GS III-2 - We May Only Get One Chance: The Importance of Choosing A Mental Health Professional Who Gets It

Recent civil and criminal unrest have led to unprecedented requests for mental health services for first responders. Yet, research shows that less than half of the officers who accessed counseling services found it helpful (FOP, 2019). Competency to work with first responders is multifaceted, calling for a variety of skills and experience that are not typically included in traditional clinical training. In this panel discussion, we will discuss the established criteria for identifying first responder clinicians who are culturally and clinically competent to support first responders and first responder agencies. We will discuss the T.E.A.M concept which categorizes clinician skill sets as 1) Therapy/ treatment, 2) Education/ training, 3) Assistance (with crisis negotiations, risk assessment), and 4) Management (clinical advising to peer support teams, wellness program development). Depending on the needs of the individuals and agencies, clinicians may need to be competent in some or all of these domains. A brief description of core competencies in each domain will be offered for practical assessment purposes. Clinicians hoping to support first responders and agencies will be given guidance on developing competencies and how to become vetted for inclusion in national first responder clinician databases. We will also discuss the challenges in identifying competent practitioners across the nation. Lastly, we will provide information on established national directories, including the Fraternal Order of Police’s Approved Provider Bulletin (APB).

*Profession Specific CEs:

This presentation is approved for 2 PDH from EAPA- Employee Assistance Professionals Association.

2 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.