F6 - Integrating Peer Support into Fire Department Operations

Peer Support is a key component of Fire Department operations, this presentation will give you to the tools to operationalize your Peer Support Program within your department and allow for buy in and longevity for your fire and ems peer support program. Concept of operations as well as integrating civilian support resources will be demonstrated as well as the value of tabletop and hybrid functional exercises to test the readiness of your Peer Support team. The Sandwich Fire Department 2022 Peer Support exercise Operation Red Shield will be shared as well as components to build your own internal HSEEP compliant Peer Support Team Exercise. The exercise was attended by key municipal stakeholders, led to the funding of a part-time Medical Director, on-call Nurse Psychiatric Practitioner and part-time Fire Department Chaplain with funding secured from grants and other sources of municipal funding including revenue from a class action lawsuit against the opioid industry.

*Profession Specific CEs:

This presentation is approved for 1.0 CE Credits by The Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Inc. (AACMHA) as an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.

This presentation is approved for 1 PDH from EAPA- Employee Assistance Professionals Association.

1 CE Credits for NAADAC, This course has been approved by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider # 87914, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

*Review ICISF World Congress 17 CE website page for additional requirements.