Training and Development
NFA takes pride in offering an extensive and dynamic training menu that covers a broad spectrum of topics essential to the well-being and effectiveness of first responders. From mental health awareness and resilience building to crisis intervention and leadership development, our menu is rich with offerings that cater to the diverse needs of your agency. Below is a highlight on some of our most sought out trainings:
The NFA Way
Your team deserves nothing but the best. NFA’s training methodologies are meticulously crafted based on industry-best practices. Our commitment to staying abreast of the latest research and advancements ensures that your agency receives training that reflects the cutting edge of the field.
Trauma-informed training goes beyond awareness; it actively seeks to build resilience. NFA’s programs empower first responders with practical strategies to enhance their resilience in the face of trauma-related stressors. By fostering a proactive and supportive environment, our training becomes a catalyst for personal and collective well-being.
Crisis Intervention Training
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is a crucial component in equipping law enforcement personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to handle mental health crises effectively. CIT training elevates law enforcement professionalism by providing officers with valuable skills for diverse situations. It contributes to the ongoing professional development of officers, ensuring they are well-rounded and capable of handling the complex challenges they may encounter in their roles.
First Responders frequently encounter individuals in the midst of a crisis related to mental health. At NFA, our Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) curriculum aims to equip First Responders (police, fire, EMS, co-responders, dispatch/communications) with knowledge, skills, abilities, and resources necessary to:
- Achieve situational de-escalation
- Enhance safety and cooperation between First Responders and community members
- Empower those experiencing crisis to access community resources available to them
- Prioritize First Responder mental health, wellness, and resilience
NFA’s CIT training provides first responders with specialized tools to navigate encounters with individuals experiencing mental health crises. It emphasizes de-escalation techniques, communication strategies, and a deeper understanding of mental health issues, ensuring officers can respond appropriately and compassionately in high-stress situations.
Rooted in evidence-based practices, NFA’s CIT training aligns with the latest advancements in the field of crisis intervention and mental health response. Agencies can trust that the training content is not only informed by established best practices but also incorporates cutting-edge insights, keeping responders at the forefront of industry standards.
We collaborate with agencies in developing and implementing CIT training courses to ensure that the curriculum presented meets all POST requirements. For agencies with established CIT programs, we offer a range of interactive classroom-based courses on mental health to meet the agency’s curriculum needs and learning styles. These course areas include, but are not limited to:
This course teaches First Responders strategies to enhance and maintain psychological wellbeing throughout their careers.
This course provides techniques and suggestions for interventions when encountering someone with a mental health condition and emphasizes techniques for establishing rapport with any person a First Responder encounters.
This course provides an overview of various mental health conditions and symptom presentations. The purpose of this course is to help First Responders identify and effectively interact with individuals facing these circumstances.
This course familiarizes First Responders with signs and symptoms of acute and chronic use of a variety of substances and discusses effective intervention strategies for individuals under the influence of substances.
This course helps First Responders detect and intervene with suicidal individuals and those who pose suicidal risk. Additionally, this course offers suggestions for suicide-by-cop (or suicide-by-proxy) scenarios.
This course focuses on understanding common issues faced by Veterans in the community and offers suggestions for gaining rapport with and connecting Veterans to resources in their communities.
This course highlights common causes of and symptoms of TBI and equips First Responders with strategies and resources to assist individuals with a history of TBI.
Additionally, we are happy to assist training programs in Scenario Coaching to further enhance and develop skills and intervention strategies learned during our classroom-based courses.
For agencies looking to launch a CIT training program, we offer one-time or ongoing consultation services to help ensure your training program meets federal, state, and/or local requirements for POST certification and that it meets the needs of your employees.
Peer Support
The NFA peer support model is not just a training program; it’s a model of excellence that sets the standard for peer support teams. Our commitment to empowering individuals and organizations extends across every phase of mental health support. Whether you are embarking on team development, seeking fundamental peer support training, or looking for advanced training, NFA is your dedicated partner, offering a spectrum of expertise to meet your unique needs.
Develop A Strong Support Network
The function of a peer support program is to establish a network of members within an agency or organization who assist fellow employees in developing and maintaining psychological wellbeing and resilience. Peer support teams can vary in their function from critical incident response to peer counseling and can also assist in connecting colleagues to relevant resources within or outside of the agency or organization.
Members of a peer support team should receive specialized training in a variety of areas designed to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively function in their various roles. NFA offers unparalleled peer support training curriculum built on industry standards, scientific data, and decades of staff experience. We offer a variety of training packages that help agencies and organizations develop, launch, and enhance their peer support service provision. See below for descriptions of some peer support training areas taught by our staff:
Level 1 Team Development
Introducing our comprehensive training program tailored for agency/organization supervisors aiming to launch a robust peer support program. This program equips participants with vital knowledge in legal and ethical considerations, establishing organizational structure, personnel selection strategies, policy considerations, and more. This training ensures a smooth and effective launch of peer support initiatives within agencies, fostering a supportive and resilient organizational culture.
This training program is designed to assist agency/organization supervisors in launching their peer support program. Participants will learn about legal/ethical considerations, organizational structure, personnel selection, policy considerations, and more.
This curriculum is part of our Basic Peer Support class and helps employees familiarize themselves with their role as a Peer Supporter. Topics covered include agency-specific challenges, ethics/confidentiality, role clarification, and more.
Level 2 Basic Peer Support Training
A comprehensive fundamentals course meticulously crafted to prepare responders for their crucial role as peer supporters. This training is designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge needed to provide meaningful assistance and foster a culture of support within their communities.
This training program is designed to assist agency/organization supervisors in launching their peer support program. Participants will learn about legal/ethical considerations, organizational structure, personnel selection, policy considerations, and more.
This curriculum is part of our Basic Peer Support class and helps employees familiarize themselves with their role as a Peer Supporter. Topics covered include agency-specific challenges, ethics/confidentiality, role clarification, and more.
This curriculum is part of our Basic Peer Support class and helps Peer Supporters develop their role in promoting best practices around health and wellness outside of the traditional peer-to-peer counseling role.
This curriculum is part of our Basic Peer Support class and trains Peer Supporters in the fundamentals of assessing and assisting with common mental health conditions faced by First Responders. This curriculum also helps foster the development of the necessary skills to be an effective communicator and peer counselor.
This curriculum is part of our Basic Peer Support class and focuses on the unique challenges associated with traumatic exposure incident. Participants learn how to differentiate between stress and traumatic stress and develop strategies to help fellow First Responders in the areas of prevention, mitigation, and recovery.
Level 3 Advanced Peer Support Training
Taking peer support to the next level requires a deep understanding of nuanced challenges and advanced techniques. NFA excels in providing advanced training that delves into complex scenarios and specialized skills.
We offer a variety of advanced peer support training classes that are based on current events, best practices, and agency trends and needs. These classes are designed to meet the specific needs of our partner agencies/organizations and can enhance the professional development and expertise of existing peer support team members.
Consultation
NFA’s Peer Support Consultation is uniquely focused on providing clinical oversight to enhance service delivery. Our dedicated psychologist becomes an integral part of your peer support team, consistently participating in meetings to offer expert guidance, continuing training, and personalized support. The goal is to elevate the quality of peer support services by ensuring adherence to best practices and ethical standards. Our psychologist conducts case consultations, addressing specific challenges faced by peer supporters, and collaboratively develops strategies based on clinical insights. This program also includes individualized support for team members, prioritizing their well-being. NFA’s Peer Support Consultation is a tailored approach to ongoing improvement, fostering a culture of excellence within your peer support team.
Additional Trainings and Workshops
Stay Ahead of the Game
NFA offers dozens of trainings and workshops to our partners with the goal of ensuring each agency/organization is equipping their employees with the most up-to-date information and guidance to meet their unique needs. We work with agencies to provide academy, in-service, and a la carte trainings/workshops that can be customized and scheduled on-site or virtually. See below for a sample of our most popular courses, and please reach out to us with inquiries about additional opportunities:
This course teaches individuals about the various domains of wellbeing and resilience and offers tips and strategies to help individuals maintain and improve health in these areas.
This set of courses educates individuals and organizations on the warning signs of targeted violence across a variety of settings (schools, businesses, etc.) and suggests intervention plans to address and mitigate such threats.
We offer a variety of courses that discuss all aspects of physical and mental performance and help individuals to build and utilize skills to maximize their operational effectiveness.
This course helps individuals identify and navigate the sleep-related issues of shift work as well as teaches best practices around general sleep health.
This course educates participants on the unique psychological aspects of responding to disasters and mass casualty events and suggests protocols for optimizing resilience and recovery from such events.
This course helps individuals of all backgrounds prepare and plan for the psychological challenges of retirement and assists individuals in maximizing quality of post-career life.
Please note: All courses included in our CIT and Peer Support packages can also be taught as a la carte trainings/workshops.
NFA Core Values
Competency
NFA stands as a trusted partner for agencies invested in the overall well-being of their personnel. Agencies that choose NFA for training services benefit from a legacy of expertise, a tailored approach, and a commitment to ongoing excellence.
Credibility
NFA’s holistic understanding of responder challenges, coupled with a dedication to evidence-based practices, positions it as a premier choice for agencies seeking to elevate your team’s knowledge and skills.
Contact us today
Please contact us if you have questions regarding a training topic that you would like to see implemented at your organization even if it is not listed, we are happy to create a training program in collaboration with your organizations needs. Contact us at: info@nicolettiflater.com or call 303-989-1617.