Peer Support Trainings
The OFCA was awarded a federal grant to provide Peer Support Trainings throughout the state of Ohio. We have partnered with the IAFF, and plan on hosting classes virtually and in-person in 2024. There will be no cost to the participant, and we have some availability to reimburse for mileage for those who travel to an in-person training.
Additionally, you do not need to be an OFCA member to participate in these trainings, so please share!
Important Training Information for Students:
- Registration: All participants must register to attend the IAFF Peer Support Training. There is a registration deadline for each training, to ensure enough time for the IAFF to ship student materials. Each student will provide their shipping address during registration. The link to register can be used by both IAFF members and non-members.
- Student Expectations: Each student is required to attend this training from a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam. Students are not permitted to join from cell phones or tablets, and each student must join from their own computer. This online training is designed to be highly interactive and students will be expected to participate in multiple ways, including sharing their webcam, typing in the chat, answering polls, speaking verbally, and participating in group discussion.
- Peer Support Training Prerequisite: Within 24 hours after registering for the IAFF Peer Support Training, participants will receive instructions to access the IAFF Behavioral Health Awareness course, a two-hour online course that should be completed prior to the Peer Support training.
- IAFF Resiliency Training Prerequisite: Within 24 hours after registering for the training, participants will receive an email with individual feedback from their online resiliency assessment completed during registration, as well as a link to access the IAFF Resiliency Training Video Overview. This one-hour video series should be viewed prior to the training.
UPCOMING PEER SUPPORT TRAININGS:
The IAFF Peer Support Training is delivered by IAFF master peer support instructors in two formats: 1) two days in person or 2) three days online.
After completing the training, members have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide support to their peers, have a basic understanding of common behavioral health issues affecting the fire service, can serve as a bridge to community resources or behavioral health treatment when indicated, and are able to build or enhance their peer support programs.
Curriculum
Participants must first complete the online IAFF Behavioral Health Awareness Course. The two-hour course is self-paced and tailored for the fire service.
Subsequently, members participate in the interactive training taught by experienced peers in the fire service. The curriculum focuses on active listening, confidentiality, general assessment and suicide assessment, crisis intervention, action planning, outreach, self-care and building an effective peer support program.
Instructors use small group learning methods and skill-building exercises to encourage student participation and mastery of the material.
Time: All virtual Peer Support Trainings will be held from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
May 14-16, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 04/22/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
June 5-6, 2024 (In-Person; Sidney, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
If you need more information, contact Chief Chad Hollinger - chollinger@sidneyoh.com
This class will be held at Sidney Fire Rescue located at 222 West Poplar Street; Sidney, OH 45365
July 15-16, 2024 (In-Person; Ashland, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
If you need more information, contact Chief Rick Anderson - anderson.rick@ashland-ohio.com
This class will be held at Ashland University - Gerber Building located at 27 High Street; Ashland, Ohio 44805
August 6-7, 2024 (In-Person; Concord, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
If you need more information, contact DC Mike Biddell - mbiddell@concordtwp.com
This class will be held at the Concord Fire Department located at 11599 Concord Hamden Road; Concord, OH 44077
August 13-15, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 07/22/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
August 27-28, 2024 (In-Person; Columbus, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
This class will be held at the Columbus Firefighters Union hall located at: 379 W Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
September 10-11, 2024 (In-Person; Athens, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
This class will be held at the ACEMS Station 51 located at 21 Kenny Dr. Athens, OH 45701
September 12-13, 2024 (In-Person; Lima, Ohio)
Click here to register for the Peer Support Training.
If you need more information, contact Chief Joe Kitchen - jkitchen@bathtwpfd.com
This class will be held at the Bath Township Fire Department located at 1787 North Dixie Highway; Lima, OH 45801
UPCOMING RESILIENCY TRAININGS:
The IAFF Resiliency Training is designed for 25 students in the virtual format. Through a combination of self-assessment, didactic instruction, group discussion and video, participants will gain an essential foundation for personal resiliency on and off the job.
Curriculum
The IAFF Resiliency Training includes two components: pre-course content and classroom content. Pre-course content includes an individual resiliency assessment completed online, followed by a one-hour video series on organizational resiliency. Classroom content will focus on six key concepts to gain resiliency building skills that can be applied both on and off the job.
The IAFF Resiliency Training will teach you to:
- Assess your current level of individual resiliency
- Respond to stress with positive, flexible thinking
- Increase positive social interactions on and off shift
- Experience more positive emotions during your day
- Manage stress through tactical breathing, meditation and mindfulness
- Challenge personal and occupational barriers to good nutrition and exercise
- Build meaning and purpose in your daily life through spirituality
Time: All virtual Resiliency Trainings will be held from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
May 15-16, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Resiliency Training.
*Please note the registration process includes an individual resiliency questionnaire. Completion of the registration process will take about 20 minutes.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 04/23/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
June 11-12, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Resiliency Training.
*Please note the registration process includes an individual resiliency questionnaire. Completion of the registration process will take about 20 minutes.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 05/20/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
August 14-15, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Resiliency Training.
*Please note the registration process includes an individual resiliency questionnaire. Completion of the registration process will take about 20 minutes.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 07/23/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
September 17-18, 2024 (Virtual)
Click here to register for the Resiliency Training.
*Please note the registration process includes an individual resiliency questionnaire. Completion of the registration process will take about 20 minutes.
Click here for a flyer with additional information.
The registration deadline is 08/26/2024 at 11:59 PM EST.
