Critical Incident Peer Support Groups

The National Critical Incident Peer Support "CIPS" Program does not maintain “CISM Teams.” CIPS Groups are assembled at the time of request through the appropriate Geographic Area Coordination Center. They will be comprised of trained CIPS personnel selected to match the backgrounds and experience of those involved in the critical incident (helitack, engines, smokejumpers, etc.).

What We Do

The Interagency Critical Incident Peer Support Program provides a number of services that include:

  • Situational assessment for Agency Adminstrators, Managers, and others to help determine the appropriate response.
  • Assist in determining the timing and type of support needed for each incident. Each process is put in place based on a methodical approach. Tactics are applied at the right time, in the right place and under the right circumstances.
  • Commitment to providing services only within our established Boundaries of Competence and Standard of Care based on our education, training and supervised experience.
  • Provide a Critical Incident Peer Support (CIPS) Group which includes the expertise and screening requirements of a licensed Mental Health Care Professional (Clinician) who is experienced in trauma.
  • Support Incident Managment Teams, militia, and other agency non-fire employees affect by a critical incident.
  • Provide Peer Supporters who can travel to the fire line, spike camp and other remote locations.

Effectiveness of Peer Support in Wildland Fire

Wildland fire and aviation personnel suffering from such synptoms have shown to benefit significantly from Critical Incident Peer Support. CISM or Peer Support is not therapy and does not "cure" people's stress responses. Rather, Peer Support is a proven means of assisting peope in their own healing by reducing the severity and longevity of sympotms, and thus restoring their ability to function much sooner.

Critical Incident Peer Support is not perfect, and some people suffering from traumatic shock may go on to develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but for the vast majority, CISM intervtion with Peer Support brings significant benefits. First developed for use with military combat veterans and then civilian first responders (police, fire, ambulance, emergency workers and disaster rescuers), it has now been adapted virtually everywhere there is a need to address traumatic stress in people's lives.

Role Boundaries

Interagency CIPS personnel have established Boundaries of Competence. These boundaries set limits on the interactions between the individual and the peer supporter (who is not a therapist or clinician) for a beneficial relationship. The National Interagency CIPS Program is committed to providing peer supporters in varous positions based on their training, supervised CISM intervention experience, or appropriate professional experience. Peer support must include a licensed Mental Health Care Professional who is experienced in trauma and the ICISF Model.

Establishing the Peer Support Component

The Interagency Peer Support Program can heighten empathy inherent in the peer relationship by matching them with fellow firefighters on the basis of the nature of the particular incident and the same type of trauma being experienced. According to Dr. Nancy Bohl "No one can empathize with firefighters undergoing crisis unless they have experienced the same type of crisis themselves."

training and Development

Training to be a Critical Incident Peer Supporter

Training is a critical aspect of ensuring consistency and confidence in peer supporters. Specific training needs have been developed in association with the defined roles of each Critical Incident Peer Support Group member. The goal of the National CIPS program is to use the same training and credentialing standards for each Geographic Area and the same ICISF training ciriculum. Peer supporters will be trained to to include the use of Mental Health Care Professionals, interaction with other Peers, and the six core crisis intervention competencies.

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Credentialing

The Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Course designed for personnel who have already completed the Basic Peer and Group Support course and preferably participated as a Peer Supporter or Group Leader on a CISM (Peer Support) assignment. The course covers CISM Peer Support Lessons Learned....

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Interagency You Will Not Stand Alone Course

TBA

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About Our Company

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Peer Supporter Selection is Critical to the Success of a Program

The Interagency Peer Support Program selects only the best and most qualified for each assignment, including trainees. Those selected must be credible, experienced in fire and aviation, trusted and held in high esteem. They must be senstive to diversity and multi-cultural components within the agencies.

National Interagency Wildland Fire Peer Support