June 29-30, 2026
Hosted by: Lakewood Police Department

This two-day course builds upon the foundational skills learned in the Basic Peer Support course
and is intended for first responders who have served in a peer support role for 6 to 12 months.
Participants will review essential peer support concepts while advancing their knowledge and skills
in crisis intervention, suicide assessment, and intervention techniques. Attendees will engage in
case discussions and experiential exercises designed to strengthen their ability to navigate
complex peer support situations. The course also emphasizes strategies for self-care and
promoting wellness within peer support teams.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Demonstrate advanced peer support communication skills for effectively engaging peers
experiencing significant stress, trauma exposure, or personal crises
2. Apply crisis intervention and suicide assessment techniques to accurately identify risk factors,
assess lethality, and implement appropriate intervention strategies.
3. Analyze complex peer support cases through guided discussion and experiential exercises to
enhance critical thinking and problem-solving in real-world scenarios
4. Integrate self-care and resilience strategies to maintain personal well-being and prevent
burnout while serving in a peer support role.
5. Collaborate within a peer support team to promote wellness initiatives and strengthen a
culture of psychological safety within the organization

8:30 - 4:30