Dear CISM Practitioner,

In today's update, we provide an article written by Dr. Jeffrey T. Mitchell, ICISF President Emeritus, about the value of thorough strategic planning before responding to a crisis.

A Good Strategy Serves Everyone Best
By Jeffrey T. Mitchell, PhD, CTS
ICISF President Emeritus
Clinical Association Professor of Emergency Health Services, University of Maryland

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." --Sun Tzu, author of the The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military treatise.

It is extremeley hard for human beings to do something new rather than something they are already familiar with. This is especially so when they are caught up in an extraordinary event. The known path is the path that is usually perceived to be the path of least resistance, that is, the easier path. But the easier path is not necessarily the best path when we are considering emotional first aid. In fact, the usual things we might try under other less complex circumstances may not work if they are badly timed or poorly thought out while intervening during or after a disaster.

Some who have been trained to do the small group crisis intervention process known as "Critical Incident Stress Debriefing" (CISD) mistakenly apply the CISD process to all populations under all circumstances and at all times. The pressures of a large scale event may cause them to forget that the CISD is merely one technique from a wide range of techniques. All of these techniques can be useful when applied by properly trained people at the appropriate time and under the right circumstances.

When crisis intervention techniques are used under the wrong circumstances, these techniques tend to be counterproductive, often leading to anger and frustration among those receiving the services. In those instances, had interventions been carefully utilized via a strategic plan, those individuals could potentially have benefited from the support services.

The strategy, of course, is the "big picture." It is characterized by an assessment of the circumstances, the development of clear goals and objectives, the selection of the most skillful people to provide the services and the development of a plan of action. Once all of that has been put together, crisis interventionists must then carefully select a specific set of crisis tactics that are most likely to successfully carry out the strategic plan. A comprehensive, multi-tactic approach that integrates or blends the tactics in a systematic manner typically has the best chance of assisting people through the crisis experience.

There is a simple formula that can be used to develop the strategic plan when intervening in any emotionally charged event. It goes like this:

1. Target. Figure out which individuals or possibly groups might need psychological first aid.

2. Type. Determine which types of interventions are going to be most appropriate for this particular crisis.

3. Timing. Next decide when the various interventions are most likely to be helpful.

4. Themes. Make sure you have a full understanding of the issues, concerns, facts about the incident itself and the services that may have already been provided. Then review the Target, Type, Timing aspects of the strategic plan before instituting the slate of interventions.

5. Resources. Carefully choose the best resources available to provide the services you worked out while looking at the Target, Type, Timing and Themes of the situation as you developed your strategic plan.

The CISD should not be used in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, or any other crisis event, unless the three primary criteria for small group crisis intervention can be verified by the support team before the intervention is utilized. The first of the three essential criteria for a small group intervention is that the small group must be clearly a homogeneous group (they know each other, work closely together, have very similar job responsibilities, and the same leadership). The second criterion is that the mission is complete or has moved beyond the acute phases of the crisis event. The third criterion is that the level of traumatic exposure should be about equal.

The development of carefully designed crisis intervention strategies is so important that the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation has incorporated elements of strategic planning into most of its current courses. Starting in January of 2006, however, a specialized courses entitled "Strategic Response to Crisis" will be presented at most ICISF conferences. More information about the new course will be provided in the Fall issue of LifeNet, ICISF's quarterly member newsletter. We hope to see you at the new course. In the meantime, we encourage strategic planning before responding to any crisis. A well organized plan can make a big difference in how effective your response to crisis is.

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Additionally, please see the announcement, below, about an important research project from Debra A. Pender. This is an opportunity for you and/or your team to participate and have an impact on the future of CISM.

Dear CISM Provider and Peers,

I would like to extend an invitation for you to participate in a comprehensive study into the critical incident stress debriefing process. I have developed a research plan to attempt to study the quality of the CISD group work, what therapeutic factors emerge (or do not emerge), the kinds of leader behaviors that characterize effective facilitation, as well as the individual differences that may influence the individual experience of the CISD as an effective source of support. I am seeking responses from emergency responders that attend CISD services, as well as the mental health and peer providers that conduct the programs.

If you would like to participate in the study, please see the links below:

If you were a CISD participant
http://www.advtech.biz/pender/deb/esr.asp

If you led a CISD as a Peer
http://www.advtech.biz/pender/deb/cism.asp

If you led a CISD as a mental health provider
http://www.advtech.biz/pender/deb/cism_mp.asp

Questions about this study can be directed to
Debra A. Pender, (815) 753-4906 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

or to professor, Dr. Karen K. Prichard, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, SIUC, Carbondale, IL 62901-4618

This project has been reviewed and approved by the SIUC Human Subjects Committee. Questions concerning your rights as a participant in this research may be addressed to the Committee Chairperson, Office of Research Development and Administration, SIUC, Carbondale, IL 62901-4709. Phone (618) 453-4533. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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Further updates will follow as more information is obtained.

Donald Howell, Executive Director
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, In.
Ellicott City MD 21042-2272
http://www.icisf.org
410/750-9600
Fax: 410/750-9601