Spiritual Wellness for First Responders

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Description:

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is pleased to offer the class, “Spiritual Wellness for First Responders.”

First responders may have a higher need for spiritual wellness in their lives due to their exposure to difficult crises, tragedies, and high-stress scenarios. First responders such as firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, and corrections officers are often at very high risk of developing and experiencing posttraumatic stress disorders and substance abuse disorders. First responders also may struggle with dealing with violent acts, pressures around heroism, and lack of support from friends and family, all of which compound their stress as well as their needs for spiritual well-being. This day-long workshop will address the need to understand and enhance the spiritual wellness of first responders.

Topics to be addressed:

• Recognizing the signs of professional burnout and vicarious trauma, as well as the documented hazards on wellness, including spiritual wellness, among first responders.
• Understanding assessment results related to their spiritual wellness and resilience levels.
• Learn the components of spiritual wellness and articulate connections among the various components.
• Learn the skills to demonstrate evidence-based mindfulness techniques associated with spiritual wellness, including mindful breathing, the body scan, mindful emotion management, and mindful decision-making via RAD (recognize, accept, decide).
• Identifying rituals consistent with their own cultural, ethical, spiritual, and/or religious values that can enhance spiritual wellness.
• Develop a custom wellness plan with spiritual wellness at the center and several strategies documented to support spiritual wellness.

Who should attend?

This training is open to all first responder groups, including but not limited to, law enforcement, fire/EMS, EMTs, dispatchers and corrections. Additionally, retired first responders as well as civilian peer support and mental health clinicians who are culturally competent in first responder wellness are encouraged to attend.

Partial In-service Credit:

Partial In-service Credit (PIC) for Virginia law enforcement officers will be available.

Travel, Lodging, and Meals:

Participants are responsible for their transportation and lodging arrangements and expenses.

Cost and Registration:

There is no cost to attend this training. Pre-registration is required.

Training Time and Details:

Check-in will begin at 7:45 a.m., and the course will be held from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Please note that the DCJS registration system does not have the capacity to sort eligible from ineligible registrants. Therefore, anyone who registers will receive a confirmation. It is the responsibility of the DCJS-assigned course director to review the roster and make a final determination on acceptance into the course. Registrants not accepted will be notified via the email address provided during registration.