Baltimore County Fire Department Peer Support/CISM SOP

Comprehensive vocabulary and institutional roles defined in the Baltimore County Fire Department Standard Operational Procedure for Peer Support and Critical Incident Stress Management.

CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management)

An adaptive, short-term psychological helping-process that focuses solely on an immediate and identifiable problem, ranging from pre-incident preparedness to acute crisis management and post-crisis follow-up.

Peer Support

Individual or group support that provides knowledge, experience, emotional, social, or practical assistance.

Critical Incident

An event that has a stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of an individual.

Critical Incident Stress

A physical/emotional response to a particularly stressful routine or unusual event or events encountered by emergency workers.

Mental Healthcare Professional (MHP)

Licensed professionals (e.g., LCSW, PSV, MA, PhD) who serve on the CISM team strictly on a volunteer basis and follow ethical policies set by Maryland licensing boards.

Declaration of No Conflict

A document all volunteer Mental Healthcare Professionals must sign, stating they have no fiduciary responsibility or influence over departmental PEER SUPPORT/CISM budgets.

PEER SUPPORT/CISM Program Coordinator

The individual tasked with oversight of Team Leaders, monitoring team well-being, and submitting an annual report of activity and training by January 31.

Shift Leaders

Positions designated for shifts A, B, C, and D that coordinate call-outs, determine responding team members, and ensure referrals are coordinated with EAP or an MHP.

Retirees Leader

The team role tasked with monitoring the well-being of the retired members of the Baltimore County Fire Department.

Assistant Leader

A role appointed in February of each year to provide support to their respective Leader.

60

The total capacity of the PEER SUPPORT/CISM Team, which is __ members including career, volunteer, retired members, and MHPs.

2

Nominees for Program Coordinator must be in good standing and have a minimum of _ years of experience on the Peer Support/CISM team.

2

Personnel wishing to join the team must have at least _ years of service with the Baltimore County Fire Service.

March and September

The two months during which applications for the PEER SUPPORT/CISM Team are reviewed for acceptance:.

ICISF

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation; the organization with which the team must register and whose training standards often apply.

50

Each team member must attend ___ percent of the monthly meetings/trainings per year.

2

All members must attend at least one ICISF or IAFF approved class for continuing education every _ years to maintain active status.

10

Classes that must be refreshed every __ years from the first year they were obtained.

ADO

The specific notification process for team activation where the ___ collects member information and notifies the on-duty Shift Leader.

Automatic Notification Incidents

Specific high-stress events requiring immediate notice to the Chief Officer, including LODD, member suicide, mass casualty incidents, and serious incidents involving infants/children.

Police Mobile Crisis Unit Activation

Automatic notification required if a member makes statements related to self-harm, harm to others, or substance abuse.

5

Confidential Report Deadline:

The electronic report containing statistical and training data (without member identity) must be submitted within _ days after the last follow-up.

Selection Committee

A group consisting of the Program Coordinator, Team Leaders, and the Mental Health Provider that reviews applications and conducts interviews.

MIEMSS

Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical System Services.