odnr officer support team. purpose the odnr support program is a service for odnr officers and their...

ODNR Officer Support Team


Purpose The ODNR Support Program is a service for ODNR officers and their families. The program provides confidential assistance with personal problems, including relationships, substance abuse, occupational issues and work related

situations. The program also offers assistance to an officer after a stressful or traumatic

situation.


Background• The use of professional psychological services to support

personnel is widely accepted by law enforcement agencies nationwide.

• However many law enforcement employees who experience problems are not likely to seek professional help. In many cases, resistance to seeking professional help stems from the employee’s stereotyped beliefs that people who seek help are seriously ill, out of control, or unfit for work.

• However, since law enforcement agencies tend toward a high cohesive “in group” feeling among its employees, it is common for persons experiencing personal problems to feel more comfortable and trusting in discussing matters with a fellow employee.


Guiding Principles

ODNR officers are human beings that do their best to cope with a career that is highly stressful.

Like any other person, they may run into personal or professional problems. Since they sacrifice so much of themselves for the good of the public, they deserve and are entitled to the

highest quality of assistance.


Guiding Principles cont.

We believe seeking help from someone, whether it be peer support, or in-house assistance is not a sign of

weakness but a way to maintain strength

Personnel who seek assistance are placing their trust in fellow officer support. To honor this trust, ALL

COMMUNICATION between the person seeking help and the support officer is CONFIDENTIAL.


Program Objectives• To provide a readily accessible support network of

ODNR officers willing to be of service to other officers who express a need for assistance.

• To promote trust and appropriate anonymity and confidentiality for employees participating in peer assistance.

• To develop employee ability to anticipate personal conflicts and general awareness of available alternatives for self-help.


Confidentiality - All information shall be considered privileged and will not be

available to the Department for disciplinary or other proceedings

- No member of the support team will discuss any fact or aspect of an individual’s participation unless specifically authorized in writing by the participant.

- There will be no record of names, problems, session content, including notes about an employee seeking assistance.


Referral Process• The intent of the program is to provide a 24-hour availability

of support officers. Supervisory personnel may remind employees of the program, but may not require participation.

• If the issues raised by an employee go beyond the training of the team, a referral will be made to a mental health professional and/or outside professional agency.

• No Department employee is required to participate in the program. Employees may contact any trained member at any time. An employee may also contact the Program Coordinator to obtain information at any time.


Automatic Call Out

• Line of duty death

• Serious line of duty injury

• Multi-casualty accident

• Law enforcement shooting that ends with injury or death


Should Require Call Out

• Death or violence to a child

• A prolonged event with negative results

• Incident with extensive media attention

• Knowing the victim of an event

• Incident charged with profound emotion


Pre-Incident

Education


Should you become involved in a critical incident or traumatic event we are here to

help you with:

• Stabilization

• Symptom reduction

• Returning to adaptive functioning

• Providing other resources for you

• Confidential Peer Support


If you experience a traumatic event or a critical incident it may cause you to exhibit unusually strong emotional and

physical reactions.

These reactions may interfere with your ability to function at the scene or later.

Even after the event is over it is very common, in fact quite normal, for people to experience emotional and physical stress symptoms after they have experienced a stressful

event.


Normal reaction, Normal reaction,

to anto an

abnormal situation.abnormal situation.

Remember you are experiencing a………..


Within the first 24-48 hours

• Talk to people – reach out, other people do care• Get physical exercise• Structure your time• Don’t make major life changes• Don’t numb the pain with drugs or alcohol• Get plenty of rest and continue eating healthy• Do things that you enjoy


Within 48 to 72 hoursOur team may conduct a critical incident stress debriefing

• Confidentiality is our highest priority• It is not group therapy• It is not to critique you• It is not a discussion of your performance• WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU


After 72 hours

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME TO HELP YOU IN ANY

WAY POSSIBLE


Normal reaction, Normal reaction,

to anto an

abnormal situation.abnormal situation.

Remember you are experiencing a………..


Please look over the Department Directive when you have time

QUESTIONSCOMMENTSCONCERNS


Thank You For Your Time And remember We

Are Here for YOU!

odnr officer support team. purpose the odnr support program is a service for odnr officers and their...

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