Stress Management Education, Peer Support, Crisis Intervention, & Referrals for Trauma Recovery
A Non-Profit Organization Dedicated to Rhode Island’s Emergency Personnel
Supporting Those Who Support Others
About Our Team
The Rhode Island Critical Incident Stress Management TEAM is a nonprofit organization (501-c-3) comprised of highly trained members. Peers from fire service, EMS, law enforcement, nursing, and dispatchers are represented on the team. Our TEAM clinicians and clergy members are chosen due to their credibility and involvement in uniformed services organizations. All interventions are protocol-driven and follow the standard of care for peer support and crisis intervention. We are registered with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) which provides us with a wide system of mutual aid and training opportunities.
The Rhode Island CISM TEAM Mission
The mission of Rhode Island CISM is to “support and assist responders to keep them performing their specific task.” CISM is an integral aspect of first responder wellness programs.
About Our Team
Stress is an expected part of the emergency service profession and is routinely managed on a day-to-day basis.
However, critical incident stress can produce reactions which may interfere with or overwhelm a person’s ability to function or cope either at the scene or later.
Critical incident stress is the body’s normal reaction to a very abnormal event.
Response to a Multi-Casualty Incident or Disaster
Our CISM program provides comprehensive, multi-component, multi-discipline stress management. We provide intervention in the pre-crisis phase, the acute crisis phase and the post crisis phase.
Our team strives to provide the highest standards of critical incident response to any fire, police or ambulance department personnel involved in a critical incident, multi-casualty event or disaster. Our response, is not limited to exclusively public safety personnel. Any organization involved in the scene is considered to be a responder and will be afforded the same continuum ofcare. Our services are free of charge and strictly confidential.
Our Services
The Rhode Island CISM team provides support for the following types of interventions:
- Pre-Crisis Planning/Education
- On Scene Support/Organizational Consultation
- Demobilizations
- Crisis Management Briefings (CMB)
- Individual Contacts/Peer Support
- Defusings
- Debriefings (CISD)
- Pastoral/Spiritual Care
- Family Support
- Post-Incident Education
- Follow-Up and/or Referral
- Strategic Planning