Continue your education as a trained peer by completing the new IAFF Disaster Response Peer Support Training. This training is available online at no cost.
The Disaster Response Peer Support training, which was developed as a result of more frequent and more severe natural and man-made disasters, provides trained peers with information on how disasters contribute to behavioral health problems and how to provide assistance.
Participants will learn the importance of promoting five key concepts: safety, calming, efficacy, connectedness and hope.
On completion of the training, students will be able to:
- Describe how disasters can contribute to behavioral health problems.
- Identify how peer support after a disaster is different than a typical peer support call or activity.
- List the multiple roles involved in providing peer support at a disaster area.
- Apply five principles to guide all disaster response.
- Identify self-care activities for before, during and after serving in a disaster area.
- List available IAFF resources for disaster relief.
Students must first successfully complete the online Behavioral Health Awareness course and the two-day, in-person IAFF Peer Support Training. For more information, including instructions for how to access the course, visit the Advanced Peer Support Training webpage.
Note: This training was developed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It teaches skills that are broadly applicable but does not include specific content on peer support during pandemics. Peer support and other behavioral health resources related to COVID-19 are available here.