About Our Training

 

Our classes are (ICISF) International Critical Incident Stress Foundation classes and are nationally recognized. All of our classes are part of the (CISM) Critical Incident Stress Management program. What is CISM? CISM is a comprehensive, integrative, multicomponent crisis intervention system. CISM is considered comprehensive because it consists of multiple crisis intervention components, which functionally span the entire temporal spectrum of a crisis. CISM interventions range from the pre-crisis phase through the acute crisis phase, and into the post-crisis phase. CISM is also considered comprehensive in that it consists of interventions which may be applied to individuals, small functional groups, large groups, families, organizations, and even communities.

 

Here are some of the classes being offered: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support; Group Crisis Intervention; Responding to School Crises: An Integrated Multi-Component Crisis Intervention Approach; CISM Application with Children; Law Enforcement Perspectives for CISM Enhancement; Pastoral Crisis Intervention I; Suicide Prevention, Intervention & Postvention; Stress Management for the Trauma Services Provider; Advanced Group Crisis Intervention; Strategic Response to Crisis and Pastoral Crisis Intervention II. All our instructors areICISF Certified and come from across the state and around the nation to teach our classes. 

 

We are also offering the Red Cross Disaster Response Classes and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team training.  All classes taught here at the Academy are taught by approved instructors from those agencies as well. 

 

We also teach the NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 ICS classes.

 

The question was asked why did we start a school and why are we training so many crisis responders.  The answer is there are an inadequate number of trained individuals to serve as emergency and disaster relief crisis responders (chaplains).  Often when other chaplains, pastors and clergy of local congregations respond to provide compassionate care to the victims and emergency workers of these disasters, several issues become evident:  (1) spiritual care in disasters is very different from that in the pastorate, (2) ministering to religiously diverse people is different than in the context of a church congregation and (3) the caregiver’s own response to trauma in disasters requires specialized training and care.  When individuals are not addressing these issues and many others they not only fail to provide appropriate ministry to the victims but often leave the scene feeling inadequate, overwhelmed or in a personal crisis themselves.  The question has also been asked; can a person become effective in crisis and disaster chaplaincy with the above mentioned classes?  The response is yes, if the training is specific and concise and if the ministry intervention is intended to be “spiritual first aid,” and not “long-term care.”

 

EMT’s or paramedics receive specific and concise training to provide medical first aid at the scene of a crisis incident and during transportation to a health care facility.  There is no expectation to provide long-term care more appropriately left to physicians who receive many years of education and training.  Crisis Responders (chaplains) in disasters are trained to provide urgent care by diffusing distress through early intervention and cathartic ventilation.  They are known as “spiritual paramedics.”   Another area that surfaces for pastors and other congregational leaders is the chain-of-command.  During emergencies and disasters most organizations function as para-military organization.  Individuals who go through our program are trained to follow the chain-of-command and to function within the emergency service organizations guidelines.