LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivor) Team Volunteer Training
June 13 @ 8:00 am - June 14 @ 4:00 pm
Free
LOSS – Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors – Teams are an active suicide postvention model. This model involves two or more trained volunteers, called a LOSS Team, who proactively go to the scene, or shortly after, of a suicide to provide immediate support to the newly bereaved family and friends. At least one of these two trained volunteers is a survivor of a suicide loss. LOSS Team volunteers are present to those left behind in a non-intrusive manner. They provide support, resources, and understanding. A LOSS Team can provide a lifeline to the newly bereaved. Having a person who has lost someone to suicide present in the immediate aftermath can provide an instillation of hope. Through shared understanding and experience, LOSS Team volunteers can be a calming and reassuring presence. Those who have lost someone special to suicide can provide a sense of normalcy and hope simply by introducing themselves as someone who has also been impacted by a suicide death.LOSS team members are: called to meet with, listen to, and support bereaved loved ones. Sometimes they go to the home, sometimes they talk on the phone, or meet in a neutral setting. Team members are deployed through a standardized process enacted by the local Coroner’s Office. Who can be part of a LOSS Team? Volunteers who lost a loved one to suicide one or more years ago, interested professionals, and compassionate community members.
What is expected of a volunteer? • Participate in Loss Team and supplemental training • Monthly meeting with team members • Be on call on a rotating basis, or assist with coordination/resources • Meet with individuals; listen and provide information • Follow procedures
LOSS Team training includes:
- Understanding the Role of a LOSS Team Volunteer – Clarifying responsibilities and expectations during on-scene responses.
- Volunteer Motivation Exploration – Encouraging volunteers to reflect on their personal motivations for serving on a LOSS Team, fostering deeper commitment and resilience.
- Utilization of Practical Tools – Providing resources such as a sample volunteer code of conduct that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different communities.
- Collaboration with Law Enforcement and First Responders – Understanding protocols for working effectively within emergency response systems.
- Effective Communication Strategies – Learning how to engage sensitively with newly bereaved individuals and coordinate with first responders.
- Evidence-informed On-Scene Support – Applying trauma-informed and suicide postvention strategies to offer meaningful assistance.
- Volunteer Self-Care and Resilience – Recognizing the emotional impact of on-scene responses for the LOSS Team member.
- Experiential Learning – Incorporating role plays and real-world scenarios to practice and reinforce key skills in a hands-on learning environment.
- Compassionate Aftercare – Providing ongoing, empathetic support and connection to fellow loss survivors and resources that promote healing and resilience.
This comprehensive training approach ensures that every LOSS Team leader and volunteer is well-prepared to provide compassionate, informed, and practical support in the aftermath of suicide loss.
YOU MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS!
Please join us for two full days of learning how to support others through an unimaginable loss. Outreach can save a life and provide HOPE. Attend to determine where and how you can help. Team membership is not mandatory upon training participation.
Register by link or QR code: https://forms.gle/X3Kuzmdkt57qppxW6 on the above flyer,
or you can email Larissa Kimmel at: Larissa.kimmel@cmpsystemsofcare.org or 570-350-0585 for questions concerning this training.
