International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

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International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. To learn more, visit our website at www.icisf.org.
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ICISF provides support and information about disaster behavioral health to the emergency response professions, other organizations, and communities throughout the world. (ICISF) is a not for profit, 501(c)3 organization and our mission is to be the leader in providing education, training, consultation, and support services in comprehensive crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to emergency responders, and other professions, organizations and communities worldwide. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a method of helping first responders and others who have been involved in critical incidents that leave them emotionally and/or physically affected by those incidents. CISM is a process that enables peers to help their peers understand problems that might occur after a crises. This process also helps individuals prepare to continue to perform their services or in some cases return to a normal lifestyle. ICISF provides CISM education, training and resources for individuals interested in becoming part of a crisis management team, or for an organization/profession that is dedicated to helping individuals or groups recover from a crises.

02/13/2026

Stress compresses time.

People react before they fully process what they heard.

In those moments, communication needs to be simple, direct, and steady.

Tactical communication focuses on pacing, tone, and clear expectations so your message is understood, not resisted.

You are guiding behavior while also lowering emotional intensity. Learn the skills to do so at our upcoming virtual trainings:�

👉March 10-11: Strategic Response to Crisis
👉March 12-13: Law Enforcement Perspectives for CISM Enhancement
�👉March 18-20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention

Learn more + register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

______

02/12/2026

Repeated exposure to crisis leaves a mark. 🩹�

Over time, repeated activation of stress responses may influence sleep, mood, concentration, and emotional regulation. ��

Understanding how cumulative exposure works is a critical step toward protecting long-term health and sustaining performance in high-demand roles.

Understand the cost of the work + learn tools to sustain yourself at our upcoming training:
�
👉March 12-13: Law Enforcement Perspectives for CISM Enhancement
👉March 17: Foundations of Grief for First Responders
👉March 18-20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention

Learn more + register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/11/2026

Crisis response is rarely an individual effort. 🧍�

It’s a group process.�

In high-stress situations, group dynamics shape communication, decision-making, and emotional tone.

When teams understand how stress influences behavior, roles, and interaction, they can reduce friction, coordinate more effectively, and respond with greater clarity and safety.

Learn how to manage group dynamics and strengthen team-based crisis response: �
👉March 10-11: Strategic Response to Crisis
👉March 18-20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention��

Learn more + register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/10/2026

The worst time to build a plan is during a crisis.🚨

Strategic crisis planning helps teams clarify roles, anticipate pressure points, and align interventions before stress narrows decision-making.

It’s not about predicting every scenario. ��More so, about preparing people, systems, and strategies to adapt when the unexpected occurs.

Strengthen your crisis planning at our upcoming virtual trainings: �
👉March 10-11: Strategic Response to Crisis
👉March 18-20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention

�Learn more + register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/09/2026

Disasters change everything, all at once.�

Shock. Loss. Disorientation. Community-wide impact.

Disasters: Psychological Elements and Operational Guidelines helps responders understand the psychological realities of large-scale disasters and provides practical guidance for supporting people and communities in the aftermath.

Strengthen your disaster response; grab your copy at cismbookstore.com

02/08/2026

When the scene is still raw—and the adrenaline hasn’t worn off yet—stabilization matters.

For crisis responders working 24-hour shifts, there isn’t always time to “come back later” and process what you’ve just seen. You’re expected to regain control, help others function, and keep moving—often after witnessing scenes most people never will.

Immediate Crisis Stabilization is about doing the right things in the moment:
📌 Reducing overwhelming psychological intensity
📌 Restoring basic functioning after a critical incident
📌 Supporting others and protecting your own mental health
📌 Laying the groundwork for recovery before, during, and after the call

Our ICISF-aligned courses are built for real-world responders—not textbooks or theory, but practical tools you can use on shift, at the scene, and back at the station.

Upcoming Immediate Crisis Stabilization Training:
📅 March 12–13: Law Enforcement Perspectives for CISM Enhancement
📅 March 18–20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention
📅 March 19–20: Pastoral Crisis Intervention

You don’t get to choose when the crisis hits—but you can choose to be prepared for it.

Train for the moments that matter most. https://icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/07/2026

ICISF Strategic Partner Highlight 🤝
First responders don’t get to choose what they’re exposed to—but they can choose how prepared and supported they are.

This upcoming First Responder Mental Health & Wellness Conference is designed for those who routinely face critical incidents, long shifts, and cumulative stress. Attendees can expect practical, real-world insight focused on:
• Strengthening resilience before the next call
• Managing operational stress during high-impact incidents
• Reducing long-term psychological strain and burnout
• Building peer and organizational cultures that support help-seeking
• Turning awareness into actionable wellness strategies that actually work on the job

This is about protecting the people behind the badge, uniform, and radio—so they can continue serving without carrying the weight alone.

👉 Learn more & register: https://www.1strc.org/upcoming-conferences

02/06/2026

Readiness is revealed when the plan meets pressure.

Operational readiness is built through preparation, repetition, and clear expectations before a crisis unfolds.

It helps teams respond with coordination, reduce hesitation, and apply the right actions when time, clarity, and margin for error are limited.

You do not rise to the occasion. You respond at the level of your preparation.

Prepare at our upcoming virtual trainings: �
👉March 10-11: Strategic Response to Crisis
👉March 12-13: Law Enforcement Perspectives for CISM Enhancement

�Learn more + register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/05/2026

When the call comes in, crisis responders don’t get a warm-up. You’re expected to step into chaos, stabilize the moment, and still carry it with you long after the scene clears.

Psychological First Aid gives responders a framework for exactly that—before, during, and after a crisis.

Built around immediate stabilization and the SAFER-R model, these skills help you support others and protect your own wellbeing when exposure is constant and shifts are long.

Psychological First Aid Aligned Training:
🔹 Feb. 24-26 | March 18-20: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention
🔹 Feb. 19-20: Advanced Assisting Individuals in Crisis

These courses don’t just teach theory—they prepare responders to show up grounded, communicate effectively in chaos, and recover after difficult calls.

Because resilience isn’t optional in this work—it’s essential. 💙 https://icisf.org/virtual-training/

02/04/2026

You walk into chaos so others don’t have to. But who’s got your back after the call?

📘 CISMbookstore.com is your go-to source for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) resources — designed by experts and peer support leaders for first responders, clinicians, and crisis teams.

🔥 What you’ll find:
✔️ Core CISM texts & practical guides
✔️ Quick reference cards for on-the-spot support
✔️ Evidence-based intervention strategies
✔️ Resilience-building tools grounded in real trauma work

Whether you’re new to peer support or leading the next CISM debrief — knowledge saves careers as much as courage saves lives.

👉 Arm yourself and your team with tools that build resilience, reduce stress, and strengthen mission-critical readiness: CISMbookstore.com 📚💪

02/03/2026

❓ In the middle of a call—after hours on duty and scenes you won’t forget—are you doing what actually helps, or just what you’ve always done?

👉 ICISF training meets responders where they are.
Our field-tested approaches support individuals, teams, and communities impacted by trauma—while also recognizing the toll that repeated exposure takes on those who respond.

ICISF education helps responders:
• Communicate effectively during high-stress, emotionally charged situations
• Support individuals and groups after critical incidents—not just during them
• Strengthen peer support and team-based responses in 24-hour work environments
• Recognize su***de risk, moral injury, and cumulative operational stress
• Build confidence for both immediate crisis response and long-term recovery

Because when the call ends, the impact doesn’t—and having the right tools matters.

Learn More: https://icisf.org/education-training/

02/02/2026

If you’re bleeding, you grab the first aid kit.��

When the injury is psychological, what’s your response?

Psychological first aid reduces emotional surge and helps you feel oriented and in control again.

Strengthen your crisis response approach at our upcoming virtual trainings:

👉Feb 16: Group Refreshers
👉Feb 19-20: Advanced Assisting Individuals in Crisis��
👉Feb 24-26: Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention

Learn more and register: icisf.org/virtual-training/

Address

3290 Pine Orchard Lane, Ste 106
Ellicott City, MD
21042

Website

http://www.icisf.org/, https://mailchi.mp/icisf.org/email-sign-up

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Our Story

The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF) is a not for profit, 501(c)3 organization and our mission is to provide leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services in comprehensive crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to the emergency response professions, other organizations, and communities worldwide.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a method of helping first responders and others who have been involved in critical incidents that leave them emotionally and/or physically affected by those incidents. CISM is a process that enables peers to help their peers understand problems that might occur after an event. This process also helps people prepare to continue to perform their services or in some cases return to a normal lifestyle.

ICISF provides training for individuals interested in becoming a part of a crisis management team, or for an organization that is dedicated to helping individuals or groups recover from incidents. To learn more, visit our website at www.icisf.org.