Conference Presentations
Wellness on the Front Line™ 2022
October 18-21, 2022 in San Diego, California
Correctional Work; the Importance of Empathy and Connection
Alyssa Aguilar, Psy.D., California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Correctional work, although similar to other law enforcement work, has specific nuisances that not only set it apart but creates additional barriers to seeking and asking for support. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has in recent years encompassed new and different approaches to overcoming support seeking barriers and create healthy, empowered pathways to support. Through compassion, connection and authenticity, CDCR’s Office of Employee Wellness has created structured programs, resources and connective avenues to enhance staff’s wellness. Understanding that empathy is at the core of all human connection, OEW has embodied empathetic practices and incorporated fundamental empathetic support as the heart of peer support.
Peer Support Legal Updates
Mary Ashley, Deputy District Attorney, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office
The participants will learn about the new wellness initiative that the government recently passed. She will also do an evaluation of AB1116, AB1117 & SB542.
Stressed Out! Working in Corrections
1st Lt. Gary F. Cornelius, Ret. Fairfax County, Virginia Office of the Sheriff
Officers in our nation’s jails, prisons and juvenile facilities work short-staffed, deal with COVID-19, are subject to mandatory overtime, encounter gangs, mentally ill inmates and whatever type of offender who enters booking. Some correctional officers are injured-sometimes fatally. Our families and loved ones bear the brunt of the stress we go through. The job will take a toll on you-if you let it. 1st Lt. Gary F. Cornelius (Ret.) will discuss the research from the third edition of his upcoming book, Stressed Out: Strategies for Living and Working in Corrections. Included in this presentation are frank discussions of burnout, trauma, supervising staff under stress and exercising emotional intelligence. As a jail veteran, he will discuss how staff (sworn and non-sworn), families and supervisors all must work together to manage stress-and strive to retire.
Moral Injury and Its Impact on First Responders/Military
Kim Evans, M.A., The Counseling Team International (TCTI)
A Moral injury is the psychological, behavioral, social, and sometimes spiritual aftermath of exposure to traumatic events, betrayals of leadership, and acts that contradict who we believe ourselves to be. In this session, Kim will discuss the importance of self-awareness and moral injury, how it can contribute to issues of infidelity, alcohol abuse, anger and depression, and ways to effectively use coping tools to provide support, mitigate the impact and ultimately rise from the ashes.
Panel Discussion on Strategies and Critical Updates on PTSD Claims: What Public Safety Officers will need to know when Navigating through the Workers’ Compensation System
John A Ferrone, Esq., & Earl Dove, Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone, Gina Gallivan, Ph.D., ABPP & Associates, Deanna Dotta, Dispatcher, San Diego Police Department
The panel discussion will combine experts from the legal and medical communities to collaborate on important strategies for Safety Officers facing PTSD claims and entering the worker’s compensation system. The training will also provide critical updates on PTSD, the Presumption, the ADR- Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs, Return to Work, 4850 benefits, the delays, and solutions in getting medical treatment.
Emotional Survival
Kevin Gilmartin, Ph.D., Author and Motivational Speaker
This presentation is designed to assist law enforcement professionals by the development of behavioral strategies to inoculate against loss of idealism and inappropriate behavior patterns. It will review the short and long-term effects on law enforcement officers on both the personal and professional aspects of their lives. The course will discuss how the initial enthusiasm and desire to professionally contribute can be transformed into negative cynicism, social distrust and hostility to the world at large that significantly impacts the professionals work performance decision-making and ultimately over-all quality of life. The course will also review the impact on the children of law enforcement families in terms of school functioning and health. The goal of the course is to have the law enforcement professional review the potential impact the career causes in the personal life and to develop strategies for overall emotional survival. The strategies are designed to permit the professional to continue functioning effectively and ethically without “burning-out” and without resorting to emotional isolation from friends and colleagues.
Never Give Up
James “Chappie” Hunter, Detective, San Diego Police Department
The class will show Chappie’s journey through a physically traumatic event and the emotional aftermath. Presenter will dive into various depths of phantom pain, addiction to prescription medication, and thoughts of suicide. Only to find three lifesavers along the way who guided him out of depression and gave him the ability to not only return to Full Duty, but become a better man, husband, and father. The Presenter will have his wife and son in attendance.
National Peer Support Trends
Jim Hyde, President, Peer Support Central and Susan Feenstra, Sergeant, Sacramento Police Department
A three-year study of the challenges facing today’s peer supporter’s and the strategies to meet our first responder community’s growing needs.
Surviving the Darkness
Ashley Iverson, Executive Director, IFAA
“During “Surviving the Darkness”, Ashley Iverson boldly discusses her mental health journey before and during as a fire spouse. Ashley’s story is heart wrenching and powerful, while simultaneously leaving listeners feeling sad and encouraged to see the light within the darkness. Ashley intimately walks listeners through her experience since losing her husband Cory and how it has impacted her life, ultimately for the better. She not only inspires but also gives listeners take-aways that have the power to change your life.”
The Impact of Long Term Trauma: An Officer’s Perspective
Justin Krueger, Lt.., Long Beach Police Department
After being hired Justin adopted a strategy to manage the pressures surrounding this profession, but after several traumatic events this strategy failed. He was only half way through his career and found himself questioning if he could go on. At about the same time, his department experienced the first of four suicides they would face over the next four years. This presentation will show how his original strategy failed, and caused him to connect with resources that helped build proper stress management methods. These methods not only allowed him to recover, but also aid others as they faced several difficult challenges in the department.
How to Bring “Pawsitivity” to Your Department: Starting a Therapy Dog Program at a Public Safety Agency
Darrin Lee, Lieutenant, Anaheim Police Department & Therapy Dog Charlie & Kane Johnson, Engineer, Huntington Beach Fire Department & Peer Support Dog Kingman
Huntington Beach Fire Department Engineer Kane Johnson and Anaheim Police Lieutenant Darrin Lee will explain how to start a therapy dog program in a public safety agency. Topics will include the selection, training, certification and various uses for therapy dogs within a peer support program. Students will also meet Peer Support Dog Kingman, a three-year-old Labrador retriever-husky mix, and Therapy Dog Charlie, a three-year-old golden doodle.
Lessons Learned Over Fifty Years of CISM
Jeffrey Mitchell, Ph.D., CCISM
Peer support programs for law enforcement personnel were experimented with in the 1960’s. Fire, EMS, rescue, and the military peer support programs were established in the early 1970’s. Businesses and industries, including railroads and aviation systems, school systems and other organizations followed in the 1980’s and 90’s.
There are many valuable lessons learned from these pioneering support programs. Year by year, improvements have been made and research has confirmed the effectiveness of peer support. Careers and relationships have been saved and suicides have been prevented. Today, emergency services personnel, as well as others in many different professions, live healthier and happier lives as a result of their peer support colleagues. They truly make a difference in the lives of others.
High Risk and Threat Issues: What is My Role?
Kris Mohandie, Ph.D.
The participants will learn what to do when a co-worker expresses a level of anger that is concerning. The signs of a co-worker possibly committing a violent act will be discussed.
The True Story of Pablo Escobar Decision Making in Extreme Conditions
Stephen Murphy, Special Agent in Charge (retired), Drug Enforcement Administration
These former DEA Special Agents in Charge responsible for the capture and downfall of infamous Medellín cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar, Stephen Murphy and Javier Peña were at the center of the largest, most complex, multi-national, high-profile investigation of its time. Their incredible journey pursuing the world’s first “narco-terrorist” following his brutal reign as head of the Medellin cartel in the 1980’s and early 1990’s is depicted in the Golden Globe-nominated Netflix series Narcos.
In a riveting program, Murphy and Peña recount their gripping pursuit of Pablo Escobar while delivering practical and oftentimes unorthodox advice on achieving successful outcomes in the face of extreme odds.
These celebrated law enforcement officers take audiences deep into the history books as they reveal inside stories from a good-versus-evil battle that seems too wild to be true. Along the way, they share the lessons they learned on effective leadership, teamwork and split-second decision making amid extreme circumstances.
The Sierra Incident and the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Peer Support Response
Scott Ross, Captain, Los Angeles County Fire Department, PSPSA Vice President and Steve Froehlich, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Health Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department
On June 1, 2021 Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Peer Support Team responded to a shooting, which occurred within Los Angeles County FS 81, leaving one firefighter murdered and a second seriously wounded. It ultimately ended in a fire fighter committing suicide.
PTSD-Prevention and Treatment Strategies
Debbie Silveria, Ph.D., The Counseling Team International (TCTI)
Learn Prevention Strategies, Evidence Based as well as CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) Treatments for PTSD. Trauma Focused CBT, EMDR, Brain Spotting, Ketamine, Neurofeedback, Medications, The “God Shot”(Stellate Ganglion Block), and Mind-Body Medicine Therapies are among those treatments that will be explored.
Meditation Training for First Responders
Jeff Takeda, Detective, Simi Valley Police Department
This presentation will provide attendees with an understanding of evidence-based meditation training and how it can benefit first responders. In addition, the positive affect of meditation on performance under stress will be discussed. Attendees will complete at least one meditation exercise and have their own direct experience. They will have the opportunity to ask questions after each exercise to further their understanding. Finally, best practices for starting a personal practice regimen will be discussed.
If you would like to review information covering previous conferences, visit our Training Calendar archive section.