ISSUES AND PRACTICES.pdf - The Counseling Team International

When an officer returns to work after discharge from a treatment program or leave of absence,Carr notifies Messier. Either Messier or Carr then asks a peer supporter in the returning officer'sfacility to keep an eye on the person.TrainingFamily Service Society trains new peer supporters, and Carr arranges for clinicians and otherexperts to provide bimonthly inservice training meetings for the peers at Butler Hospital. Carrand Messier provide inservice training annually to all officers to remind them of the program'sservices and pass out an updated list of additional resources. Carr also coordinates the bimonthlyinservice training for the DOC's crisis negotiation team.Early in the schedule of each academy class, John and Patricia Carr and Messier give a 1-hoursession addressing basic stress; a later session addresses traumatic stress. At family night at theend of the academy, they introduce the peer counselors and discuss the program with thegraduates and their families. However, Carr says,It can be difficult to convince recruits that stress will be an issue [for them]. It goes in one earand out the other. Also, the academy is training them to be lean, mean, fighting machines justwhen I'm trying to tell them it's OK to feel afraid and come for help. As a result, I put a peersupporter in front of them who is a member of the cell extraction team or a 199-pound maximumsecurity officer so the recruits can say to themselves, "That tactically trained person is a touchyfeelypeer?!" So, I sell people, not the program--people who can help.For further information, contact:John CarrDirector Family Service Society33 Summer Street Pawtucket,RI 02860 (401) 723-2124 fax(401) 723-0566Mark MessierCoordinatorStress Unit Rhode Island Department of CorrectionsCranston, RI 02920 (401) 462-5151in_line@unidial.comAdvantages and Drawbacks of Three ProgramOrganizational OptionsIn-house ProgramsAdvantages