HomeMy WebLinkAbout104.005 - Peer Support Team
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
COMMITTEES AND TEAMS
104.005 PEER SUPPORT TEAM
EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007
Current Revision Date: 04/19/21 Next Revision Date: 04/19/24
Author’s Name/Rank: Devin McGuire, Battalion Chief Review Level: 1
Administrative Support:
Evelyn Yin-Zepeda,
Management Analyst II
PURPOSE
To set forth guidelines for the establishment and organization of a Fresno Fire
Department (FFD or Department) Peer Support Team.
Mission Statement: To provide care and support for the mental well-being of our
members and their families.
APPLICATION
The Peer Support Team offers education, assessment, support services, and referrals
related to behavioral health issues commonly found within the fire service to on-duty and
off-duty Department members.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Acceptance of support services and/or referrals offered by Peer Team members is
always voluntary. Peer Support Team members shall maintain strict confidentiality
unless a member is at risk of harming themselves or others, or unless permission is
given by the member to share specific information.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
The Peer Support Team focuses efforts in three general areas related to behavioral
health: education, assessment/support services, and referrals to outside resources.
Education: Department members are consistently exposed to many types of stressors
throughout their firefighting careers; understanding the potential effects of these
stressors, methods to strengthen resistance and resilience, as well as resources
available to members in crisis is important to the safety and behavioral health of
members. The Peer Team, in conjunction with the Training Division, has opportunities
to educate members including:
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Awareness level training to Firefighter Recruits
Annual refresher training as part of “Mental Health November”
As a part of small group processes such as defusing’s and debriefings
During peer-to-peer interactions
Assessment/Support Services: The Peer Support Team can provide behavioral health
support to members both on and off duty. The specific support offered is tailored to fit
the situation and/or the needs of individual members. These services include:
Peer-to-Peer: Informal conversations with a trained Peer are the most
common interaction and may occur at any appropriate time and place.
Defusing: A brief, loosely structured group process led by one or two
Peer Support Team members, offered to fire companies after a
potentially traumatic incident.
Debriefing: A more structured group process, led by a licensed clinician
(usually the team’s Clinical Supervisor) in collaboration with one or more
Peer Team members offered after a critical incident (generally 24 hrs to
10 days post incident).
At-Scene: Peer support may be offered at the scene of a major incident
at the request of the Incident Commander.
During these interactions, team members assess the signs and symptoms of members
in order to offer additional support services and/or referrals as appropriate.
Referrals to outside resources: Peer Team members provide resources including the
City of Fresno’s Employee Assistance Program, local clinicians who have demonstrated
an understanding of fire service culture, PTSD treatment, suicide prevention, alcohol and
drug treatment and web resources.
PROCESS
Accessing Peer Support: Department members are encouraged to contact any Peer
Team member at any time when information, peer support, or referrals are needed.
These conversations are strictly confidential (except as noted in OPERATIONAL
POLICY above) and are never documented.
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Initiating group processes (defusing’s and debriefings): Officers involved in potentially
traumatic incidents are encouraged to contact an on-duty battalion chief, the Peer Team
Coordinator, or an on-duty Peer Team member for guidance. A Peer Team member will
then evaluate the situation (by phone or in person) to determine an appropriate response.
Defusings and debriefings require on-duty participants to be placed out of service; in this
situation, an on-duty battalion chief must be notified.
INFORMATION
The Peer Team offers behavioral health support services in accordance with guidelines
established by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Team
members are required to obtain, at a minimum, two ICISF certifications of training:
Assisting Individuals in Crisis, and Group Crisis Intervention.
The team will meet at least quarterly for continuing education and to conduct other
business.
Peer Support Team positions include:
Chairperson: This position is assigned by the Fire Chief or designee;
responsibilities include acting as a liaison between Administration and
the team, facilitation of team training and any logistics related to support
or outreach efforts, scheduling and facilitation of team meetings, and
preparing budget requests.
Clinical Supervisor: This position is to be filled by a licensed mental
health clinician who is routinely available to facilitate group debriefings,
evaluate Department members in crisis, and to offer training and
guidance to team members.
Team Coordinator: The Team Chairperson selects this position;
responsibilities include serving, as a pre-designated point of contact for
notifications, inquiries, as well as requests for defusing’s, debriefings,
and team responses to incidents.
Team members are identified within the daily roster as a “PEER”.
Membership on the team is by invitation.
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DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
No cross-references recognized.
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