The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is offering a three-day course - Transportation Disaster Response - Family Assistance, at its NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Va. (near Washington, D.C.), March 10 to 12.

The course is designed specifically for commercial transportation officials, representatives of federal agencies, staff of non-governmental relief organizations and emergency managers. It will focus on the understanding of how professionals can most effectively support the family assistance efforts within their organizations.

The curriculum is appropriate for individuals employed in any mode of transportation, including rail, aviation, pipeline, highway or marine).

Some of the key points that will be covered are:

• Legal aspects of family assistance - specifics of legal protections afforded to family members;

• conducting effective family briefings - communicating with grieving and traumatized families;

• effective on-scene response - a start-to-finish look at family assistance operations ;

• successful forensic operations -- communicating with families about the forensic response; and

• practical resources for family representatives - developing support skills and self care.

 For a more complete description of the course, the registration process and the cost, click here.