Flexible, Real-World Sessions to Build Effective Crisis Response Teams in August

Throughout August, the Incident Management Team offers virtual training sessions to strengthen Peer Support and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) practices across agencies. These sessions are offered in a flexible, low-disruption format, with options at noon and evening to accommodate shift schedules and minimize operational downtime.

Incident Management TeamTopics include:

  • How to determine Critical Event Activation and utilize a Critical Management Board (CMB)

  • Best practices for diffusing after incidents and choosing between group or individual CISD

  • Navigating legal considerations: confidentiality, privilege, and compliance with ICISF/MCRA

  • Real-world scenarios and case studies from pilot agencies

  • Recruitment and retention of Peer Support Team members amid staffing and budget challenges

  • Supporting families and recognizing invisible victims

  • Open Q&A sessions and roundtables for collaboration and shared problem-solving

Training Schedule

Aug 4 Mon noon Process of determining Critical Event Activation and who is involved

Aug 5 Tue noon Learning how to maximize the Power of a CMB 

Aug 5 Tue 7pm The Importance of Diffusing and why and how it should be utilized 

Aug 8 Fri 3 pm Understanding and Selecting a Homogeneous Group and how to identify circles of impact

Aug 11 Mon noon Group vs Individual CISD and how to know which is appropriate

Aug 11 Mon 7 pm Identifying Victims, Visible and Invisible

Aug 13 Wed 3pm Confidentiality vs Privilege vs Privacy in a world where the pressure to document and report clashes with the confidentiality of peer support

Aug 13 Wed 7pm Multiagency Peer Support Teams – how this accomplishes our National Preparedness Goal and how to get the ball rolling

Aug 14 Thur noon Analysis of past CISM, lessons learned and key takeaways (subject matter presented will come from pilot agencies which is selected prior to the training)

Aug 14 Thur 7pm The importance of Recognizing How Critical Incidents Affect Family and Relationships and how they can be included in CISM

Aug 15 Fri noon Effective tools to develop Agency Buy-In And Commitment – Real world effectiveness and benefits of Peer teams and the cost of not having a team, and not doing it right

Aug 15 Fri 7pm Real-world tips on Recruiting And Retaining Peer Support Team Members and how to navigate in a landscape of budgets, transfers, promotions and short staffing

Aug 18 Mon noon Dangers of not dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s: Understanding current legislation, case law, recent developments and critical importance of maintaining registration with ICISF/MCRA , what is required, and how to get help  

Aug 18 Mon 7pm MOCK CISD Scenarios based on Critical Incidents suggested by participants in advance of the training which utilize the core FST SOP and Manual elements which are applicable to all disciplines 

Aug 20 Wed 7pm Team question & Answer session: Trainers will be available to facilitate team collaboration and to address team specific issues and questions

Aug 21 Thur noon Team question & Answer session: Trainers will be available to facilitate team collaboration and to address team specific issues and questions

Aug 26 Tue 7pm Beyond CISM: Understanding the full spectrum of Peer Support and Empowering the Peer Support team in leveraging all available resources

Aug 27 Wed noon Peer Support Roundtable: Facilitated discussion of barriers in providing Peer Support with an emphasis on the type of support teams need most

Aug 28 Thur 3pm Where do We Go From Here: A review of the program and lessons learned with a Focus on next-steps that will build and maintain an active and effective peer team Support program for Frontline Agencies

Whether you attend a single session or the full series, these trainings will help you build and maintain a resilient, well-equipped Peer Support Team ready to respond to critical incidents.