Family Management during Critical Incidents
When a crisis strikes, the family’s trust isn’t a luxury — it’s the lifeline. Lose it, and even the best investigation or negotiation can unravel. Hold it, and you create the foundation for every successful outcome that follows.
This is the only workshop of its kind — created and delivered by a veteran hostage and crisis negotiator who’s spent a lifetime bridging the gap between families in despair and the professionals fighting to bring their loved ones home
Length
1 Day
Sessions
1 Session
Delivery
In Person
Why choose Family Management during Critical Incidents with Dr Matt Todd?
Drawing on 30 years in law enforcement and two decades supporting families through kidnap, hostage, crisis and critical incidents, Matt has an unparalleled insight into what families need — and what responders must get right — in the most testing moments imaginable.
Unlike standard family management training, this workshop is delivered on first-hand experience at the sharpest end of real incidents — not theory.
Who is this course for?
✔ HR Professionals and People Services Leaders:
Individuals who play a pivotal role in managing employee support and well-being during critical moments and may have family liaison responsibilities.
✔ Crisis Management Team (CMT) Members:
Individuals involved in the broader incident response who need to understand the family management strategy and coordinate communication.
✔ Designated Family Liaison Officers (FLOs):
Specific individuals identified by the organization as having the necessary emotional intelligence and communication skills for this sensitive role.
✔ International Organisations’ Staff
Personnel whose duty of care responsibilities extend to staff and their families during high-risk international deployments.
How you will be coached
From the first call to the final debrief, you’ll learn how to:
- Establish and maintain trust from the outset of a crisis.
- Communicate difficult information with honesty and emotional intelligence.
- Operate effectively within a structured crisis response team.
- Manage family expectations while supporting investigative and negotiation processes.
- Protect the psychological resilience of both family and responder.
What’s Included
Participants will learn how to engage with families under extreme stress, manage emotion and expectation, and maintain confidence and credibility through every phase of an incident. You’ll gain the skills to communicate with clarity, empathy, and authority — even when information is limited, emotions are high, and outcomes are uncertain.
After the course:
By the end, participants don’t just understand family liaison — they embody the calm, credible, and compassionate presence that every family — and every crisis team — needs when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Get in touch with Dr Matt Todd
Contact Dr Matt Todd to discuss your needs, ask questions, or see how a tailored Family Management during Critical Incidents session could work for you or your team