New ASU program supports parents in high-stress careers

High-pressure jobs can come with chronic stress, long shifts and unpredictable schedules. These pressures, when not managed, can ripple into family life, affecting both parents’ and children’s emotional well-being.

In response to challenges like these, the Reach Institute at Arizona State University developed ADAPT for First Responders, a new online parenting program that offers research-based guidance to help first responders and other frontline professionals manage the demands of family life and support healthy relationships at home.

“Many families in these professions experience stressors that traditional parenting programs weren’t built to address,” said Abigail Gewirtz, professor of psychology and director of the Reach Institute. “ADAPT for First Responders gives parents practical, flexible tools that fit their unique circumstances.”

Originally developed for military families, ADAPT (Adaptive Parenting Tools) has been redesigned for first responder families with knowledge gained from local partners, including Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Gilbert Police Department and Phoenix Police Department. These partners have highlighted key considerations such as first responder challenges and pain points, barriers to resource utilization and qualities of successful programming.

“Programs like ADAPT are essential for first responders because they recognize the unique stressors we face — not just on the job, but at home,” said Sgt. Mark Worden, who oversees peer support and wellness for the Gilbert Police Department. “I’ve seen firsthand how resources like ADAPT can strengthen families, improve communication and support the overall wellness of our officers. For parents, these programs offer tools to better connect with their children, manage the emotional toll of the job and model resilience in the face of adversity.”

The program is fully online, offering interactive lessons, practical tools and guided exercises that parents can complete on their own schedule. Parents and caregivers learn skills to strengthen communication, manage transitions and build a calm and connected home life.

“This isn’t about adding one more thing to already overburdened parents,” Gewirtz said. “It’s about empowering parents to thrive and help them become their children’s best teachers and role models.”

By launching ADAPT for First Responders, ASU is embedding its use-inspired research directly into the community and helping families reduce stress, improve family relationships and support overall well-being.

“When people are in moments of desperation, simply knowing that a resource exists can help calm the emotional storm,” Worden said. “It creates space for hope, for clarity and for connection. The partnership between Gilbert PD and ASU Reach Institute reflects our shared commitment to proactive, research-backed support for those who serve.”

The program is now open to first responder and frontline families, with free access available for a limited time. Early participants report that the strategies are immediately useful and that their children are noticing the difference, too.

“This work is about resilience at every level,” Gewirtz said. “We’ve seen how the stress of high-demand jobs can spill over into family life. When first responder families have support at home, parents are able to manage those pressures and be there fully for their children — and that, in turn, strengthens their ability to serve the community. It all comes full circle.”