Each survivor’s disaster is unique. Each survivor is unique.

            Veteran’s Administration & National Center for PTSD

 

I am perpetually amazed at how individuals seemingly exposed to the same critical incident respond in such different ways. Some cry, some giggle, some freeze, some become angry, some blame themselves, some blame others, and some simply wish to immediately return to their jobs.

Similarly, individuals also recover from tragedy in a multitude of ways as each brings their own internal, external, and tactical resiliency resources into play. No one intervention addresses the needs of all. An evidence-informed approach to critical incident response recommends multiple levels of support applied at varying times. Response Specialists must assess the situation, draw circles of impact based upon a variety of factors, and flexibly draw from various psychological first aid tools.

In this edition of PracticePoints we are featuring a response tool called the Large Group Briefing. This intervention serves to mitigate the “skid” of chaos, position the organization’s leadership favorably, and restore a sense of order. For many impacted employees, this response is enough to triage them back to productivity or to indicate their need for an alternative support.

Because PracticePoints readers also learn in different ways (smile) this edition combines descriptive articles and video demonstrations.

Best,

Bob VandePol, President 

One of the most valuable but often overlooked interventions in critical incident response is the Large Group Briefing. This activity has tremendous value from both a clinical and corporate perspective. While CCN is involved with the impacted organization at a critical juncture, our involvement is extremely time-limited and what happens after we leave plays the primary role in organizational and individual recovery. [read more]

As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." In light of that wisdom we wanted to offer you video demonstrations of Large Group Briefings to truly capture the intent and value that this particular intervention offers. In the first vignette (presented in two parts) you will see a dramatization of a Large Group Briefing conducted at a workplace and delivered in tandom with an organizational leader and the CCN Specialist. To see this video click Part One , Part Two .
In this second video you will see an excellent presentation of the psychoeducational portion of a Large Group Briefing. This segment could be delivered by the Specialist alone if direct management participation is not possible. To view this video click here . 

National Safety Council Congress & Expo

October 14-17

CCN President Bob VandePol was invited to participate in the NSC – Construction Division pre-conference meeting and also presented a general session workshop entitled “Reducing the Human and Financial Costs of Tragedy”.

Employee Assistance Professional Association 2007 Annual World Conference

October 25 – 27

Crisis Care Network celebrated its 10^th Anniversary with a host of employee assistance professionals by exhibiting, presenting, and scheduling a full slate of customer events and meetings. Lyle Labardee presented CCN’s “Advancing Best Practices – Critical Incident Response in the Workplace” training as a full-day pre-conference workshop and Betty Gilmore and Bob VandePol co-presented the workshop “Workplace Pandemic Services: Integrating Technology into the Preparedness, Response, Recovery Matrix”.

National Association of Convenience Stores

November 6-7

Bob VandePol joined Jay Ricker, President of Ricker Oil, and Deborah Sunday-Dalton, Supervisor of Benefits for Speedway SuperAmerica, in a panel discussion entitled “Will Your Business Survive a Pandemic?” This offering focused upon logistical and “human factor” pandemic-related challenges specific to the convenience store industry.

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

November 14

CCN National Account Manager Jeff Gorter presented as a panelist with Dr. Patricia Watson and Dr. Jim Schultz addressing the topic “Early Intervention in Workplace Incidents”. This presentation explored psychological first aid concepts in three distinct employment settings.

Volunteer State Health Plan/ValueOptions Leadership Event

November 17

Bob VandePol delivered the keynote address in this Chattanooga, TN event focused upon “Leadership in Times of Crisis”. State and community leaders from across Tennessee gathered to prepare for a collaborative, resilient response should tragedy strike their locale.