August Newsletter

Hello

Last month I spoke at a risk management conference in which a workshop participant made the comment "My employees are my greatest asset. My employees are by far my greatest risk." This seeming paradox was supported unanimously throughout the room. Business leaders know very well that attention to behavioral risk management takes on elevated prioritization following a critical incident and must be addressed effectively.

To quote the Marsh Crisis Academy (2003): There is no business recovery without people who:

Are healthy enough to return to work and be productive.
Are assured enough of their safety to not feel afraid to return to work.
Have had their trust in the leadership established so that they desire to return to work.
Have had their loyalty rewarded so they remain employees over the short haul and the long haul.

This edition of Practice Points focuses upon CCN's continued leadership in the management of the human side of workplace tragedy. We intentionally pursue the "cross-training" benefit of involvement in the realms of employee assistance, human resources, risk management, insurance, safety, loss prevention, occupational health, disability management, and clinical practice. It is through this multidisciplinary approach that we can most effectively equip our team to meet the objectives of our customers.

Regards,

Bob VandePol

President

Crisis Care Network

New Best Practices: Critical Incident Response to the Workplace training to be Featured at EAPA

Crisis Care Network is proud to serve as EAPA's Pre-Conference Institute's provider of Critical Incident Response Training. This training will be presented by CCN's Clinical Director, Dr. Betty Gilmore and incorporates the online and onsite content that will be released in CCN's 2006 Best Practices in Critical Incident Response in the Workplace - Combined Course. This course is comprised of the online and onsite course sections. Attendees are required to complete the online course before attending the onsite section. The onsite section will be conducted on October 5th at the EAPA Pre-Conference Institute at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center in Nashville, TN.

To register for this EAPA Pre-Conference Training click here: EAPA Registration Site

Disability Management Employer Coalition Survey Highlights the Importance of Behavioral Risk Management

This survey provides valuable insight into the employer's perspective on the importance of behavioral risk management and the increasing role played by behavioral health care providers in facilitating early recovery and return to work.
Click here to see the survey results: DMEC Survey

CCN Presents at Risk Management Conference

CCN President Bob VandePol and Specialty Risk Services (SRS) Vice President Nancy Brennan co-presented "Handling the Fear Factor of Workplace Tragedy" at the Florida Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) annual conference in Naples, Florida. The presentation focused upon return-to-work solutions from the perspectives of SRS - a TPA providing claim handling expertise - and CCN as it delivers psychological first aid following workplace incidents. Enthusiastic participant discussion centered around "doing the right thing" for impacted employees and the resultant positive outcomes in reducing exposure to litigation, workers' compensation claims costs, employee attrition, and negative market image.

Crisis Care Network Serves as Sponsor for Construction Conference

CCN served as a sponsor for the Association of General Contractors Safety & Health Conference in Denver, CO. In a General Session presentation, CCN President Bob VandePol outlined both the human and financial benefits of critical incident response services specific to the construction industry. He also participated in a Round Table discussion regarding ways managers can triage activation of employees' natural resiliency factors and/or engage professional support following construction-site tragedies.

Gilmore and Gorter Present Workshop at American Psychological Association Annual Conference

On August 12th Dr. Betty Gilmore, CCN Clinical Director, and Jeff Gorter, National Account Manager, presented at the 2006 APA Conference in New Orleans. The topic, "Providing Critical Incident Response Services to Business and Industry in a Mass-Disaster" highlighted the pivotal role played by EAPs and Corporations in recovery and relief efforts to the Gulf Region following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Lessons learned from this horrific event include the need to apply Psychological First Aid in a phase sensitive and multi-component continuum approach, as well as the essential elements of leadership consultation and empowerment in the facilitation of organizational recovery. "Speaking on this topic in New Orleans is extremely humbling," states Mr. Gorter. "While the Gulf Coast residents have clearly demonstrated heroic resilience in the face of this tragedy, it is clear that the personal and corporate challenges faced by this community remain daunting."

National Restaurant Association Executives Address Return to Work Issues following Tragedy

On July 17, CCN President Bob VandePol presented "Return to Work After Workplace Crisis" for the National Restaurant Association's Risk & Safety Managers Executive Study Group. Discussion centered around how implementation of immediate, coordinated response serves as an effective Absence Management tool. This event was held in Providence, RI.

CCN Selected for NACS Presentation

On October 8th, CCN President Bob VandePol will participate in a panel presentation "Risk Management 101: Operating Under the Caution Flag" at the National Association of Convenience Stores Show in Las Vegas. Other panelists will be: Nichole Torsey - President of Mount Counties Supply Company Tom Blasé - Risk and Benefits Manager of Town and Country Food Stores Dave Cameron - Risk Manager for Federated Insurance Sean Hader - Director of Training and Loss Prevention for Southwest GA Oil, Inc. Bob York - Director of Human Resources for Maverik, Inc.

The "Super Session" abstract reads: You don't have to be a beginner to appreciate the lessons taught in this session. Hear from experienced retailers on how being prepared will minimize risks while maximizing sales through employee engagement, culture adjustments and proper record keeping. And there's always that "What If?" factor to keep in mind. Whether you are preparing for the pandemic flu, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or a simple power outage, learn what you can do to keep your company and employees safe and ready to act at a moment's notice.

"Employee Assistance Report" Features Jeff Gorter's Keynote Address

CCN National Account Manager Jeff Gorter's keynote presentation at the Southern Wisconsin EAPA Chapter Annual Conference was summarized in the September '06 feature article of the Employee Assistance Report. The article entitled "One Size Doesn't Fit All: Lessons Learned from Katrina" described how CCN partnered with its customers to integrate evidence-informed best practices into service delivery challenged by hurricane-induced immense logistical obstacles.



	New Best Practices: Critical Incident Response to the Workplace training to be Featured at EAPA Disability Management Employer Coalition Survey Highlights the Importance of Behavioral Risk Management CCN Presents at Risk Management Conference Crisis Care Network Serves as Sponsor for Construction Conference Gilmore and Gorter Present Workshop at American Psychological Association Annual Conference National Restaurant Association Executives Address Return to Work Issues following Tragedy CCN Selected for NACS Presentation "Employee Assistance Report" Features Jeff Gorter's Keynote Address

	Register Now for EAPA's Critical Incident Response Training Crisis Care Network is proud to serve as EAPA's Pre-Conference Institute's provider of Critical Incident Response Training. This training will be presented at the 2006 EAPA Conference on October 5th in Nashville, TN. To register for this EAPA Pre-Conference Training click here: EAPA Registration Site
	Crisis Care Network to Exhibit at EAPA CCN will join over a thousand Employee Assistance professionals in Nashville, TN for EAPA's 2006 Annual World EAP Conference. Held October 6-8 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, this event will represent the year's largest gathering of the industry. Clinical Director Dr. Betty Gilmore will present "Critical Incident Response in the Workplace - Best Practices as a pre-conference institute on October 5 and will be joined by additional CCN staff for the remainder of the conference. Please stop by Booths 304 and 306!
	VandePol to Keynote at CAPS Conference CCN President Bob VandePol has been asked to present the opening keynote address for the Christian Association for Psychological Studies - Southeast Region conference in Charleston, SC September 22. His abstract reads: "Many leading health and behavioral health organizations have recognized the value of immediate, strategic application of Psychological First Aid for the individuals and groups impacted by tragic events. With its roots in military and public safety protocols, utilization of critical incident response has expanded to the workplace, schools, churches, and communities. Today, when tragedy strikes any of the above systems, it is common for the media account to report "trauma counselors were available on-site for the survivors". Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 triggered the largest and widest utilization of critical incident response services, increased scrutiny has been paid to the models and techniques held as standard. This presentation will review the history and evolution of these services with emphasis upon the latest evidence-informed best practice guidelines. When tragedy strikes, predictable individual and organizational reactions occur. Behavioral health professionals bent upon mitigating those impacts must be able to differentiate between "normal reactions to an abnormal event" and symptoms of pathology. These differentiations will be outlined. A brief multi-media video presentation will present a workplace tragedy case study to serve as a platform for discussion regarding assignment of specific critical incident response interventions. Discussion will occur regarding thoughtful, sensitive integration of faith-based principles into service delivery. Respect for diversity and the needs of the impacted individual will be emphasized."


	CrisisCoach 2.0 Crisis Care Network will soon be releasing CrisisCoach 2.0 for Providers. This web-based application will equip CCN's Specialists and other providers of critical incident response services with a wealth of online resources including service standards and protocols, online educational programs, an extensive and searchable knowledge base, surveys, group forums and live chat.

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