FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from May 14.
The Franklin County Commissioners today announced the launch of a new program aimed at helping County employees overcome stressors they may encounter on the job or in their personal lives.
The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team is an internal confidential support group of trained County staff who offer debriefing services and “emotional first aid” to individual employees or groups of employees after they experience or witness some type of difficult event or upsetting situation.
“We know that some of our employees, through their positions with the county, are sometimes exposed to incredibly difficult situations,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst via a press release. “Being involved in those types of situations at any level can have an impact on one’s mental health, and we want to make sure our employees have a safe space to talk and that they have access to resources to cope and process what they’re experiencing.”
Some examples of these incidents could include a telecommunicator who answers a 911 call with a tragic end, a children and youth caseworker who encounters a severe case of neglect during a home visit or an employee who witnesses a fatal car crash on the way to work.
CISM team members participated in an extensive three-day training to prepare for their new roles, the Commissioners said. During the training, team members learned about communication techniques, group and individual crisis intervention strategies, stress management and when follow-up services or referrals might be necessary, among other topics and techniques.
The program officially begins on July 1. Employees in need can receive support services by calling a non-emergency number or by emailing the CISM team email.