About

Profile

MCRA follows the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) model developed by Dr. Jeffrey T. Mitchell. Mitchell and his colleagues have conceived a comprehensive and integrated response program designed to provide crisis intervention to those impacted by traumatic events. Called Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), it was originally termed Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), and referred solely to a structured 7-phase discussion of the traumatic event. It was the primary means to address trauma among first responders. Increasingly, the need for other and more comprehensive intervention strategies has been recognized. Additionally, special response methods for the traumatic events that effect community groups such as schools and neighborhoods have been developed. CISM interventions now help first responders and communities in a variety of ways and research has demonstrated the positive effect early intervention has on symptom reduction, length of recovery, and the ability to resume one's usual level of functioning.

Representation

MCRA's board members represent the 8 districts in the State of Michigan. See the map below (or click here) to determine which district your reside in;

MSP District Map

MCRA's History

The Michigan Crisis Response Association, originally founded as the Michigan Crisis Response Team, was created in 1988. MCRA was formed in response to the need for mental health support following critical incidents in our communities. Research and the experience gained from the response to the crash of Flight 255, and other less dramatic community crisis, have made it clear that first responders and community residents can be helped to manage their stress reactions following events such as these.

MCRA is a cooperative effort of response teams that include; personnel from law enforcement, fire services, social services, prosecutors, emergency medical teams and mental health agencies throughout Michigan.

The services provided by MCRA are based on the Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing/Management Model developed by Dr. Jeffrey T. Mitchell.

What is CISM?

As crises and disasters become epidemic, the need for effective crisis response capabilities becomes obvious. Crisis intervention programs are recommended and even mandated in a widevariety of community and occupational settings. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) represents a powerful, yet cost- effective approach to crisis response which unfortunately is often misrepresented and misunderstood.

What is CISM? CISM is a comprehensive, integrative, multi-component crisis intervention system. CISM is considered comprehensive because it consists of multiple crisis intervention components, which functionally span the entire temporal spectrum of a crisis. CISM interventions range from the pre-crisis phase through the acute crisis phase, and into the post-crisis phase. CISM is also considered comprehensive in that it consists of interventions which may be applied to individuals, small functional groups, large groups, families, organizations, and even communities....more