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Wellness, Fitness and Employment Law

Wednesday, February 3, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

  • The basics of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the conditions covered by the ADA, and an employer’s reasonable accommodation obligation.
  • How the ADA interrelates with the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Genetic Information Discrimination Act, state and local laws, and obligations under a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.
  • When can an employer legally require a fitness-for-duty evaluation?
  • Privacy and medical information.
  • Facts and figures – what does the hard evidence show about public safety employees and life expectancy, heart disease, pulmonary disorders, depression, suicide, PTSD, sleep disorders, and other conditions.

Will Aitchison, Attorney at Law, Public Safety Labor Group, LLP; Executive Director, LRIS.

Mental Health in First Responders: Approaches to PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety

Wednesday, February 10, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

A moderated discussion between Will Aitchison and Dr. Lilly. Topics include:

  • Public Safety Employees and Depression
  • Anxiety Disorder and Law Enforcement Performance
  • PTSD Symptoms
  • Traumatic Events and First Responders
  • Compassion Fatigue & Secondary Trauma
  • PTSD And Law Enforcement Officers
  • PTSD, Traumatic Events and Firefighters
  • PTSD and Workers’ Compensation Laws
  • Suicide
  • Police Reform and Mental Health
  • Studies, Surveys, and Recommendations

Michelle Lilly, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University Department of Psychology

Increasing Resilience in First Responders

Wednesday, February 17, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

How first responders can take proactive and responsive steps to adaptively respond to chronic stress and trauma. A discussion of the risk and protective factors that influence wellbeing is offered to assist first responders to understand their own experiences with trauma and stress and how to mitigate their impact. A plain-language discussion of the neurobiology of trauma. Resilience research is applied to the unique issues of first responder work, generating practical strategies to promote resilience.

  • Defining and diagnosing the different types of work-related stress.
  • The physiological mechanisms of stress and the impact of stress on the development of other medical conditions.
  • Interpersonal stress as distinguished from organizational stress.
  • Recognizing critical incident stress, understanding the impact of critical incident stress on perception and recall, and steps that can be taken to minimize those impacts.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder, how it develops and is manifested, and developing treatments for PTSD.

Stephanie Conn, Ph.D., First Responder Psychology

Physical Fitness For Public Safety Employees – Functional Fitness

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

Emergency responder health and wellness must be addressed with a comprehensive, lifestyle-oriented focus. In our best-selling book, Firefighter Functional Fitness, we created an approach to overall health and wellness that is both performance and longevity-based and is anchored by four “pillars”: Physical Fitness, Recovery and Rest, Hydration, and Nutrition. In this presentation, you will receive an overview of each pillar and some key tips on how to incorporate these pillars into an overall wellness program designed to reduce risk factors associated with emergency responder health, increase performance, increase injury reduction, and help you enjoy a long and healthy retirement. 

Dan Kerrigan, Fire Chief Township of Upper Providence, Pennsylvania, Author of Firefighter Functional Fitness

An Integrated Approach To Wellness

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

  • Traditional barriers to wellness programs
  • The costs to employers of inadequate wellness, including liability claims, workers’ compensation claims, and general job performance.
  • The different kinds of wellness: psychological, physical, family, financial, and holistic.
  • Starting a program – what online and other resources are available?
  • Should participation be mandatory?
  • The need for confidentiality of wellness programs.
  • Integrating training and education with wellness and finding time in the workday for wellness.
  • The roles of the Department psychologist/counselor/chaplain and peer leaders/fitness trainers. What kinds of personalities are you looking for as part of the wellness team?
  • Mindfulness in the public safety workplace.
  • Including civilian employees in the program.
  • Metrics for success of a wellness program.

Scott Vincent, Police Sergeant at Sunriver, Oregon Police Department

The Nashville Behavioral Health Program: A National Model

Wednesday, March 10, 2021
8:30 – 10:00 AM PST

Metro Nashville Police Department’s Professional Wellness Section (MNPD PWS) is a comprehensive, officer wellness program that is comprised of 2 Units: Counseling Unit and Wellness Unit. Various services are provided, including psychotherapy, training, critical incident stress management, peer support, family support, mentoring, and chaplain support. The Professional Wellness Section began in 1985 and was cited as a model officer wellness program in a 2019 Department of Justice Congressional Report. It is composed of both sworn and civilian employees.

David Kennington, MA, LPC, MHSP of the Behavioral Health Services Program and Lieutenant Michael Gooch, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Tennessee

This webinar will be available on our webinar store soon!