WELCOME TO MCRA

COMMITTED TO TRAINING & SUPPORTING CISM TEAMS

The Michigan Crisis Response Association (MCRA) is a cooperative effort of crisis response teams throughout the State of Michigan.  There are approximately 56 registered teams in Michigan whose membership is comprised of individuals from law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, hospital staff, clergy, educators, and mental health professionals.  MCRA and the annual conference provide training for individuals and team members, further development of new teams, and provide support for established teams.  MCRA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

A MESSAGE FROM MCRA

It is vitally important during this difficult time that CISM teams continue to be available and ready to respond when called. The way this response looks may change significantly.  We want everyone to know that MCRA is still 'open for business' and available to assist when needed.

As we navigate our way through this COVID-19 Pandemic, we are certain our services will be necessary at some time in the near future, possibly on a scale that we may not be accustomed to.  Certainly some geographic regions will be hit much harder than others.  Like other aspects relative to this virus, if we provide an early response we believe our chances to get ahead of this will be much better.  One of the ways to provide immediate services is to connect with the local agencies you would commonly work with and provide them with educational literature on coping with stress, resiliency and grief.  Also just by making contact with them, it gives them a sense of security, knowing that your team is still out there willing to help in these uncertain times.

We would like our teams to be prepared for the most efficient and minimal exposures we can anticipate. T he CISM services we provide may look different than what we are accustomed to doing.  Some of the ways to provide these services may be done by tele-cism, or by using programs such as Zoom, Skype, Go to Meeting or any of the other electronic video / voice communication methods.  If we can be proactive and be involved with our local Emergency Management Teams to offer our services for Crisis Management Briefings (via the media) and utilize more One on One interventions, we may decrease our need to offer Defusings and Debriefings, thus reducing our risk for exposures.

CMB's and One on One's may be done virtually.  We are putting together some information to help with that.  In the meantime, here is information from the CDC about Mental Health and Coping.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

As more information becomes available we will pass this on to you, so standby for additional ways, means and techniques we may work with, to utilize our teams in the safest manner possible, while providing the our services to the best of our abilities.

In closing, please do your best to stay healthy, practice your mindfulness, resiliency and self-care techniques. 

MCRA'S MISSION STATEMENT

MCRA's mission is to promote, facilitate, and support the activities, operations, and training of agencies and response teams that are involved in critical incident stress management.

To fulfill this mission the MCRA will: 

·         Assist communities in identifying groups that are at risk of experiencing traumatic stress.

·         Develop training for service providers who would reach out to traumatized groups.

·         Assist communities in developing crisis response plans.

·         Provide support to local resources.

·         Maintain contact with local crisis response teams throughout Michigan. 

MCRA will accomplish this mission in a manner which respects the autonomy of each community and the need for each community to be in control of its own recovery.

For a copy of MCRA's Brochure, click here.

MICHIGAN CISM SENATE BILL

The First Responder Privileged Communication Bill (SB 444) was passed unanimously on February 9, 2016 and was signed into law by Governor Snyder on Tuesday, March 22, 2016!

This legislation legally protects the confidentiality of first responders receiving CISM services from CISM teams.  It also protects the CISM peers/team members that are assisting first responders.  Click her to download/view Senate Bill 444.