Colorado POST- Approved 40-Hour Peer Support Academy

Confidentiality • Role Conflict • Limits and liability • Communication facilitation and listening skills • Nonverbal communication • Problem assessment • Problem-solving skills • Cross-cultural issues • Common psychological symptoms • Medical conditions confused with psychiatric disorders • Stress management and resiliency • Burnout out and Boreout • Grief management and Loss • Domestic violence • Medical issues and lifestyle impact • Suicide assessment and prevention • Crisis management intervention • Work-related critical incident stress management • Dependency and abuse • Concepts of Peer Support • Operational & Policy Guidelines for your Department • Stress Management • When to seek mental health consultation/referral information • Relationship/family issues and concerns • Military support • Local resources • Organizational stress and communication • Brief screening tools • Wellness and self care • Anger Management • Ethical & Confidentiality issues in Peer Support • Suicide & Suicide Prevention • Trauma and PTSI • Communications • Interventions and Tips • Perspectives in Survivorship • Using a Therapy K-9 for Peer Support • Experiential processing Officer Involved Shootings/Aftermath 

Joanne Rupert, MA, LPC, NBCC, DCS is currently the Clinical Supervisor to 16 Emergency Services Agencies in Northern Colorado and across the Front Range. She has over 18 years of understanding the complexities of Peer Support in Emergency Services. Joanne utilizes additional Presenters who are Culturally Competent to present at this First Responder National Peer Support Certification Academy. 

Karen Nicholson, MA, LPC, FACHE, FACMPE is the Behavioral Health & Logistics Director for FRTC.  Karen brings a wealth of knowledge as an experienced S.W.A.T. negotiator and CIT trainer to our National Peer Support Academy.

First Responder Trauma Counselors is proud to be able to offer their National Peer Support Training Academy to Law Enforcement Agencies as a P.O.S.T. Approved course.

This means that our training is considered by Colorado P.O.S.T. to be at a level accepted by their standards for reimbursement or use of eligible grant funds.

For additional information, email us at info@911overwatch.org

First Responder Trauma Counselors National Peer Support Training Academy is designed and modeled as an ALL Agency, ALL Uniforms, ALL Scrubs - ALL Together ® package, and ALL First Responder agencies are strongly encouraged to attend.

Our training is also approved by A.S.T.I. (Advanced Security Training Institute) 

For additional information, email us at info@911overwatch.org

Q: Do I have to be employed by a First Responder agency to attend?

A: It isn't a requirement; however, priority is given to First Responders.

Q: Do I have to attend all 5 days?

A: Yes, in order for you to acquire certification of completion, you must attend all 5 days.

Q: What if I have to cancel?

A: We understand the nature of being a First Responder. If you need to cancel we can reserve your seat(s) in the next scheduled Academy. However, we can only allow one rescheduled Academy date due to class size and scheduling constraints. 

PLEASE NOTE: No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations within 4 weeks of the start date of the Academy.

Q: Does my agency have to have a Peer Support Team already?

A: No, many of our attendees are there to begin the process of setting up their agency's first Peer Support Team.

Q: Can my agency host an Academy?

A: Yes, reach out to us to find out how to arrange for this.

Q: Is the Academy confidential? 

A: Yes, discussions held within the confines of the Academy are not divulged.

Q: How many Academies are there per year?

A: We aim to hold at least two per year. Our classes are relatively small and they fill up quickly. We schedule as many as we can in response to agency requests.

Q: Are there tests or homework?

A: There are no tests, but there is some after class reading. We use a blended learning approach, integrating our LMS with face-to-face training, as.well as reinforced learning practices to ensure that our participants graduate with a wealth of knowledge.

Q: Why is it a 40-hour Academy and not less?

A: The IAFF, CPFF and IACoP only endorse 40-hour Peer Support training as a minimum standard. Additionally, should Colorado experience a mass incident, the IAFF will only request individuals who have received a minimum of 40 hours of training.

Q: Can I get CE credit for this Academy?

A: Unfortunately, CE credit is not available at this time.