Barry University Secures $500,000 for First Responder Training
State appropriations will fund a program designed to help Florida first responders better detect and respond to suicide risk.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Barry University has secured $500,000 in state appropriations for its First Responder Risk Detection Training program, approved and signed as part of the 2026-27 state budget. The program is expected to begin rolling out this fall.
Why it matters
The funding will support training for close to 8,000 first responders across Florida, aiming to improve decision-making under stress and connect responders to appropriate mental health care. Florida residents who rely on these responders may see effects in how calls involving mental health crises are handled.
The $500,000 appropriation covers operations, program execution, curriculum development, and instructor training under a train-the-trainer model. Instructors will be current or former first responders, and the program's measured results have not yet been reported.
The players
Barry University
A private Catholic university in Miami Shores, Florida, whose School of Mental Health and Social Work and Emergency Management programs are developing the training.
Dr. Rodolfo Bonnin
Dean and professor of Barry University's School of Mental Health and Social Work, who co-developed the curriculum.
Frank Galgano
Director of Emergency Management programs at Barry University, who co-developed the curriculum.
Shevrin Jones
A Florida state senator who supported the bipartisan effort to secure the appropriation.
Alex Rizo
A Florida state representative who supported the bipartisan effort to secure the appropriation.
The details
Barry University will create the curriculum, co-developed by Dr. Rodolfo Bonnin, dean and professor of the School of Mental Health and Social Work, and Frank Galgano, director of Emergency Management programs. Current and former first responders will be trained to deliver the standardized training statewide, with support from State Sen. Shevrin Jones and State Rep. Alex Rizo.
Timeline
2026-27 state budget: appropriation approved and signed.
Fall 2026: program expected to begin rolling out.
Budget Context
The appropriation was approved as part of the 2026-27 Florida state budget, placing it among the line-item funding decisions that determine which university-led programs receive state support. Its train-the-trainer structure means the state's investment is intended to multiply across agencies rather than fund a single centralized service.
Florida first responders who complete the training will learn standardized approaches to identifying and responding to suicide risk, which may change how calls involving mental health crises are handled in their communities. Residents may see these changes in encounters with police, firefighters, and EMS personnel as the program expands.
The takeaway
Investing in training that helps first responders recognize and respond to mental health crises can improve both responder safety and public trust. Florida residents seeking information on available mental health resources should look to local providers and state agencies for guidance.
What happens next
The program is expected to begin rolling out in fall 2026, with curriculum development and instructor training preceding that launch.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Financial Aid and how state funding shapes education programs.
More information
Learn more on the Barry University homepage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Miami's Community News.
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