R523-17-6. Certification Requirements of Crisis Workers

  (1) The division shall certify that a crisis worker is qualified by training, experience, and certification. Certification will require successful completion of training provided by the division.

  (2) Individuals eligible to apply for crisis worker certification include the following:

  (a) Individuals licensed under Utah Department of Professional Licensing for any health or behavioral health license;

  (b) Individuals with a minimum of bachelors degree in a human service related field;

  (c) Individuals certified as a Certified Peer Support Specialist for a minimum of one year;

  (d) Individuals certified as Case Managers for a minimum of one year; or

  (e) Individuals certified as Family Resource Facilitator for a minimum of one year.

  (3) The training curriculum shall provide at least forty (40) hours of training and shall include, didactic information and skill practice using the following components as they relate to crisis intervention:

  (a) Attitudinal Outcomes:

  (i) acceptance of persons as different from oneself, and a non-judgmental response toward sensitive issues,

  (ii) balances and realistic attitude toward self in the helper role meaning not expecting to "save" all potential suicides by one's own single effort, or to solve all the problems of the distressed person,

  (iii) a realistic and humane approach to death, dying,

  (iv) self-destructive behavior and other human issues, and

  (v) coming to terms with one's own feelings about death and dying in so far as these feelings might deter one from helping others.

  (b) Knowledge Areas:

  (i) basic suicidology, including suicide assessment of desire, intent, capability, and buffers,

  (ii) intervention strategies including active engagement, active rescue, and collaboration, emphasize safety and prevention,

  (iii) risk of assaulting others,

  (iv) community resources,

  (v) consultation process,

  (vi) record system and program policies,

  (vii) cultural/diversity awareness,

  (viii) voluntary and involuntary hospitalization criteria and procedures, and

  (ix) psychopathology, psychiatric diagnosis, psychotropic medication, and substance abuse.

  (c) Skill Areas:

  (i) ability to assess in life-threatening situations, including risk of suicide and/or homicide,

  (ii) ability to actively engage,

  (iii) ability to mobilize community resources in an efficient and effective manner,

  (iv) ability to respond with respect and effectiveness and render assistance to individuals in crisis and distress with appropriate regard to their cultural, racial or ethnic background; their religion or language, their socioeconomic status; or other diversity factors,

  (v) provide efficient record keeping and policy implementation (e.g. recording essential notes in succinct form within the same work shift so they are useful to the next worker), and

  (vi) use of the consultative process, e.g. knowing who to call under what conditions.

  (3) The curriculum methodology shall include but not be limited to:

  (a) role playing and other experiential based methods,

  (b) use of audiovisual materials, such as simulated recorded calls and videotape,

  (c) an opportunity to function as a co-crisis worker with experienced staff before assignment and to work on an independent basis, and

  (d) didactic presentation and reading assignments.

  (4) In order to maintain crisis worker certification an individual must:

  (a) Complete at least 8 hours of continuing education (CEUs) every two (2) years pertaining specifically to crisis services,

  (b) shall maintain adequate documentation as proof of compliance with this section, such as a certificate of completion, school transcript, course description, or other course materials,

  (c) shall retain this proof for a period of three years after the end of the renewal cycle for which the continuing education is due; and

  (d) at a minimum, the documentation shall contain the following:

  (i) date of the course,

  (ii) name of the course provider,

  (iii) name of the instructor,

  (iv) course title,

  (v) number of hours of continuing education credit; and

  (vi) course objectives.