SHIELD 

Supporting Health and Integrity for Emergency, Law Enforcement, and Military Departments
Faith • Service • Strength

First responders and military personnel face immense physical, emotional, and spiritual demands in service to their communities and country. They regularly witness trauma, carry the weight of public expectation, and often feel isolated in their struggles. In East Texas, where strong faith and service values run deep, these burdens can be compounded by stigma surrounding mental health.

SHIELD is SPARK’s initiative designed to stand in the gap — providing targeted outreach, resilience training, peer support, and spiritual care to those who serve.

We support:

  • Law enforcement officers

  • Firefighters

  • EMS professionals

  • 911 dispatchers

  • Military service members (active duty, guard, reserve, and veterans)

Our Mission:
To foster resilience, promote mental and spiritual well-being, and prevent suicide among first responders and military personnel across East Texas.

What We Do

Faith-Informed Resilience Training
SHIELD offers training designed to strengthen emotional resilience, spiritual grounding, and peer support skills within first responder and military communities.

Peer Support Development
We help agencies and military units establish and sustain trusted peer support networks — empowering those who serve to care for one another with compassion and competence.

Critical Incident Support
Following critical incidents, SHIELD provides faith-informed debriefing and connection to resources for those impacted.

Military Outreach
SHIELD extends its mission to support service members, veterans, and military families, working with local military bases, VA partners, faith communities, and veteran-serving organizations.

Resource Connection
We connect first responders and military personnel to mental health, chaplaincy, and spiritual care resources — helping break down barriers to help-seeking.

Why SHIELD Matters

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among both first responders and military personnel. Many struggle in silence — bound by a culture of toughness and wary of seeking help. SHIELD brings hope into this space by:

  • Reducing stigma through education

  • Promoting resilience and spiritual well-being

  • Strengthening peer connections

  • Equipping leaders to foster a culture of support

  • Providing direct outreach to those at highest risk

Through SHIELD, we are building a community of care that honors the courage of those who serve — and ensures they are never left to struggle alone.

Get Involved

SHIELD thrives through partnerships with:
✅ Law enforcement and fire/EMS agencies
✅ Military units and veterans’ groups
✅ Chaplains and faith leaders
✅ Mental health professionals

You can help.

  • Host a SHIELD training in your agency, unit, or church

  • Volunteer with the SHIELD team

  • Support outreach to first responders and veterans

Contact: info@sparkcares.org

👉 Join SHIELD. Together, we can bring hope, strength, and healing to those who serve.