Course Description:

Research validates that the help and support people receive in times of crisis matters. Providing effective emotional and spiritual care to individuals, families, and communities in difficult times is critical and can help promote resiliency and recovery. This two-day course endeavors to build helping skills and a better understanding of the unique role of the crisis responder and trains participants in the fundamental principles of spiritual and psychological first aid (SPFA). Care provided in SPFA may be defined as a practical, compassionate and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress, assess needs, provide essential supportive care, and link with other support systems as needed for ongoing spiritual, emotional, and mental health care.

Targeted participants will be trained clergy, chaplains, mental health professionals, crisis responders, and individuals who desire to enhance their skills in providing SPFA to survivors of loss, disaster, emergency, trauma, and crisis settings.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify evidence-informed foundations for SPFA
• Articulate an understanding of the “ministry of presence” and “companioning.”
• Define the essential elements of connecting and communicating with people in crisis
• Prepare survivors to understand commonly experienced psychological/ behavioral reactions and the process of recovery
• Identify indicators of resiliency, recovery and post traumatic growth to encourage help, hope and healing
• Identify how meeting basic human needs is foundational to providing SPFA
• Demonstrate essential interventions to help stabilize and protect people in crisis
• Create a safe environment that facilitates effective listening and crisis communication
• Link those served with existing community support services and develop an ongoing care plan.
• Demonstrate skills for assessing spiritual and psychological needs of individuals in crisis
• Utilize a spiritual assessment framework to identify ways to help an individual draw on spiritual and religious resources to cope and foster resiliency

General Contact Hours: 

Two-Day Course; 14 Contact Hours: 1.4 General CEUs from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Dept. of Emergency Health Services Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). Based on a formula of 1 Continuing Education Unit for every 10 contact/classroom hours.

ICISF Certificate of Completion:

After the completion of this ICISF course, with verified full attendance, participants are eligible to receive an electronic ICISF Certificate of Completion including General Continuing Education Units. Participants are required to complete a course evaluation prior to receiving this Certificate of Completion.

Completion of ICISF courses and receipt of an ICISF Certificate of Completion does not attest to competence in the field, nor does it provide certification in the field of CISM. 

** Please check with your state licensing board prior to registration to see if they will accept the Certificate of Completion as a means for continuing education.