What sorts of events do you help prepare for?
I help schools, churches, community centers, businesses and organizations of all types prepare for and respond to
"traumatic events" or "critical incidents." These are defined as
events that, because of how intense, violent, sudden or frightening
they are, overwhelm people's usual methods of coping. These include,
but are not limited to, violent crime, accidental death, suicide, and
natural disasters, whether they occur at your site or happen elsewhere but affect your people.
We have a crisis plan already. Why should we have a post-incident plan for this sort of event?
People's natural, typical, normal responses to trauma can be
overwhelming. After an event, people cannot be expected to "return to
normal" without support. Having a plan in place will help you, at a
time of great stress
and pressure, know what to do to help yourself and those for whom you
are responsible. With proper planning and intervention, your
organization will recover faster and remain more productive. Crisis response services can, in the long run, save you money by decreasing absenteeism, lawsuits and health care costs.
We have Social Workers, Psychologists and/or Counselors on our staff. Why do we need special training?
Most mental health professionals receive minimal or no training in
trauma response and early trauma intervention as part of their standard
education. Personnel without this training cannot be expected to
provide the strategic and specialized responses needed following a
critical incident.
Shouldn't our EAP provide crisis response services?
Many Employee Assistance Plans (EAPs) list crisis response as a service they provide. Even so, they often do not have providers who are specifically trained in early crisis intervention. Few, if any, can promise to send responders who are familiar with the culture of your particular organization or industry. By training your own team, you will have resources on hand immediately that are tailored to you and a plan, which may include your EAP, to implement immediately.
What is CISM?
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an internationally accepted model of early
crisis intervention. It uses a variety of strategies, tailored to the
organization and the event, to keep people informed, stabilize their
reactions, help themselves cope and refer the few who need additional
help to the proper resources. CISM uses a partnership between mental
health professionals and peers -- people who have experience in the
same jobs as those who are traumatized -- to maximize everyone's
comfort during a response.
Do you teach CISM classes?
I am an ICISF approved instructor. I offer CISM classes both as part of a comprehensive consulting program and as stand-alone trainings.
What experience do you have working with schools?
I have more than 17 years experience working in schools as a teacher and principal. For 6 years, I lead and trained the CISM team
for a school district of about 17,000 students. I have masters
degrees in Special Education and in Public Management with a
concentration in Educational Leadership.
What expertise do you have in CISM or crisis response?
I hold a Certificate of Specialized Training from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) in Schools & Children crisis response. I have training and expertise in multiple areas of CISM, including responding to schools, using
CISM with children, suicide intervention, and strategic response to
crisis. I am an ICISF approved instructor. I am
an experienced CISM team member and team leader in both school and
community settings.
Who are some of your past clients?
I have worked with several school districts, including the Ann Arbor (MI) Public Schools, the Milan (MI) Area Schools and the Taylor (MI) School District. In addition, I have offered workshops at the national/international level through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation World Congress.
Where are you located?
I am located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am happy to travel and/or
consult by telephone or video conference anywhere in the world.
How much do your services cost?
Services are tailored to your needs and priced accordingly. Cost should not be an obstacle to you receiving the services you need, and I will work with you to come up with a plan that is affordable.
A two day training for a team of ten usually costs about $1100 total, including all materials and certificates. Hourly consulting is usually about $50 per hour.
My goal, however, is to meet your needs within your budget. There are a variety of creative ways to finance these services. In addition, there may be grant funding available to finance
your crisis preparedness activities. Contact me to discuss details.
How can we get more information?
Click on the "Online Contact Form"
link. I will be happy to work with you to figure out how I can help
your organization be prepared to recover from the worst.
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