All Mental Health professionals know that to provide effective interventions for clients frequently requires us to understand the cultural setting in which the client resides. This is also true for working with First Responders. For the purposes of this training, First Responders are identified as those individuals who work as: Dispatchers, Law Enforcement Officers, Correctional Officers, Firefighters, Forensic Personnel or Emergency Medical personnel.

There are some issues/stressors that cut across all of these professions, but also some that are more unique to the specific group. This course identifies what are the cultures of each profession and their unique stressors. While the various CISM courses teach a variety of group approaches to crisis intervention, but what about the follow up if an individual comes to us for help? First Responders can have a variety of life issues including marital problems, family issues and substance abuse struggles. We cannot be as helpful as possible if we do not understand the unique stress of their professions and how those might impact their non- professional lives.

Within this context, this class will provide information and opportunities for discussion will be provided to assist in adapting our normal clinical approach to meet the potential needs of these individuals.