Pictured at the Stress First Aid course were (in no particular order) John Rispoli, Alexander West, Blake Starner, Rafael Santiago, Jordan Orayfig, Kimberly Collier, Brenda Gausby, Gina Santorelli, Danielle Schwarz, Beth Alter, Antony Tseng, Thomas Briggs, Jill Hubert-Simon, Andrew O'Meara, Aubrey Russo, Ann Bivins, Cheryl Crumley, Brian Kelting, Josef Haas, Albert Babcock, Camille O’Brien, Jessica Merck, Katie Oldakowski, Jessica Viscome, Keith Brandis, Jonathan Magyar, Timothy Ellis, Aaron Wizwer, Philip Schoppmann, Luci Labriola-Cuffe, Tim Graves, Jill Holland and instructors Frank Leto, Vicki Taylor and Kelly Tappenbeck.
Swan Lake, NY – The Sullivan County Division of Public Safety proudly hosted a two-day Stress First Aid (SFA) “Train the Trainer” course, delivered by the First Responder Center for Excellence.
More than 20 attendees from across New York State participated in the training, representing fire, EMS, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, and other public safety and health disciplines. Involved agencies included the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control, NYS Office of Mental Health, SUNY New Paltz’s Institute for Disaster Mental Health, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Sullivan County Public Health, and the County’s Public Safety Health and Wellness team.
Public Safety Health and Wellness Coordinator Jill Holland emphasized the value of the program, stating, “This course equips participants with the skills to implement the Stress First Aid model for people experiencing stress or crisis. Upon completion, attendees receive full access to all training materials needed to deliver SFA Awareness Training within their own agencies. The class helps participants better understand the needs of individuals affected by stress, learn strategies to manage their own stress, strengthen peer support skills, build peer support and behavioral health programs, and develop the tools necessary to implement the SFA model with individuals in crisis.”
Sullivan County continues to prioritize responder wellness and is committed to offering training that strengthens the health, resilience, and support systems of emergency service personnel across the region.
