IAFF PEER SUPPORT TRAINING – Open to ALL MEMBERS
Held March 13th & 14th at UFLAC
Every job comes with its own unique features and characteristics. The job of a Professional Firefighter is a highly sought after and well-respected position that comes with many demands. It is a challenging and exciting profession with opportunity for growth and development, but it also comes with distinct risks and stressors that simply do not exist in most other occupations. We recognize that there is a cumulative effect of the stressors that Firefighters face over the course of a career. The stress of any given call is simply different than the stress of other professions. This cumulative trauma is in addition to all the normal stress that comes with daily living, such as relationships and finances, which can and do impact mental health and overall wellbeing.
It has been found that Peer Support Programs are an especially effective approach to mitigating the impact of cumulative stress as well as creating an opportunity for members to talk with other members who have “been there themselves” and have received specialized training in Peer Support.
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112 is excited to be able to offer the IAFF Two-Day Peer Support Training on Wednesday, March 13 & Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 9:00am until 5:00pm. To receive certification, you will need to attend both days. If you are interested in assisting your Brothers and Sisters on the job, this training will give you tools to be able to actively listen, provide important information and support, as well as become that bridge for a member in need to help them receive the professional assistance that they may need but may be hesitant to reach out for on their own.
If you are thinking about becoming a Peer Support Team member, we know that you are most likely an individual who is a natural helper. Members may already be talking with you about personal and professional concerns. Our objective is to provide you with tools and resources to assist you with this effort.
The Two-Day training is an interactive course that will be presented by experienced Peers and Clinicians who currently work/or have worked in the Fire Service. The focus of the training will be on active listening skills, suicide awareness and prevention, crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and relationships with local behavioral health providers.
In preparation for the two-day training, there is an online, self-paced IAFF Behavioral Health Awareness course that each participant will need to complete prior to the workshop. It is information that is specific to the Fire Service. A link will be emailed to you so that you can complete the online course prior to the training.
If you are interested in taking this two-day training, please let us know so that we can have enough materials for everyone. To receive the certification, each participant will need to complete the full two days of training.
To sign-up for the training, Please RSVP to Tiffany Zamora at tzamora@uflac.org by Monday, February 26, 2024.
Hope to see you at the training!
Hugo Catalan Jr. AMFT #133892, CATC IV
Director of Behavioral Health
UFLAC Center for Health and Wellness
Published on January 24, 2024
