Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Basic Group Crisis Intervention
(14 hours)

The Basic CISM training program is designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multi-component crisis intervention curriculum. The two day course prepares participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention services including pre and post incident crisis education, significant other support services, on-scene support services, crisis intervention for individuals, demobilizations after large scale traumatic incidents, small group defusings and the group intervention known as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). The Basic CISM course specifically prepares participants to provide several of these group crisis interventions, specifically demobilizations, defusings and the CISD. The need for appropriate follow up services and referrals when necessary is also described. Considerable evidence gathered to date strongly supports the multi-component crisis intervention strategy which is discussed in this course. At the conclusion of this course, participants will meet the minimum training requirements for membership with the Kentucky Community Crisis Response Team.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Advanced Group Crisis Intervention
(14 Hours)

The Advanced CISM training program has been designed to provide participants with the latest information on critical incident stress management techniques and post-trauma syndromes. The program emphasizes a broadening of the knowledge base concerning critical incident stress interventions as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which was established in the Basic program. Specifically, the Advanced program addresses advanced concepts which are the foundation of CISM and, more specifically, the group interventions of defusings and Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD). Special emphasis will be placed upon troubleshooting difficult and complex situations. At the conclusion of this educational program the participants will have been exposed to specific, proven strategies to intervene with those suffering the ill effects of their exposure to trauma. The emphasis will be on advanced defusings and debriefings in complex situations, such as Line of Duty Deaths and suicide of a colleague. The Advanced CISM training has been developed to teach advanced crisis intervention and Emergency Mental Health skills to those who are already trained in the critical incident stress debriefing format.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support
(14 Hours)

Crisis intervention is not psychotherapy, rather it is a specialized acute emergency mental health intervention which requires specialized training. As physical first-aid is to surgery, crisis intervention is to psychotherapy. Thus, crisis intervention is sometimes called "emotional first-aid". Most crisis intervention is done individually (one-on-one). This program is designed to teach participants the fundamentals of, and a specific protocol for, individual crisis intervention and increase Emergency Mental Health skills. At completion of this course, participants will be able to: List at least four fundamental principals of crisis intervention; Describe common psychiatric symptoms after trauma; Demonstrate crisis communication techniques; and List risk factors for suicide.

School-Centered Crisis Intervention
(14 Hours)

This course is designed for individuals who will provide crisis intervention and support services in school settings in response to sudden death/injuries, suicides, disasters and other tragic events. Upon completion of the course participants will have working knowledge of a comprehensive system of school-centered emergency management, experiential practice in crisis intervention strategies, team building, and sustaining concepts to share with their respective teams. This course is designed to facilitate multi-disciplinary interactive learning among participants who will be given opportunities to: become familiar with "best practice" national safe school initiatives and multi-hazard planning for school communities; increase operational knowledge about the comprehensive nature and phases of crisis management in school settings and gain working knowledge and skills in systems assessment and comprehensive crisis intervention strategies.