NASA Headquarters' Directives
HQPR 1830.1 Effective Date: September 24, 2008 Expiration Date: June 28, 2019 Responsible Office: LA	Headquarters Critical Incident Stress Management Program

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CHAPTER 2. Responsibilities and Requirements

2.1 Executive Director for Headquarters Operations

2.1.1 The Executive Director for Headquarters Operations is responsible for:

a. Demonstrating a high level of commitment to workplace safety and security.

b. Providing a CISM program.

c. Ensuring the EAP response network has adequate resources.

d. Ensuring that training for the CISM team is available.

2.2 Headquarters Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

2.2.1 The Headquarters EAP coordinator is responsible for:

a. Assuring that EAP services are available.

b. Assuring that the EAP services contract includes CISM services.

c. Notifying, where appropriate, the EAP counselor to initiate the CISM response.

2.3 Employee Assistance Program Counselor (Service Provider)

2.3.1 The EAP counselor is responsible for:

a. Coordinating the CISM response.

b. Conducting and coordinating debriefings and training.

c. Consulting with management.

d. Mobilizing support services both within Headquarters and in the community at large.

e. Assessing Headquarters' response to the crisis, adjusting the response as warranted and being flexible, available, and accessible.

f. Ensuring proper assessment, triage, treatment, referral, and follow-up for employees adversely affected for up to one year post- incident or a time period deemed acceptable based on the counselor's professional judgment.

g. Promoting and providing education about the program and available services to Headquarters management, emergency preparedness personnel, security personnel, occupational medicine staff, human resources representatives, managers and supervisors, and employees.

h. Coordinating with local mental health providers to establish a resource network for large-scale events.

2.3.2 The EAP counselor shall screen and select volunteers to be team members, and maintain and publicize, as appropriate, contact information on the CISM team members such as name, work phone number, room number, and organization.

2.3.3 The EAP counselor shall develop CISM procedures, train and maintain a CISM team, and provide direction and coordination of that team. The EAP counselor shall provide pre-incident planning including education/training, establish links with community partners, and identify at- risk populations within Headquarters.

2.3.4 Once notified of a critical incident, the EAP counselor shall contact the Headquarters health unit, emergency preparedness, and human resources personnel, and the appropriate management officials to assess the effect of the incident and identify adversely affected employees.

2.3.5 The EAP counselor shall notify the CISM team and any community partners needed for intervention. With the assistance of the EAP coordinator an appropriate meeting place for the CISM team and CISD participants shall be established. The EAP counselor shall lead the CISM team in providing defusing and debriefings.

2.3.6 The EAP counselor shall provide one-on-one interventions, referral, and follow-up services.

2.4 Critical Incident Stress Management Team 2.4.1 The CISM team shall consist of 10-15 individuals who volunteer from Headquarters and who are willing to accept the responsibilities of the team. Volunteers for the CISM team shall be solicited from divisions within the Office of Headquarters Operations (occupational health, human resources, safety and emergency preparedness personnel), and other Headquarters organizations, as needed. Mental health providers from the outside community may also be included, as appropriate. The EAP counselor shall serve as CISM team lead.

2.4.2 CISM team members shall be selected by the EAP counselor, the Headquarters Medical Director and the EAP Coordinator, based on the following criteria:

a. Empathy

b. Good listening and interpersonal skills

c. Ability to be calm in crisis situations.

d. Respect for and ability to maintain confidentiality.

e. Ability to follow procedural guidelines.

f. Ability to collaborate with other disciplines/professions.

2.4.3 The CISM team is responsible for:

a. Respecting confidentiality, and being able to react quickly to called meetings.

b. Maintaining familiarization with CISM components and maintaining intervention skills through participation in team building and planning meetings once initial training is completed.

c. Knowing and adhering to CISM procedures and protocols. Team members must be willing to provide CISM support following a critical incident, whenever possible.

d. Taking guidance and direction from the CISM team lead.

2.4.4 CISM team members shall participate in training and meetings, initial assessments and post-incident intervention planning. Team members shall provide defusing and debriefing services under the direction of the EAP Counselor and assist in identifying individuals in need of additional EAP services. Upon completion of CISM services, those team members who provided the services shall be debriefed themselves by other team members. Team members assist in follow-up monitoring of adversely affected employees, as requested or appropriate.

2.5 Headquarters Human Resources Management Division (HRMD)

2.5.1 The Headquarters Facilities and Administrative Services Division is responsible for:

a. Providing assistance on how to handle employee problems and for referring victims following an incident to appropriate employee services for appropriate guidance in such areas as insurance, death benefits, and workers compensation claims.

b. Notifying the EAP counselor of critical incidents by phone or the most expeditious means available, assisting in identifying individuals and groups adversely affected by the event, and informing supervisors of availability of CISM services.

2.6 Headquarters Emergency Preparedness Officer)

2.6.1 The Headquarters Emergency Preparedness Officer is responsible for:

a. Including the EAP counselor/CISM team lead in emergency preparedness activities, as appropriate and maintaining awareness and familiarization with CISM services.

b. Notifying the EAP counselor, as appropriate, of a critical incident, and assisting in identifying groups and individuals adversely affected by an event.

2.7 Managers and Supervisors

2.7.1 Headquarters managers and supervisors are responsible for:

a. Notifying the EAP counselor of any critical incidents in their area by phone or most expeditious means available.

b. Assisting the EAP counselor and Headquarters Facilities and Administrative Services in identification of individuals and groups adversely affected by the event, and providing incident information that will facilitate the debriefing process.

c. Allowing time for employees to receive CISM services, and for participating in and encouraging employees to participate in CISM activities, including post-incident defusing and debriefings.

d. Monitoring adversely affected employees long term and notifying the EAP counselor of any on-going difficulties the employee(s) may be experiencing.