Talbot County, Maryland

09/24/2025

Category: Emergency Services

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Tina Kintop, Division Chief of EMS, accepts a check for the Talbot FiRST™ program from Jimmy Eason, President of the Talbot County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association. From left: Tina Kintop; Jimmy Eason; Easton Police Chief Alan Lowrey.

With growing support and measurable results, Talbot County’s Talbot FiRST™ Peer Support Team is setting a new standard for first responder mental health care. This month, the Talbot County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association presented a $5,000 donation to support the program’s next phase of training and outreach.

Launched in October 2024, the Talbot FiRST™ Peer Support Team was created to ensure that all first responders have the resources they need to address mental health challenges arising from the stressful, traumatic, and dangerous situations they face. The program connects first responders with trained peer supporters, fellow responders, who understand their work and can help break down the stigma surrounding mental health.

Since its launch, the Talbot FiRST™ Peer Support Team has:

• Trained 16 first responders across multiple agencies—including For All Seasons Behavioral Health, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, Easton Police, Talbot County Emergency Services (EMS and 911 dispatchers), Talbot County Corrections, and the volunteer fire departments.
• Documented approximately 20 peer encounters to date — with program leaders noting that the actual number of interactions is likely higher, since many are informal or not yet formally recorded.
• About one-third of the peer encounters were initiated by peers proactively recognizing signs of distress, one-third were initiated by employees reaching out for help, and 80% of cases resulted in follow-up check-ins.
• Began outreach to surrounding jurisdictions to share their model and assist neighboring agencies.

The $5,000 contribution from the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, presented by President Jimmy Eason, provides general support to enhance the Team’s ability to reach first responders and normalize seeking help.

“Programs like Talbot FiRST™ are helping to redefine how we care for our first responders,” said Tina Kintop, Division Chief for Emergency Medical Services at the Department of Emergency Services. “This donation demonstrates our community’s commitment to ensuring the mental health and resilience of the people who protect us.”

Talbot FiRST™ leaders hope to expand the model and share lessons learned with other jurisdictions. “Mental health support is an integral part of first responder health,” Kintop adds. “We are reducing stigma and ensuring that our colleagues know help is always within reach.”

For more information on Talbot FiRST™, visit Talbot County Department of Emergency Services - DES or contact Talbot County Department of Emergency Services at 410-770-8160.