International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Rick Barton, ICISF CEO
We suffered a near-death experience in the Spring of 2020. Three decades of life were crashing down like a helpless tree under a powerful storm. COVID 19 forced a shut down of in-person events, including the fundamental programs of the ICISF. Within months the shutdown would evaporate the reserves of this small non-profit that leads an international movement. Life gradually drained from the ICISF.
Gradually, with thoughtful planning, the ICISF shifted to remote technology. First, by working remotely, and then creating video resources to help people understand life in isolation. Next, we created new asynchronous online courses, including the most core programs of the ICISF. Meanwhile, we explored new horizons finding a way to deliver live training programs using technology.
Technology did not present the greatest obstacle. The largest challenge lay in prevailing opinion, the gauntlet of resistance to change. CISM training must be delivered in person, or so everyone believed. This rose partly from a lack of understanding of the capabilities of remote technology programs such as Zoom and Google, and partly from a preferred strategy to wait for better times. At the ICISF, we recognized that the timeline for a vaccinated public stretched many months into the future. We either would embrace and deploy remote virtual technology or the ICISF and CISM leadership would likely fade into dust.
Weeks of successful virtual programs enabled the decision to deliver the World Congress as an entirely online event. That decision had to occur far in advance, to allow for adequate planning time. We forecasted that the world would still remain largely masked and unwilling to travel to the World Congress. The entire enterprise was a gamble, but certainly a measured risk. The gamble delivered an event that featured excellent content and extensive opportunity for people to connect and share.
Now the world is ready to resume in-person programs. Or perhaps not. The convenience of virtual delivery, the cost saving of not traveling, and apparent acceptable quality now presents an alternative to in-person CISM courses. Do we still believe that CISM training is best delivered in-person? Perhaps a good problem to have, this decision about the future role of virtual ICISF programs.
Decisions reside in the coming weeks, and likely amount to a new menu of service. As written by Bob Dylan, we want to “use ideas as our maps”. Remote virtual programs must evolve and improve in order to remain part of the ICISF. We expect that to happen, thus creating a future that includes a combination of virtual and in-person services. We need to know your preferences and desires. These decisions must include constructive suggestions.
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International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)3 Non Profit