{"id":14919,"date":"2020-02-24T08:46:37","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T13:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/?page_id=14919"},"modified":"2025-09-17T18:29:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T22:29:23","slug":"critical-incident-stress-management","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/chatr\/critical-incident-stress-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical Incident Stress Management &#8211; Peer Support"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-14919\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-14919-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-14919-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell panel-grid-cell-empty\" ><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-14919-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-14919-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-slider panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-slider so-widget-sow-slider-default-6d39609536fd-14919\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-slider-base\" style=\"display: none\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-slider-images\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-settings=\"{&quot;pagination&quot;:true,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;timeout&quot;:8000,&quot;paused&quot;:false,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:false,&quot;swipe&quot;:true,&quot;nav_always_show_desktop&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;nav_always_show_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;breakpoint&quot;:&quot;780px&quot;,&quot;unmute&quot;:false,&quot;anchor&quot;:null}\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\t\t<li class=\"sow-slider-image\" style=\"visibility: visible;\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1335\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/cism-2.jpg\" class=\"sow-slider-background-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/cism-2.jpg 1335w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/cism-2-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/cism-2-1024x443.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/cism-2-768x332.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1335px) 100vw, 1335px\" \/>\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"sow-slider-pagination\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"#\" data-goto=\"0\" aria-label=\"Display slide 1\"><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-slide-nav sow-slide-nav-next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" data-goto=\"next\" aria-label=\"Next slide\" data-action=\"next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<em class=\"sow-sld-icon-thin-right\"><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-slide-nav sow-slide-nav-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" data-goto=\"previous\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\" data-action=\"prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<em class=\"sow-sld-icon-thin-left\"><\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">On a daily basis, EMS providers experience some of life's most tragic and difficult events. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a vital component of mitigating the effects of traumatic stress ensuring providers have a safe place to process through those tough calls. Click the links below to contact local CISM teams or learn about how to become an accredited CISM - Peer Support Team.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-features\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-features so-widget-sow-features-default-aad3e4e1d918-14919\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><ul\n\tclass=\"sow-features-list\n\tsow-features-responsive\">\n\n\t\t\t<li\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-features-feature sow-icon-container-position-top\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: calc(50% - 25px);\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-icon-container sow-container-round\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"color: #213082; \"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-fas\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf2bb;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"font-size: 80px; color: #FFFFFF\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-features-feature-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/cism-team-information\/\">Coming Soon: CISM - Peer Suppport Team Contact Information<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t<li\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-features-feature sow-icon-container-position-top\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: calc(50% - 25px);\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-icon-container sow-container-round\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"color: #213082; \"\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"CISM - Peer Support Accreditation Program\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-fontawesome sow-fas\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf058;\"\n\t\tstyle=\"font-size: 80px; color: #ffffff\" \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-features-feature-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/cism-peer-support-accreditation\/\">CISM - Peer Support Accreditation Program<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-3\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<div>\n<table style=\"height: 209px;border-color: #111770;background-color: #ebe9f0\" border=\"3\" width=\"751\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-size: large\"><span style=\"color: #003366\"><strong>Need help now? You are not alone!<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nThere is\u00a0<strong>FREE<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>CONFIDENTIAL<\/strong> help available <strong>24\/7<\/strong> specifically for EMS Providers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.safecallnowusa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.safecallnow.org\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1582655073382000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYlruaYJqFEQSdKS0HWOahtWJNpA\">Safe Call Now<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>(206) 459-3020 or\u00a01-877-230-6060<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/responderstrong.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/responderstrong.org\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1582655073382000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH_mcag_1HfbTpyO13BrHUHFXBmFw\"><strong>Emergency Responder Crisis Text Line<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Text \u201cBADGE\u201d to 741741<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/988lifeline.org\/\">988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline<\/a><\/strong>: Call or Text 988<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-4\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image\" data-index=\"4\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-14919-1-0-4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-c67d20f9f743-14919\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/CISM-Program-Logo-v2-768x381.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/CISM-Program-Logo-v2-768x381.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/CISM-Program-Logo-v2-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/CISM-Program-Logo-v2.png 961w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" title=\"CISM Program Logo v2\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-14919-1-0-5\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\"><h2><strong>Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program FAQs<\/strong><\/h2><\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The following questions represent some of the most frequently asked topics related to the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program. They are intended to assist public safety personnel, agency leaders, and team coordinators in understanding how the program works and what is required for participation. Topics include the differences between CISM and Peer Support, who the services are intended for, how to request or join a team, legal protections, training requirements, and how to maintain accreditation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you have additional questions not addressed here, please contact the CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program Manager at the Virginia Office of EMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>What is the difference between CISM and Peer Support?<\/strong> CISM and Peer Support are both designed to support the mental health and well-being of public safety personnel, but they serve different purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">CISM is typically activated after a specific critical incident, such as a traumatic call, a line-of-duty death, or a mass casualty event. It follows a structured process led by a trained team and may include group defusings, debriefings, or one-on-one support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Peer Support is more flexible and ongoing. It allows trained peers to offer support through a wide range of personal and professional challenges. This may include stress, grief, burnout, family issues, or emotional struggles that affect daily life and job performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Many Virginia teams use a blended model, integrating both approaches to meet the diverse needs of public safety personnel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2025\/03\/CISM-Peer-Support-Compare-Contrast-Web-layout.pdf\">Download our CISM vs. Peer Support Overview (PDF)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Who are CISM and Peer Support services for, and can they be used during a crisis?<\/strong> CISM and Peer Support services are intended only for public safety professionals. This includes EMS providers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and others working in emergency services. These services are not available to the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">They are also not emergency or crisis response services. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or harming others, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline, or dial 911. You can also contact your primary care or mental health provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you are a responder seeking support after a critical incident or during a difficult time, reach out to your agency\u2019s Peer Support contact or your regional CISM\/Peer Support team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/chatr\/critical-incident-stress-management\/cism-peer-support-accreditation\/accredited-cism-peer-support-teams\/\">List of Accredited Teams in Virginia<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong> How can I request CISM or Peer Support services?<\/strong> The process for requesting CISM or Peer Support services can vary depending on your agency and region. Some teams are activated internally through department leadership, peer coordinators, or wellness officers. Others may be requested through regional or multi-agency networks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We recommend that responders and agency leaders become familiar with their local team's services, activation process, and guidelines for deployment or dispatch. If your agency does not have its own team or is unsure how to access support, you can view the list of accredited teams in Virginia to identify available resources in your region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">List of Accredited Teams in Virginia<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you need further assistance connecting with a team, contact the Virginia Office of EMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>What do I have to do to join a CISM or Peer Support team in Virginia?<\/strong> To join a CISM or Peer Support team in Virginia, you must complete the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) Group Crisis Intervention course and meet any additional requirements set by the specific accredited team you are applying to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">At a minimum, all accredited teams require members to complete training in Group Crisis Intervention, Assisting Individuals in Crisis, and Suicide Prevention or Awareness. These trainings may be completed before or after joining, depending on the team\u2019s internal policies. Some teams may also require interviews, agency affiliation, mentoring, or continuing education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Team members are expected to follow the guidelines and expectations of their accredited team. For more details on minimum training requirements and participation standards, refer to the Accreditation Program Application or contact your local accredited team.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Will the team respond to personal or family issues, like domestic violence or substance use?<\/strong> CISM and Peer Support teams are designed to support public safety professionals only, not members of the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">CISM services are typically provided after a critical duty-related incident, such as a traumatic call, line-of-duty death, or mass casualty event. These services are not intended for personal or family-related situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Peer Support, however, may be available to help responders with personal challenges such as family stress, addiction, grief, or emotional concerns. Support may be provided when those issues are affecting the responder\u2019s well-being or job performance. The availability of these services depends on the team\u2019s structure, training, and policies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you are a public safety professional in need of help, contact your agency\u2019s Peer Support team or a local accredited team to learn what support options may be available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>What types of incidents qualify for a CISM response?<\/strong> CISM services are typically activated after critical incidents that may cause significant emotional stress for responders. These include events such as line-of-duty deaths, pediatric fatalities, suicides, mass casualty incidents, or any situation that has an unusual emotional impact or disrupts normal operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the team leadership. Accredited teams are required to have an affiliated clinician who provides oversight and guidance on response appropriateness and team activation. Some teams may also follow agency-specific or regional activation criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In certain situations, a Peer Support response may be more appropriate or may occur alongside CISM services depending on team structure and responder needs. If you are unsure whether a response is appropriate, contact your local team coordinator or regional point of contact for assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Are CISM and Peer Support services confidential and protected?<\/strong> Yes. CISM and Peer Support teams are expected to operate in a confidential and professional manner. However, it is important to understand the difference between confidential and privileged communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Confidential means that team members are trained to protect the privacy of what is shared during support interactions. They are expected to treat all information with professionalism and discretion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Privileged communication is protected under <a href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title19.2\/chapter16\/section19.2-271.4\/\">Virginia Code \u00a7 19.2-271.4<\/a>. This law provides legal protection for communications between EMS and public safety personnel and members of a CISM or Peer Support team when those services are provided in response to a critical incident. Team members cannot be compelled to testify in court, and the information is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The individual who shared the information may choose to waive the privilege.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">These legal protections apply only to accredited teams recognized under the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Why are there more CISM and Peer Support teams in Northern Virginia?<\/strong> CISM and Peer Support services in Virginia began to take shape after the 1982 Air Florida crash in Washington, D.C. That incident led to the formation of early CISM teams in Northern Virginia, particularly in Alexandria and Arlington. Because of that history, the region still has a higher number of long-established, agency-based teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In other parts of the state, most teams were formed later through EMS Regional Councils or as multi-agency programs. Many of these are multi-disciplinary and include members from EMS, fire, law enforcement, dispatch, and other public safety sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Virginia Office of EMS continues to support the growth of accredited teams across all regions of the Commonwealth to improve access to support for all responders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>What is the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program?<\/strong> The Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program is a statewide initiative managed by the Virginia Office of EMS. It is designed to recognize and support CISM and Peer Support teams that meet established standards for training, structure, clinical oversight, and operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The goal of the program is to improve consistency, accountability, and quality of care provided to EMS and public safety personnel across the Commonwealth. Accreditation ensures that teams are properly trained, supported by qualified clinicians, and operating with clear procedures for response, confidentiality, and documentation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Participation in the program is voluntary, but teams must be accredited in order to receive legal protections under Virginia law. Accredited teams are also eligible to participate in the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Network (VCPSAN), which promotes collaboration and resource sharing across teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>How do we maintain accreditation once approved?<\/strong> To maintain accreditation, teams must continue to meet the minimum standards outlined in the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program. This includes maintaining proper team structure, ensuring all members complete the required training, documenting responses, and keeping current records of participation, continuing education, and clinical oversight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Teams are also required to notify the Office of EMS if there are any changes to team leadership or the affiliated clinician during the accreditation period. Contact and deployment information must remain current, and teams are expected to remain active and responsive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">OEMS may request periodic updates or documentation to verify compliance as part of ongoing program oversight. For full details, refer to the Accreditation Program Application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>How do we apply for accreditation?<\/strong> To apply for accreditation, teams must complete and submit the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program application. The application includes information about team structure, training records, clinical oversight, and deployment policies. Teams must demonstrate that they meet the program\u2019s minimum requirements and agree to follow the standards outlined in the accreditation policy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The application is available on the Virginia CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program webpage. If you have questions about eligibility or need assistance getting started, contact the CISM and Peer Support Accreditation Program Manager at OEMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>What happens if a team becomes inactive or no longer meets the requirements?<\/strong> Accredited teams are expected to remain active and in compliance with the program requirements. If a team becomes inactive, fails to maintain required training or documentation, or no longer meets the minimum standards, the Office of EMS may place the team on inactive status or revoke accreditation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Teams may also choose to voluntarily withdraw from the program if they no longer wish to maintain accredited status. In either case, teams are expected to notify OEMS promptly and provide updated documentation as requested.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On a daily basis, EMS providers experience some of life&#8217;s most tragic and difficult events. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a vital component of mitigating the effects of traumatic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":599,"featured_media":0,"parent":218,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14919","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Critical Incident Stress Management - Peer Support - Emergency Medical Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/emergency-medical-services\/chatr\/critical-incident-stress-management\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Critical Incident Stress Management - Peer Support - Emergency Medical Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On a daily basis, EMS providers experience some of life&#039;s most tragic and difficult events. 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