Resources for Forming a Team

The Crisis Response (CISM) Team:
General Guidelines for Team Development

STEP 1:	Identify the need for the crisis response (CISM) team. Based upon identified needs, a rationale for the team's existence should both pragmatically and rhetorically emerge.
STEP 2:	Clearly state the goals of the crisis response team. Clearly state the constituency to be served by the team.
STEP 3:	Delineate guidelines for team membership and the specific roles to be performed. Administrative structure Dispatching functions Response functions, listing mental health providers' roles vis-à-vis the use of paraprofessionals (if applicable) Clinical mental health oversight / supervision Team member selection criteria
STEP 4:	Determine how the team will be legally constituted.
STEP 5:	Determine how the team will be funded.
STEP 6:	Obtain legal counsel to operationally define issues such as malpractice, standards of care, confidentiality, "good Samaritan" practices, necessary liability insurance coverage, etcetera.
STEP 7:	Determine what criteria and mechanisms will be used to activate the team. Determine what backup systems will be used in the case of a mass disaster or widespread communication failure.
STEP 8:	Determine what specific crisis intervention techniques will be used by the team (For example: defusing, CISD, individual crisis counseling, etc.)
STEP 9:	Determine what criteria and mechanisms will be used to deactivate the team.
STEP 10:	Stipulate guidelines and procedures for follow-up for team members after a crisis response.
STEP 11:	Make arrangements for ongoing "in-service" training.
STEP 12:	Create a clear, practical operating manual which contains policies and procedures and which addresses all of the aforementioned issues.

Excerpt from "Critical Incident Stress Management", Second Edition, Everly & Mitchell
Available from Chevron Publishing www.chevronpublishing.com

Team Information Form This is a Word form and may be filled out online, save and email the modified file back to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Team Registry Packet

FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND SAMPLES OF TEAM OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, SAMPLE APPLICATIONS, ETC, CONTACT THE HOTLINE TEAM COORDINATOR at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Resources for Forming a Team

The Crisis Response (CISM) Team:General Guidelines for Team Development

The Crisis Response (CISM) Team:
General Guidelines for Team Development