The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce the availability of $300,000 in state general funds to support services for law enforcement. DCJS is soliciting applications from nonprofit organizations that provide post-critical incident seminars and peer-supported critical incident stress management programs to law enforcement agencies and their staff through a statewide implementation of services.
Law enforcement peer support programs are recognized as an effective approach to provide assistance to officers to help them address the stress and challenges of their profession. Peer support programs can provide more awareness training to officers, improve access to and increase the effectiveness of existing resources, and help officers overcome their reluctance to seek help.
Post Critical Incident Seminars (PCIS) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) are methods of helping first responders and others who have been involved in critical incidents who have become emotionally and/or physically affected by those incidents. CISM is a process that enables peers to help their peers understand problems that might occur after an event. This process also helps people prepare to continue to perform in their profession or in some cases return to a normal lifestyle. PCIS are typically multi-day workshops for first responders who have experienced life-altering incidents while in the performance of their duties.
| FY26 Peer-Supported Critical Incident Stress Management Grant Program Funding Opportunity Guidelines and Application Procedures (307.02 KB) |