Building Skills for Crisis Intervention Teams

The Building Skills for Crisis Intervention Teams training program has been designed to provide participants with direct application and practice of skills for crisis intervention techniques. The program emphasizes a broadening of the knowledge base concerning critical incident stress interventions as well as the practice of each application.

This curriculum includes skills such as:

• Demonstrating skills in organizing appropriate CISM responses and conducting Crisis Management Briefings
• Participating as both a team member and a participant of an event
• Identifying and planning appropriate CISM activities for a variety of incidents
• Demonstrating an understanding of CISM principles

This program has been developed for Employee Assistance Programs, human resources staff, public safety personnel, mental health professionals, chaplains, paramedics, firefighters, physicians, police officers, nurses, dispatchers, airline personnel and disaster workers to increase mastery and confidence in the skills learned during the CISM: Group Intervention CISM: Individual Crisis Intervention, CISM: Advanced Crisis Intervention, and Strategic Response to Crisis courses. It will also be useful for those who are working extensively with traumatized victims from various walks of life. Successful completion of the Train the Trainer program will allow you to teach this curriculum to others. Continuing education will be required to maintain your instructor status.

Prerequisites for Participation in the Train the Trainer Program:

• Completion of the following ICISF courses: Group Crisis Intervention, Individual Crisis Intervention & Peer Support and Advanced Group Crisis Intervention as taught by ICISF or by an approved ICISF instructor. (Copies of certificates of completion are required to accompany the application).
• ICISF Approved Instructor for Group Crisis Intervention.
• ICISF Approved Instructor for Individual Crisis Intervention & Peer Support.
• A minimum of five years critical incident / traumatic stress experience.
• A letter of recommendation from a local, state or regional CISM team or agency / institution dated within three months of application due date.*
• A letter of endorsement from a local, state, or regional CISM coordinator or clinical director dated within three months of application due date.*

  *At least one of the letters of recommendation must attest to the instructor candidate's teaching ability. If neither of the aforementioned letters can do so, a third letter must be submitted.

• Active membership on a crisis intervention team.
• Current ICISF membership.
• Official course application form.
• A copy of a current CV or resume.
• A brief statement outlining:
  1. Your crisis intervention/CISM experience.
  2. Your instructional experience.
  3. Reasons for applying for ICISF Approved Instructor Training.
     
  
  **Please note: The Building Skills for Crisis Intervention Teams course is NOT a prerequisite for this Train the Trainer Program.

Last updated: March 2008