CISM
Critical Incident Stress Management Team
CISM INITIATIVE
A volunteer team of public safety and affiliate professionals serving fire, EMS, law enforcment, industry, educations and other organizations involved in any type of critical incident.
Who is CISM?
The Western Ohio CISM Team is a volunteer based organization providing peer support to public safety agencies, educational institutions, industry, and others who have experienced some form of critical incident. All of the team members volunteer their time to provide initial response and supportive intervention to people who have been exposed to a triggering event, and who find themselves dealing with the aftermath of such exposure.
Confidential services provided at no charge:
+ Pre-Incident Stress Education
+ Individual Peer Support
+ Crisis Management Briefing
+ Defusing
+ Debriefing
+ Follow-Up
+ Referral
When are they called?
We recommend that these incidents should be an "AUTOMATIC CALL OUT". This means that the critical incident response team should always be contacted for each of the following events:
+ Serious injury or line of duty death
+ Suicide of a colleague
+ Use of force with serious injury or death
+ Death of a child
These incidents for which you should consider contacting the critical incident response team to elicit recommendations for intervention:
•A prolonged event, with negative results
•Incident with extensive media attention
•Incident charged with profound emotion
•Incident with significant community impact
What happens when they are called?
The team brings with it professionals who are trained and follow a specified protocol to ensure continuity and consistency with our actions and message. The team works with the impacted audiences, administration, and staff to facilitate the distribution of information about stress, stress reactions, and making healthy choices following an event. The team responds when requested by a person of authority to support their organization or institution and related individuals, and tries to help them return to a new normal as quickly as possible.
SCHOOL BASED RESPONSE
The purpose of the School Response Team is to work closely with school administration, guidance and teachers to respond effectively to a significant event such as the death of a student or teacher, a high profile event or one which receives extreme attention by news or social media, or another event that stresses a large number of students and/or staff.. The team is composed of emergency responders, school professionals, mental health professionals and other volunteers who have been trained in responding to a school crisis. The team responds regionally at the request of the Superintendent. The goal is to lessen the impact of the event and to help facilitate the recovery process.
PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE
The Critical Incident Stress Management program has its roots in responding to assist public safety professionals following a particularly stressful event such as death or graphic trauma. The team is composed of an eclectic group of emergency responders, chaplains/clergy, mental health professionals and other volunteers who have been trained to respond to the emotional aftermath following a stressful incident. The team responds regionally at the request of incident commanders, chiefs, administrators, or other agency leaders. The goal is to lessen the impact of the event and to help facilitate the recovery process.
BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION, FAITH COMMUNITY
Traditionally, the Critical Incident Stress Management program assisted public safety professionals following a particularly stressful event such as death or graphic trauma. We have learned that many of these incidents also leave behind business and organizational members with the same types of questions, reactions, and impacts. As such, our team made the conscious decision to train and prepare for situations in which we could help our public safety peers and members of the public who have emotional aftermath following a stressful incident. The team responds regionally at the request of agency leaders or executives. The goal is to lessen the impact of the event and to help facilitate the recovery process.
COMMUNITY RESPONSE
Traditionally, the Critical Incident Stress Management program assisted public safety professionals following a particularly stressful event such as death or graphic trauma. We have learned that many of these incidents also leave behind community members with the same types of questions, reactions, and impacts. Our team has trained and prepared for situations in which we could help our public safety peers and members of the public who have emotional aftermath following a stressful incident. The team responds regionally at the request of agency leaders or executives.
TRAINING
The Western Ohio CISM Team follows the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation's (ICISF) format for providing CISM services. All courses are taught by credentialed ICISF instructors. All members must complete the ICISF's CISM: Group Crisis Intervention. This is a training program focusing on stress reactions following a triggering incident. Many of our team members have completed additional training in: Individual and Peer Support, Advanced Group Crisis Intervention, Line of Duty Death, Strategic Planning, Suicide Prevention/Intervention/Postvention, Responding to School Crisis, CISM for Children, Managing School Crisis, Psychological First Aid, and many other various courses.
Training Brochure
Click Below for Brochure!
Training Brochure
Click Below for Brochure!
Training Brochure
Click Below for Brochure!
If you are in crisis call 1-800-567-HOPE (4673) or text 741 741.