Overview

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This comprehensive 35-hour course led by national experts will provide guidelines, information and recommendations for developing and maintaining a Peer Support Team in a law enforcement agency utilizing national standards. The goal of peer support is to provide all public safety employees in an agency the opportunity to receive emotional and tangible support through times of personal or professional crisis and to help anticipate and address potential difficulties (IACP). Peer Support Teams, comprised of trained peer colleagues, are designed to augment outreach programs such as employee assistance programs, in-house treatment programs, and out-of-agency psychological services and resources. Peer Support Officers receive training that enables them to provide both day-to-day emotional support for department employees and to participate in an agency’s comprehensive response to critical incidents.  Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to begin or continue managing a peer support team, recognize common signs and symptoms of a colleague in need of support and provide that support, have an understanding of how to respond to critical incidents on a micro and macro level. Those attending will also receive training related to confidentiality, legal considerations, stress management, suicide prevention and early intervention, substance use and mental health issues as well best practices for managing specific incidents that law enforcement officers and peer support officers regularly face. Attendees will be certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF). Individuals completing the course will receive 30 hours of review training credit in Human Relations (Area 400).

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Highlights include:

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• First Responder Mindset & Peer Support Assistance

• Building Blocks to a Comprehensive Peer Support & Wellness Team

• Advanced Peer Team & Wellness Member Training

• Peer Support Regional Response

• Best Practice Standards for Peer Support Responses

• Investing in Family Support Program

• Navigating and Coordinating First Responder Resources 

• Avoiding Team Member Burnout/The Importance of Self-Care

• Succession Planning - Where do we go from here?

• Demobilizations, defusings and the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

• Confidentiality and Legal Considerations

• Connecticut Specific Considerations/Resources

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Who Should Attend?

Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Dispatchers and EMS personnel, looking to develop, grow or sustain a peer support program in their agency are encouraged to select experienced officers who:​

• Have earned reputations of being trustworthy and supportive from their peers

• Have maintained excellent disciplinary records

• Have demonstrated an ability to work and collaborate with all ranks,

• Work effectively with little supervision,

• Are confident in their abilities to relate to officers who may be struggling with mental health, substance use and other personal or job-related issues.

• Maintain strict confidentiality when appropriate,

• Have a desire to further peer support.  

 

Both non-experienced and veteran peer support officers, including officers who have previously attending other peer support trainings, are encouraged to attend.

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Cost: $319.00 per person