Ten percent of the job shapes ninety percent of the life

Our story

This website and all classes, webinars, and training are provided by First Responder Forward LLC. The 10-90 Initiative is the project it operates under. It was built to make sure the hardest calls do not define the rest of a career — or the rest of a person.

About Hayley Stokely

Serving Those Who Serve Others

For most people, emergencies are rare moments in life. For first responders, they are part of the job.

After spending years serving in law enforcement, I came to understand that while first responders receive extensive training on tactics, laws, and procedures, many receive very little education on how chronic stress, trauma exposure, and cumulative operational demands affect the mind and body over the course of a career.

That realization became the foundation for First Responders Forward and its flagship project, the 10-90 Initiative.

Throughout my career, I have served in patrol operations, criminal investigations, school policing, crisis intervention, and corrections. These experiences have allowed me to witness not only the incredible resilience of those who serve, but also the hidden challenges that often accompany careers in public safety. Like many first responders, I have seen firsthand how repeated exposure to trauma, moral conflict, organizational stress, and the expectation to remain emotionally composed can affect individuals, families, and agencies.

My goal is simple: to help first responders understand what happens to them before it becomes a crisis.

Rather than focusing only on recovery after someone is struggling, I believe education should begin early in a career by helping responders understand stress physiology, resilience, post-traumatic growth, moral injury, identity, and practical strategies that promote long-term wellness. I also believe that when additional support is needed, first responders deserve access to clinicians who understand the culture and unique demands of public safety.

That philosophy guides everything we do through First Responders Forward.

Education & Research

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Psychology with a minor in Strategic Intelligence from Liberty University, where I developed a strong interest in the psychological and organizational factors that influence first responder performance and well-being.

To further expand my understanding of resilience and trauma, I completed a Graduate Certificate in Military Resilience, studying evidence-based approaches to stress, adaptation, leadership, and recovery among military personnel and first responders.

I am currently completing a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling at Liberty University, where my studies emphasize counseling theory, human behavior, crisis intervention, ethics, and evidence-based approaches to helping individuals and communities. My graduate research focuses on first responder mental health, resilience, moral injury, post-traumatic growth, identity, and organizational wellness, bridging behavioral science with practical applications for law enforcement, fire service, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and other public safety professions.

In addition to my formal education, I continue to study emerging research in neuroscience, trauma recovery, occupational stress, leadership, and evidence-based wellness practices to ensure that the resources shared through this website reflect current research while remaining practical and applicable to the realities of public safety.

Areas of Research & Interest

• First responder mental health
• Resilience and post-traumatic growth
• Moral injury
• Occupational stress and burnout
• Identity and career transition
• Leadership and organizational wellness
• Evidence-based education for public safety
• Neuroscience and trauma-informed care
• Organizational resilience and officer wellness

Why I Started First Responders Forward & the 10-90 Initiative

The idea behind First Responders Forward did not begin as a company.

It began with a question.

Why do we spend so much time preparing first responders for the dangers they can see, but so little time preparing them for the ones they cannot?

Every profession has occupational hazards. For first responders, many of the greatest risks are invisible. Chronic stress, repeated trauma exposure, compassion fatigue, burnout, moral injury, and identity loss rarely occur after a single incident. More often, they develop gradually through years of service.

I realized that many first responders are experiencing these challenges without fully understanding what is happening to them, why they are happening, or where to find professionals who truly understand the first responder profession.

That realization inspired me to create First Responders Forward.

Our mission is to educate, equip, and empower first responders through evidence-informed training, research translation, leadership development, and practical wellness resources. We believe education is one of the most effective forms of prevention. By helping first responders understand how chronic stress affects the brain, body, and relationships, we can promote resilience, improve performance, and foster healthier, more sustainable careers.

As part of that mission, I created the 10-90 Initiative, the flagship project of First Responders Forward.

The 10-90 Initiative is dedicated to connecting first responders and their families with clinicians who specialize in serving the public safety community. Through a searchable referral directory, educational resources, and collaborative partnerships, the initiative helps first responders find professionals who understand the culture, operational stressors, and unique experiences that accompany careers in law enforcement, fire service, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and emergency communications.

Together, First Responders Forward and the 10-90 Initiative provide a comprehensive approach to first responder wellness. First Responders Forward focuses on education, prevention, leadership development, and translating research into practical application, while the 10-90 Initiative helps first responders connect with trusted clinicians who possess the knowledge and experience to provide culturally informed care.

Our goal is simple: to make research practical, improve access to informed mental health support, and help create a culture where seeking knowledge and seeking help are both recognized as signs of professional strength.

A Personal Note

This work is deeply personal to me.

I have experienced the demands of public safety firsthand and understand both the pride and the challenges that come with serving others. Throughout my career, I have seen remarkable courage, sacrifice, and dedication — but I have also seen the cumulative effects of chronic stress, trauma, and identity loss that too often remain unseen.

Every article I write, every training I develop, every research project I pursue, and every resource created through First Responders Forward is driven by one belief:

Those who dedicate their lives to protecting others deserve access to education, support, and professionals who understand the realities of the job.

My hope is that every person who visits this website leaves with a better understanding of themselves, their profession, and the resources available to help them thrive — not just survive.

Together, through First Responders Forward and the 10-90 Initiative, we are working to move the conversation beyond crisis response and toward prevention, education, resilience, connection, and hope.