After three decades on the job, Walter Villavicencio had seen many of his fellow San Francisco, CA Local 798 brothers and sisters struggle with their behavioral health after enduring traumatic calls. The challenge of dealing with post-traumatic stress often pushed some towards addiction and other detrimental coping mechanisms.
“I wanted to do something that would have an impact, so I got my peer support training and joined Local 798’s Behavioral Health Committee,” said Villavicencio. “I realized quickly that there was a gap in services, especially services geared specifically to emergency responders. That is why it became so important that we bring the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment into our in-network service options.”
The Center of Excellence is the only residential treatment center exclusively for fire service members, providing specialized care for unique behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress and substance use disorders.
The road to success was not an easy one for Villavicencio. The biggest roadblock was that most health insurance plans offered by the City of San Francisco are restricted to medical services in California only, excluding the Maryland-based Center of Excellence.
Villavicencio began by meeting with department management, San Francisco Health Service System officials, health insurers, and other stakeholders.
“The health service system officials understood quickly that San Francisco members going through a behavioral health crisis needed more treatment with their profession in mind,” said Villavicencio. “But it still took a village to make it happen. The people at the Center of Excellence were really helpful there.”
In honor of Villavicencio’s efforts, Center of Excellence Outreach Director Kelly Savage presented him with the first IAFF Center of Excellence Behavioral Health Champion Award at a 10th District educational event last year.
“Walter reminds us that sometimes all it takes is one person to create meaningful change because he never stopped knocking on doors, the Center of Excellence is an in-network provider,” said Savage. “Lives will be saved for years to come.”
“While we do have behavioral health treatment options in our area, none mirrors the services provided at the Center of Excellence. We are thankful to Brother Villavicencio for all the work he did to make this happen,” said Local 798 Secretary Adam Wood. “Our members can now get the treatment they need when they need it.”
The West Coast Center of Excellence is expected to open in 2024 in California. Local 798 members will then have access to both facilities.
