher and librarian in Jenks Public Schools before becoming a therapist. She is currently the Clinical Director of Tulsa Counseling Group and regularly uses mindfulness practices with her clients. Candice has a variety of life experience she brings to her work including teaching yoga and mindfulness, earning a black belt in karate and a blue belt in jiu jitsu, and dabbling in photography. She and her husband Matt are fur-parents of five rescue animals.
Jennifer Hays-Grudo, PhD
Dr. Hays-Grudo is the principal investigator and managing director of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (CIRCA) and a Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
Program Administrators
Jerry D. Root, MA, SPHR
Jerry is the Director of Training & Development for the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (CIRCA) at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
Kaylen Smith, BS
Kaylen is the Program Coordinator for the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (CIRCA) at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
Program Sponsors
Tracy Wendling, PhD
Avy Redus, MS
Dr. Wendling is the Director and Mrs. Redus is the Administrative Program Manager of Injury Prevention Service within the Oklahoma State Department of Health.