View all text of Chapter 509 [§ 50901 - § 50902]
§ 50902. Best practices and support
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) First responder
(2) First responder agency
(3) Peer support counseling program
(4) Peer support participant
(5) Peer support specialistThe term “peer support specialist” means a first responder who—
(A) has received training in—
(i) peer support counseling; and
(ii) providing emotional and moral support to first responders who have been involved in or exposed to an emotionally traumatic experience in the course of the duties of those first responders; and
(B) is designated by a first responder agency to provide the services described in subparagraph (A).
(b) Report on best practicesNot later than 2 years after November 18, 2021, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop a report on best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs for first responder agencies that includes—
(1) advice on—
(A) establishing and operating peer support counseling programs; and
(B) training and certifying peer support specialists;
(2) a code of ethics for peer support specialists;
(3) recommendations for continuing education for peer support specialists;
(4) advice on disclosing to first responders any confidentiality rights of peer support participants; and
(5) information on—
(A) the different types of peer support counseling programs in use by first responder agencies;
(B) any differences in peer support counseling programs offered across categories of first responders; and
(C) the important role senior first responders play in supporting access to mental health resources.
(c) ImplementationThe Attorney General shall support and encourage the implementation of peer support counseling programs in first responder agencies by—
(1) making the report developed under subsection (b) publicly available on the website of the Department of Justice; and
(2) providing a list of peer support specialist training programs on the website of the Department of Justice.
(Pub. L. 117–60, § 3, Nov. 18, 2021, 135 Stat. 1472.)