Donald R. Howell
Executive Director
ICISF
As you view the previous messages by Jeffery T.
Mitchell, Ph.D. CTS, ICISF President Emeritus, and Mark J. Maggio,
Ph.D., Chairman, ICISF Board of Directors, I think that it is
important to note the significance of the titles selected by each, "Change
and Growth" and "A New Era".
The last twenty (20) months, since September 11,
2001, has been a remarkable period of unprecedented Change and Growth
within ICISF as we do indeed enter into A New Era within the
field of Critical Incident Stress Management and Early Intervention.
The demand for these services has never been greater, the diversity of
the individuals served continues to expand and the opportunity to
review and discuss CISM in diverse open venues continues to
proliferate. I see this as an "Opportunity" for those
involved in this field to be counted and truly make a difference.
My association with Dr. Mitchell goes back thirty
(30) years starting with our common interest and my vocation within
the Fire/Rescue Service. During this time, his interest, empathy and
passion for those in the Emergency Services professions and the
stresses they endure, and personal desire to make a difference, became
his mission in life. His conceptual view of these challenges has now
expanded into areas that did not come to mind years ago. To that end,
and at considerable personal sacrifice, he has achieved that goal of
truly ‘making a difference’.
It is now time to allow a "Change"
for Jeff, to give him time to be with his wife and children, to
continue his academic pursuits with his University, to provide
personal time, but to also maintain an integral position within ICISF.
No longer burdened with administrative functions, Jeff will still
devote essentially the same number of hours to ICISF, but in different
capacities. While he will be presenting at limited ICISF conferences
and speakers bureau presentations, his greatest future contributions
shall be his writings and formal presentations at major conferences
and to regional/national/international agencies. Dr. George S. Everly,
Jr., Ph.D., CTS, ICISF CEO Emeritus, also has been fulfilling these
same essential and imperative functions for some time now.
This "Change" is making way for "Growth"
within the field of CISM/Early Intervention. Where Dr. Mitchell in the
past would have taken the lead in promoting Crisis Management programs
on the local/regional level, it is now the State CISM Network
Coordinators, Administrators, Managers, Directors, CISM Teams, ICISF
Liaison Coordinators, Trained Trainers, as well as countless other
knowledgeable peers and professionals, that now provide this valuable
information and direction. I see that as healthy, essential and a
clear sign of "Growth".
Where does all this lead? It leads to "A
New Era" and an "Opportunity" for each and
every one of you to carry the torch that Jeff has proudly displayed
for all these years. An "Opportunity" for you to
promote the value of a well defined and disciplined CISM/Early
Intervention Team. An "Opportunity" for you to
provide factual information where a void and/or misinformation may
exist. An "Opportunity" for you to stand up and be
counted, to say and demonstrate that CISM/Early Intervention does
make a difference.
Yes, as we look back over the years of CISM and
ICISF, there has been a "Change", there has
been "Growth", for this is truly
"A New Era". It is now up to each and every
one of you to seize the
