Module Two: Principles of Critical Incident Peer Support

Critical Incident Peer Support for Law Enforcement

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Learning Objectives

The participant will be able to identify the main principles of critical incident peer support.

Participant will be able to:▫ Explain why peer support is important. ▫ Describe the main functions of a peer supporter.▫ Identify the characteristics of an effective peer

supporter.▫ Identify the key responsibilities of a peer supporter.▫ Examine the peer support member selection process.▫ Discuss model peer support programs.

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Module Overview

What is critical incident peer support (CIPS)? Why peer support? Goal of CIPS History of peer support Characteristics of peer supporters Basic peer supporter skills Intervention skills Peer support responsibilities Model peer support programs

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Module Two Introduction Video

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What Is Critical Incident Peer Support?

A formal system in which peers are specially selected and trained to provide a first line of assistance and basic crisis intervention to fellow officers.

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What Peer Supporters Do

Complement services provided by outside professionals

Expand available resources

Offer a choice to personnel who want to talk to someone who has “been there”

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Why Peer Support?

Helps to overcome problems before they impact performance

Benefits:▫ Increased productivity▫ Positive effect on morale▫ Decreased absenteeism▫ Accident reduction▫ Cost effective

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Why Peer Support?

Traditional police culture: only an officer can understand another officer.

Those who sought the help of mental health professionals were seen as non-resilient.

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Goals of CIPS

Information and knowledge Symptom relief Insight and understanding Normalized perspective Reduced helplessness,

hopelessness, and isolation

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History of Peer Support

• First peer counselors: mid-1950s, Boston, New York City, and Chicago Police Departments used peer support to deal with problems of alcoholism

• 1970s and 1980s, many departments began to develop peer-counseling programs

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Characteristics of Peer Supporters

Trustworthiness Take a passive role Make a good first

impression Accept people Able to give support Sense of humor Openly friendly Emotionally stable Tolerant

Able to accept not being accepted

Non-aggressive Do not use people to

show power Respect for other

cultures Non-judgmental High sense of ethics–

professional attitude

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Basic Peer Support Skills

Demonstrate effective communication skills

Recognize major disorders/diseases

Recognize critical incident stress

Know when to refer peers

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Intervention Skills

Professional identification Commitment Objectivity Tolerance Support Confidentiality Availability Patience Knowledge of legal/interpersonal

requirements

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Four Assumptions of CIPS Programs

Officers are normal people working in an extraordinary profession.

Peer counselors have more credibility. Early intervention is the best prevention of

PTSD. Peer counselors should be available 24

hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Peer Support Responsibilities

Volunteer, on or off duty Respond at any hour Maintain confidentiality Complete required forms

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Peer Support Responsibilities

A peer supporter’s primary function is to:▫ Listen▫ Assess▫ Refer

Never a replacement for professional care

Peer Support Member Selection

We look for a peer support member who has:▫ Ability to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity to

others’ needs▫ Good observational and listening skills▫ Prior successful personal experience dealing with

crisis situations

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Practical Exercise

Identify basic principles of peer support▫ Divide into groups of four to five to discuss the

scenario described in your Student Guide.▫ You will have 20 minutes to complete the group

discussion and return to the class.▫ Identify the necessary characteristics, skills, and

responsibilities of a peer supporter that would be relevant to these scenarios.

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Model Peer Support Programs

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)• Cop 2 Cop (New Jersey and New York)• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center• National Fraternal Order of Police• New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and State Police• New York City Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance

(POPPA)• Oklahoma City: Critical Incident Workshops• U.S. Marshals Service• U.S. Secret Service• World Trade Center—Rescuer Support Victim Program

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ATF

Community-based outreach program Ombudsman services provide services to:

▫ Family members of bureau employees▫ Employees of state and local agencies as well as their

families who have experienced critical incidents

Program has four components:▫ Peer responders▫ Mental health professionals▫ Chaplains▫ Trainers

Program Publication

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Cop 2 Cop

Suicide prevention and mental health support 24-hour hotline for law enforcement officers

Offered through the Department of Human Services in the State of New Jersey

Program has four components:▫ Peer and clinical support services▫ Clinical assessments▫ Referrals▫ Critical incident stress management

Cop 2 Cop Web site

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FBI

Stress management program for employees and their families

Employee Assistance Unit started in 1993 Program offers:

▫ Critical incident stress management▫ Peer support/post-critical incident seminars

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Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Stress preventative program for students, staff, and families

Program offers:▫ Guidance on issues encountered while a student▫ Support to officers who have been involved in critical

incidents

Peer Support Program Web site

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National Fraternal Order of Police

Critical Incident Stress Management Program for emergency service workers

Program offers: ▫ “Services that mitigate or lessen the impact of the

effects of critical incidents and accelerate the recovery following a traumatic event”

FOP Web site

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NJ Attorney General’s Office and State Police

Critical Incident Stress Response Program serving high risk rescuers

Program offers:▫ Statewide customized critical incident stress response

for first responders▫ Peer support and rescuer expertise

New Jersey Disaster Critical Incident Stress Response (NJDCISR) Web site

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Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance

Peer assistance program serving police officers and their families

Program offers:▫ Confidential, safe, and supportive environment to help

officers and their families cope with the stresses of the job

▫ Support for marital issues, substance abuse, suicide, and psychological disorders

POPPA Web site

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Oklahoma City: Critical Incident Workshops

Critical incident workshops for rescue personnel, survivors, volunteers, and family members

Program offered:▫ 70 workshops, using a 4-day format▫ Intervention teams

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U.S. Marshals Service

Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) services for personnel and their families

Program offers:▫ Incident-specific counseling▫ Employee assistance

U.S. Marshals Service Web site

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U.S. Secret Service

Critical Incident Peer Support Team for new agents and uniformed officers offered through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Program offers:▫ Crisis intervention and crisis debriefings▫ Precrisis education seminars

EAP Web site

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World Trade Center—Rescuer Support Victim Program

Intervention services for law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel

Program offered:▫ Crisis intervention hotline help▫ Crisis intervention training program▫ Clinical intervention services

WTC-RSVP Web site

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Review—Check on Learning

Why is peer support important? What are the main functions of a peer

supporter? What are characteristics of an effective peer

supporter? What are the key responsibilities of a peer

supporter? What can you and your agency learn from other

peer support programs?