Assessment of the Law Enforcement Family Support Grant -- Vermont State Police

• NCJ Number: 189062
• Author(s): John Meyer Ed.D.; William Clements Ph.D.
• Date Published: December 1998
• Length: 48 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Institute for Law and Justice
• Corporate Author: Vermont Ctr for Justice Research
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Institute for Law and Justice; Vermont Ctr for Justice Research
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the methodology and findings of an evaluation of the Vermont State Police's Critical Incident Stress Management and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing training program for troopers, dispatchers, and their spouses or significant others.

Abstract

The evaluation's objectives were to assess the initial 5-day intensive On-Site Training Program, the follow-up training components, and the training outcomes for peers and families. The evaluation consisted of individual interviews, a review of program documentation, a written survey, and personal observation and participation in one monthly training session. The evaluation found that the 5-day intensive program at On-Site Academy was successfully completed, as were the monthly follow-up programs for the Peer Support Team, the State Police recruit training program, and the cycle training program for all Vermont State Police. The spousal training and the proposed 8-hour training program for all Vermont law enforcement agencies was not completed due to lack of time and resources. The outcomes on peers and families were not clear due to the involvement of only three spouses and significant others. The training schedule competed with ongoing family scheduling. This part of the program is being redesigned to accommodate family schedules. Various action items are being addressed either by the team at large or by the individual working committees, so as to ensure that the program becomes a viable self-supporting program. Infrastructure development meetings are scheduled during the next monthly training sessions, and the spousal training programs are being scheduled over a compressed period to accommodate family schedules. The Peer Support Teams are developing regional teams with mental health professionals. Supplemental funding is being requested to provide advanced training in critical incident stress management to the initial team and to continue the monthly training sessions. 3 tables and appended outline of the 5-day training program, list of participants, policy statement, questionnaire, and miscellaneous information and articles