ICISF-Canada, Inc. – For Our Heroes

"Everyone plays a different role and has a different experience with different feelings. You need to find someone that can normalize your experience. Once you've normalized it, you have a better chance of being able to do your job and stay healthy as a person."

A.L. - Labour and Delivery Nurse

"One day I attended the scene of a shotgun suicide and then had to go home and try to be a normal husband and father. I can't expect my wife and kid to understand what I've been through. I don't even understand, and I still have nightmares."

M.E. - Police Services

"Sometimes you arrive on scene and your first reaction is that you need to call 9-1-1-, but you are 9-1-1, and everyone's counting on you. You need to look after them, so you don't have any time to process what's happening to you, and before you can get your head around it you have to respond to another call."

D.S. - Emergency Medical Services

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Background

ICISF-Canada is proud to be the sole Canadian partner to the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF) supporting the model of peer support for public safety personnel in Canada. The CISM model is well established with over 30 years of practice, validated by research, and has in excess of one million peers trained world-wide.

ICISF-Canada was recognized in 2019 with the ICISF “Co-Founders Award of Excellence in Crisis Intervention” for their work in establishing a robust network of over 1300 trained peers who deliver support to their public safety colleagues. ICISF-Canada started in Alberta and has grown to support CISM Teams and organizations across Canada.

A CISM Team is a group of colleagues who are representative of an organization’s frontline workers who, through the nature of their operational duties, are exposed to hazards that increase the risk of developing a psychological injury. A CISM Team is trained and certified in a peer support delivered form of crisis intervention. The trained CISM Peers assess and then implement the most appropriate peer support interventions. Peers operate under the guidance and with the support of a Clinical Director. A CISM Team most often is comprised of a CISM Peer team lead and a Clinical Director. Larger organizations may also include a CISM Coordinator. Most teams operate with a core number of other trained CISM peers that allows them to provide effective support services to their frontline colleagues minimizing the risk of being over utilized and acquiring burnout.

ICISF-Canada has published a set of recommended CISM Team Standard Operating Procedures. The standards set out how a team operates, from the frequency and agenda of CISM Team meetings to reviewing peer contacts and how to practice peer support skills. The standards also set out recommendations for frequent refresher training, to how to maintain and upgrade skills. CISM BEST PRACTICES & PROCEDURES MANUAL

ICISF-Canada’s Mission and Mandate

ICISF-Canada supports the development and maintenance of peer support programs for public safety personnel. It empowers organizations in the establishment of such programs using the “peer led, peer driven” approach. From recruitment of effective peers, to providing training and resources to ensure the proper and efficient delivery of peer support. ICISF-Canada supports the independent management of CISM Peer support teams throughout Canada.

The mandate of the ICISF-Canada Board of Directors is to provide the financial resources, material and training so that all Canadian Public Safety Personnel have access to a robust peer support network 24/7/365, in-person or through telephone or video conference, through the establishment of local networks of trained peers, with the commitment to provide ongoing training and for them to maintain their peer support skills.

The first network ICISF-Canada established was the Alberta Critical Incident Provincial Network (ACIPN) in fall 2018. The ACIPN continues to be a division of ICISF-Canada that delivers a peer led, peer driven CISM network, whose volunteers are trained in best practices and deliver support in accordance with ICISF standards. ACIPN will continue to be the entity that delivers peer support to public safety personnel in Alberta and ICISF-Canada aims to emulate these efforts and achievements nationwide until each province, territory and region has access to their own peer-led, peer driven support network for Canadian public safety personnel. Saskatchewan has also come on board starting in 2019 in developing their own provincial CISM network called Sask CISM Network.

The ICISF-CISM Model of Peer Support

The ICISF Model of peer support is referred to as Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). CISM is a comprehensive, integrated, systematic, and multi-component psychosocial support program specifically designed to meet the needs of public safety personnel.

ICISF-Canada Consultation

ICISF-Canada provides National Network Members with access to expert consultation from Clinical Directors, Mental Health Professionals, CISM Coordinators and Approved ICISF Instructors for:

ICISF-CISM Training

One of the most important aspects of peer support is the quality of training you receive and how well you maintain and update your peer support skills.

Benefits to Staff and Organizations

Programs based on the ICISF-CISM model of peer support have shown to increase resistance to the psychological effects of stress and critical incidents, foster resiliency by equipping public safety personnel with …

Background

ICISF-Canada’s Mission and Mandate

The first network ICISF-Canada established was the Alberta Critical Incident Peer Network (ACIPN) in fall 2018. The ACIPN continues to be a division of ICISF-Canada that delivers a peer led, peer driven CISM network, whose volunteers are trained in best practices and deliver support in accordance with ICISF standards. ACIPN will continue to be the entity that delivers peer support to public safety personnel in Alberta and ICISF-Canada aims to emulate these efforts and achievements nationwide until each province, territory and region has access to their own peer-led, peer driven support network for Canadian public safety personnel. Saskatchewan has also come on board starting in 2019 in developing their own provincial CISM network called Sask CISM Network.

The ICISF-CISM Model of Peer Support

ICISF-Canada Consultation

ICISF-Canada provides National Network Members with access to expert consultation from Clinical Directors, Mental Health Professionals, CISM Coordinators and Approved ICISF Instructors for:

ICISF-CISM Training

One of the most important aspects of peer support is the quality of training you receive and how well you maintain and update your peer support skills.