Members Assistance Programs Course Firefighter I Unit II Safety and Orientation Essential Question What is the purpose of a Members Assistance Program, and what incentive(s) does the local jurisdiction have to provide such a program to its employees? TEKS §130.299(c) (15)(F) Prior Student Learning Familiarity with the local jurisdiction’s Member Assistance Program Estimated Time 4 hours total Rationale The career of firefighting has inevitable, inherent stresses associated with it. These stresses can affect a firefighter’s job performance, work relationships, personal relationships, and health. Programs that deal with these issues and help manage employee stress also benefit the employer and the municipality that employs the firefighters. These programs reduce employee absenteeism, improve morale, and improve workplace safety. NFPA 1500 (Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program) requires that fire departments establish these programs to benefit both the employees and the employer. Objectives The student will be able to explain the components of a Members Assistance Program (MAP). Engage Have an open discussion with the students about what issues cause stress for firefighters. Some examples are work schedules, response types, pay, personal relationships, work relationships, and other issues that firefighters may need assistance managing. Ask the students, “What responses might firefighters have to these issues?” Some example responses are drug and alcohol dependence, extra-marital affairs, and depression. Use the Discussion Rubric for assessment. Key Points I. Members Assistance Programs (MAPs) A. Confidential counseling/referral services provided to employees and their eligible dependents 1. Eligible dependents normally include a) Spouses b) Common law spouses c) Children living with the employee, including foster children d) Elderly parents e) Boyfriends and girlfriends B. Often referred to as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) C. Normally prepaid by the employer D. Designed to help employees with problems that can affect all families at one time or another; these problems can also affect job performance unless they are treated promptly and professionally E. Assist with problems including, but not limited to 1. Alcohol and drug dependency 2. Personal and interpersonal problems 3. Marriage Difficulties 4. Stress 1 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. 5. Depression 6. Anxiety 7. Divorce 8. Financial problems 9. Emotional Health F. Give professional assistance to employees who need it (often by giving referrals) II. Wellness Programs A. Established to assist fire service personnel dealing or struggling with health-related problems including, but not limited to 1. Nutrition 2. Hypertension/High Blood Pressure 3. Smoking 4. Weight loss 5. Physical conditioning with access to counselors and or trainers B. These programs are often offered to the firefighter and their eligible dependents as listed above III. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) A. Often considered to be an integral part of a department’s MAP because of the purpose it serves B. Assists firefighters with managing the stress related to incident response 1. Because firefighters and victims are exposed to injuries that can be horrific and gruesome some method of reducing and dealing with stress must be available to reduce the impact of these incidents 2. Stress management should begin prior to situations where psychological or emotional stress can be anticipated. This can be done by a) Debriefing firefighters before they enter a seriously stressful scene so they may prepare themselves for what they might encounter b) Defusing fire service responders that may be working several shifts exposed to such conditions (recommended at the end of each shift) (1) A defusing session is an informal discussion with incident responders that (a) Addresses chemical and medical exposure information (b) Addresses damaged equipment and apparatus (c) Identifies any unsafe operating procedures that may have been used (2) At the defusing session (a) Information gathering responsibilities are 2 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. assigned in preparation of the post-incident analysis (b) Positive aspects of the incident are also identified and reinforced (c) Stress indicators are identified and initially dealt with c) Additionally, firefighters should participate in a full debriefing session within 72 hours of the incident C. Have qualified stress managers/counselors or incident personnel available as needed IV. Employer benefits of providing MAPs A. Reduce the impaired performance of personnel and return it to an acceptable level B. Decrease excessive absenteeism C. Reduce grievances D. Decrease inappropriate treatment E. Improve morale F. Increase workplace safety G. Enhance the family and workplace environment Activities Members Assistance Program Paper. Have students select a topic from the following list and then write a short paper describing how the issue is resolved in a MAP. Use the Writing Rubric for assessment. Alcohol dependency Personal problems Stress Depression Anxiety Divorce Financial problems Note: the following steps of the writing process are suggested: 1. Brainstorm the topic: students may participate in one-on-one, small group, or classroom discussions as they choose their topic 2. Pre-write: students will prepare to write by mapping, webbing, outlining, and/or word clustering, etc. 3. First draft: students should let their thoughts flow (revising, editing, and proofreading come later) 4. Peer response: students will give each other specific feedback; circulate around the room during this time, offering your own feedback 5. Second draft: using peer and teacher feedback, students will revise their first draft; the second draft should represent the students’ very best work, given everything they know about writing and the feedback they receive 3 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. 6. Scoring: score the second draft using Writing Rubric 7. Revision: using the written teacher feedback, students will revise the second draft, paying close attention to the rubric scoring; students will make changes suggested by the rubric grade and then turn in a final draft to the teacher Assessments Members Assistance Programs Quiz Discussion Rubric Research Rubric Writing Rubric Materials Members Assistance Programs computer-based presentation Copy of the local jurisdiction (Fire Department) Member Assistance Program Resources 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), 2008 1428339825, Firefighter's Handbook: Firefighter I and Firefighter II (1st Edition), Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008 El Paso Fire Department’s Members Assistance Program Accommodations for Learning Differences For reinforcement, the student will research how a fire service supervisor would refer an employee to a MAP for a drug addiction. The student must explain the process, including patient confidentiality, and describe the conditions that must be met before an employee could safely return to work. Use the Research Rubric for assessment. For reinforcement, students will select a counseling/referral service commonly offered by a fire service MAP and consider the potential consequences (for the fire service and the employee) if the program did not exist. Use the Writing Rubric for assessment. State Education Standards Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education §130.299. Firefighter I (One to Two Credits). (15) The student recognizes all aspects of the fire department organization. The student is expected to: (F) explain the components of a member assistance program. College and Career Readiness Standards English/Language Arts Standards I. Writing 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. A. Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate clear focus, the logical development of ideas in well-organized paragraphs, and the use of appropriate language that advances the author’s purpose. 1. Determine effective approaches, forms, and rhetorical techniques that demonstrate understanding of the writer’s purpose and audience. 2. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose, keeping careful records of outside sources. 3. Evaluate relevance, quality, sufficiency, and depth of preliminary ideas and information, organize material generated, and formulate a thesis. 4. Recognize the importance of revision as the key to effective writing. Each draft should refine key ideas and organize them more logically and fluidly, use language more precisely and effectively, and draw the reader to the author’s purpose. 5. Edit writing for proper voice, tense, and syntax, assuring that it conforms 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. Name________________________________ Date__________________________ Members Assistance Program Quiz 1. _____ Eligible dependents in a Members Assistance Program include all of the following except: A. Spouses B. Common law spouses C. Elderly parents D. Cousins 2. _____ Employers benefit from the establishment of Members Assistance Programs in which of the following? A. Decrease in employee absenteeism B. Reduction in employee grievances C. Improved moral D. Decrease in inappropriate treatment. E. All of the above 3. _____ Firefighters should participate in a full critical incident stress debriefing session within what time frame of a completed incident with associated stress? A. 12 hours B. 24 hours C. 72 hours D. Immediately after the incident is mitigated 4. _____ How is a Wellness Program different from a Members Assistance Program? A. Wellness Programs are established to assist fire service personnel with healthrelated issues B. Wellness Programs are established to assist fire service personnel with mental health issues only C. Wellness Programs are established to assist fire service personnel with managing stress directly related to incident response D. All of the above 5. _____ Firefighters should be A. Defused before entering a scene that could cause emotional or psychological stress B. Debriefed before entering a scene that could produce severe stress in the firefighter C. Counseled immediately after every fire involving a civilian death D. None of the above 6 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. 6. _____ Which of the following statements is true? A. Members Assistance Programs are confidential counseling/referral services provided to employees and their eligible dependents B. MAPs are designed to help employees with problems that can affect all families at one time or another C. Member Assistance Programs assist with problems involving marital difficulties, family and/or job stress, alcohol abuse or dependency, drug abuse, and emotional health D. All of the above 7. _____ What are often considered to be integral parts of a department’s Members Assistance Program because of the purpose they serve? A. Wellness Programs B. Critical Incident Stress Management Programs C. Members Assistance Programs D. Debriefing Programs E. All of the above 8. _____ Information gathering responsibilities are assigned in preparation of the post-incident analysis at A. Defusings B. Debriefings C. Pre-incident planning sessions D. None of the above 9. _____ If it is anticipated that the fire service responders may be working over several shifts exposed to extremely stressful conditions, a defusing is recommended at the end of each shift. A. True B. False 10. ____ A defusing is a formal discussion with incident responders that addresses chemical and medical exposure information, addresses damaged equipment and apparatus, and identifies any unsafe operating procedures that may have occurred. A. True B. False 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. Members Assistance Program Quiz Key 1. D 2. E 3. C 4. A 5. B 6. D 7. B 8. A 9. A 10. B 8 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. Name_______________________________________ Date_______________________________ Discussion Rubric Objectives 4 pts. Excellent 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Participates in group discussion Encourages others to join the conversation Keeps the discussion progressing to achieve goals Shares thoughts actively while offering helpful recommendations to others Gives credit to others for their ideas Respects the opinions of others Involves others by asking questions or requesting input Expresses thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively Total Points (32 pts.) Comments: 9 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. Name______________________________________ Date_______________________________________ Research Rubric 4 pts. Excellent Objectives 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Question/goal Student identified and communicated a question or goal of the research Research/Gathering information (if relevant) Student used a variety of methods and sources to gather information. Student took notes while gathering information Conclusion/Summary Student drew insightful conclusions and observations from the information gathered. Information is organized in a logical manner Communication Student communicated the information gathered and summary or conclusions persuasively. Student demonstrated skill in the use of media used to communicate the results of research Reflection Student reflected on the importance of the research and its potential application Total Points (20 pts.) Comments: 10 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved. Name:____________________________________ Date:_____________________________ Writing Rubric 4 pts. Excellent Objectives The writing has all required parts from introduction to conclusion in smooth transition. The writing is interesting, supportive, and complete. The writing demonstrates that the writer comprehends the writing process. Accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation The content of paragraphs emphasizes appropriate points. The writer shows an understanding of sentence structure, paragraphing, and punctuation. All sources and references are clearly and accurately documented. 3 pts. Good 2 pts. Needs Some Improvement 1 pt. Needs Much Improvement N/A Pts. Total Points (28 pts.) Comments: 11 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.