LERPS - First Responder Resiliency and Peer Support Course - This 40-hour course will allow attendees to learn how to serve as a peer supporter, conduct individual psychological debriefings, make appropriate referrals for peers and their family members to enhance human resiliency. Special emphasis on how to recognize the emotional, physiological aspects of stress and its effects on agency personnel. You will gain an understanding of a variety of mental health issues as well as factors involved in first responder suicide and drug and alcohol abuse. You will learn the elements of effective communication and how to apply active listening skills. We’ll also teach you how to conduct a variety of critical incident and psychological debriefings as well as how to set-up and manage peer support programs.

Audience may include first responders, administrators, police, emergency services personnel, fire fighters, chaplains, corrections, probation, parole and dispatchers.