Is It Time for a Wellness Appointment?

INSIGHTS FROM OUR CEO

Wellness appointments with FMRT are confidential opportunities for public safety employees to speak with a culturally competent professional. During these appointments, the psychologist will explore any work challenges the employee may have and their available resources. As leaders, we ask you to consider implementing annual wellness appointments as a proactive approach to improving your employees’ mental health. 

Wellness appointments can help individuals manage their work personal life. A psychologist who understands the unique demands public safety professionals face can help alleviate stress and anxiety, improving the department’s culture. 

When should an individual schedule a wellness appointment? FMRT believes that the decision to implement required wellness appointments should come from leadership. If these services aren’t currently an option, we encourage people to reach out on their own to a peer support member, EAP, FMRT, or other reputable resources. 

• Personnel changes. Has the structure of your department changed due to longtime colleagues leaving the profession? Change can be overwhelming, and it is particularly impactful during this time in our history. Talking with a professional can help people adapt to their new environment and learn healthy coping mechanisms to better manage future challenges. 
• An emotionally draining incident. Has an incident left you or your staff in a troubled mental state? Are you or others experiencing symptoms like anxiety, anger, sleeplessness, trouble focusing? Public safety professionals are responsible for responding to challenging situations on an ongoing basis. While many incidents may roll off their back, some may stick with them and require a mental health provider. Tackling these emotions head-on will help them learn, heal, and improve their overall mental state.
• Do you feel like you have no one in your corner? Do you and your staff feel supported at home and work? Do you feel like it’s up to you to deal with work and home life challenges alone? Wellness appointments can help identify all available support systems, including family, social, religious, or other networks. You and those that you lead are not alone. There are resources available outside of FMRT that we encourage you to learn about and share within your department. 

For more information about wellness appointments, visit fmrt.com/post-hire-services/ or call our office at 336.761.0764. Mental health is a journey, and a wellness appointment may be the support you need to keep moving forward.

 

Elizabeth Morris, M.A.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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Phone: 336-761-0764 ext. 1011

Email: elizabeth@fmrt.org 

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Senate Bill 300 and House Bill 436 Signed Into Law

On Thursday, September 2^nd, Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 300 and House Bill 436 into law. Senate Bill 300, Criminal Justice Reform, was sponsored by Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) and House Bill 436, Support Law Enforcement Mental Health, was sponsored by Rep. Kristin Baker (R-Cabarrus). Sen. Britt and Rep. Baker did an incredible job working on both pieces of legislation. Their efforts will help protect both public safety professionals and the communities they serve. Both bills require ALL Criminal Justice Officers and Justice Officers to have a pre-hire in-person or face-to-face psychological screening examination, including a clinical interview and testing beginning on January 1^st, 2022. North Carolina General Statute defines these positions as:
 
Criminal Justice Officer: The administrative and subordinate personnel of all the departments, agencies, units or entities comprising the criminal justice agencies who are sworn law-enforcement officers, both State and local, with the power of arrest; State correctional officers; State probation/parole officers; State probation/parole officers-surveillance; officers, supervisory and administrative personnel of local confinement facilities; State juvenile justice officers; chief court counselors; and juvenile court counselors.
 
Justice Officer:

• A person who, through the special trust and confidence of the sheriff, has taken the oath of office prescribed by Chapter 11 of these statutes as a peace officer in the office of a sheriff. This term includes “deputy sheriffs,” “reserve deputy sheriffs,” and “special deputy sheriffs” but does not include clerical and support personnel not required to take an oath. The term “special deputy” means a person, who, through appointment by the sheriff becomes an unpaid criminal justice officer to perform a specific act directed to the person by the sheriff; or
• A person who, through the special trust and confidence of the sheriff, has been appointed as a detention officer by the sheriff; or
• A person who is either the administrator or other custodial personnel of district confinement facilities as defined in G.S. 153A-219. Nothing in this Chapter shall transfer any supervisory or administrative control of employees of district confinement facilities to the office of the sheriff; and
• A person who, through the special trust and confidence of the sheriff, is under the direct supervision and control of the Sheriff and serves as a telecommunicator, or who is presented to the Commission for appointment as a telecommunicator by an employing entity other than the sheriff for the purpose of obtaining certification from the Commission as a telecommunicator.

These bills are crucial in the fight for destigmatizing mental health and will help support law enforcement officers statewide. The psychological requirements in both bills will help ensure that criminal justice and justice officers are psychologically suitable to serve and protect our communities. The FMRT Group is committed to delivering safety-sensitive employers unmatched service levels, information, and support with our comprehensive pre-and post-hire psychological and medical services. For more information about how we can support you and your agency, call our office at 336.761.0764.

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New Charlotte Office

We’re excited to announce that we will be moving our Charlotte office to a newer and larger space on October 1st. We will begin seeing applicants and employees for their evaluations after Tuesday, October 4th. Previously scheduled appointments will occur at our current location, with the last day on Tuesday, September 28th. 

New FMRT Office Address:
6419 Bannington Road
Suite A
Charlotte, NC 28226-1341

If you have any questions about the location of any standing appointments, please reach out to Jenna Kelly at jenna@fmrt.org or Kaci Presgraves at kaci@fmrt.org. The current hours of operation and office contact information will remain the same. Thank you again for your trust and confidence in us.

We look forward to serving you in our new office!

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FMRT Updates