Peer Support & Critical Incident Debrief Training

 eer Support is a means for a department to show support to their employees, offering them opportunities to care for themselves and their families. Peer Support helps those, who without it, might turn to substances, illegal activity, poor performance, seeking a different career, mental health issues and even suicide. 

Peer Support is an informal, private opportunity, for someone to speak to a peer, to assist with any issues the First Responder may be having difficulty. It helps clarify concerns and explore available resources. Peer Support is preventative maintenance. 

This training will equip First Responders, Chaplains and Mental Health Professionals with listening skills to recognize, help to prevent and understand the effects of stress and refer to outside resources, if needed. Throughout the training, participants will be expected to participate in peer support exercises which elicit personal information and feelings. Following this training, the Peer will be able to provide services at their agency as well as assist and lead groups following critical incidents. 

Core Competencies: 

Participants will support their wellness and resilience with skills learned in the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional areas required of law enforcement officers. 

Course Objectives: 

Recognize and understand the effects of stress on an individual. 

Identify mechanisms to encourage open communication between co-workers. 

Identify effective listening skills. 

Identify resources to provide services to their own agency. 

Instructional Methods: 

Lecture 

Case Study 

Practical Exercises 

Who Should Attend: 

Law Enforcement Officers 

Dispatchers 

Civilian Employees 

Chaplains 

EMS 

Firefighters 

Clinicians 

Course Requirements: 

100% Attendance

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in an event, please email KLETC or call 620.694.1400 at least three weeks before the first day of the event. Some events may require notice earlier than three weeks and require you contact a specific individual; if so, that information is provided in the event-specific information.