Crisis intervention and critical incident stress management strategies and interventions can only be effectively delivered through a well-organized and orchestrated crisis response team. Team development and management skills are critical to the effective functioning of a crisis response team. This session will explore: leadership and management strategies; team development activities; team evolution considerations; preventative maintenance; learning from the past; and how to help teams remain healthy.

This course is designed for anyone in a team leadership position or who aspires to contribute to the organization or continued development of a crisis support, CISM, or peer support team. The program is essential to the development and maintenance of these programs.

Program Highlights:

• Framework for an effective CISM Team
• Appropriate policies and procedures for CISM Team operation
• Two management theories and the characteristics of each
• Steps in team development
• Key skills for successful leadership
• Methods to keep teams healthy
• Minimum standards for training of team members
• Barriers to team development
• Group dynamics that effect team operation
• Difficult team maintenance issues

Successful completion of the Approved Instructor Candidate 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 Approved Instructor Candidate Program:

• Completion of the Advanced Group Crisis Intervention as taught by ICISF or by an ICISF approved Instructor. (Copy of certificate of completion is required to accompany the application.)
• ICISF Approved Instructor in good standing for:
  • Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support
  • Group Crisis Intervention
• A minimum of two years experience as a crisis support/CISM team or clinical coordinator.
• A minimum of five years critical incident/traumatic stress experience.
• Participation in a minimum of twenty group crisis interventions (defusing, debriefing, crisis management briefing).
• A letter from a member of the leadership of your current crisis support or CISM team attesting to your team leadership experience and abilities.
• Prior experience in instruction/delivery of education programs and a minimum delivery of ten education/training courses of at least eight hours each in length.
• Active membership on a crisis intervention team.
• Current ICISF membership.
• A copy of your current CV or resume.
• Official course application form.
• A brief statement outlining:
  1. Your crisis intervention/CISM experience
  2. Your instructional experience
  3. Reason for applying for ICISF Approved Instructor Training.
• Please note the TEAM: Team Evolution and Management course is NOT a prerequisite for this Approved Instructor Candidate Program.