The Target group Intervention Program, TGIP has been set up within the framework of the Cologne victim support model for  victims of violence and accident victims1998 at the University of Cologne and adapted to post traumatic stress support for soldiers after deployments abroad, for victims of bank robberies and homicidal mania. We have, within the European context, adapted the TGIP to the specific dynamics of situations such as terrorist attacks and large-scale emergencies and published it in 4 languages on this website.

The TGIP is based on a step-by-step intervention plan, targeting the needs of survivors, witnesses, the bereaved and their families after a large-scale emergency. We support the approach of carrying out prognostic screenings to ascertain the specific need for emergency psychosocial care. This allows for those victims to be identified that are at low, medium and high risk of developing a chronic stress disorder. Those "prognostic screenings" are used to ascertain various resilience and risk factors that are suitable to evaluate the possibly of a post traumatic stress disorder becoming chronic.  Depending on the raised risk profile, TGIP includes all intervention steps from emergency psychosocial care to indicated therapy for post traumatic stress and rehabilitation.

The European projects EUTOPA (2007 - 2009) and EUTOPA-IP (2009 - 2011) have been pushing mainly for an adaptation of TGIP including prognostic screenings and the Kölner Risikoindex KRI (Cologne risk index) to the dynamics of large-scale emergencies and to implement the concept. EUTOPA-IP had the aim to expand the concept to conclude aspects of rehabilitation of victims with participation disorders.

The main questions are:  Which crisis intervention measures have proven, according to the latest state of research, to minimise the risk of long term psychological effects after large-scale emergencies. Within what sort of timeframe will those measures have to be applied?  Who can those as risk be identified? What measures and interventions are suitable for the different contrast groups?

The result are four manuals, including the KRI (Cologne risk index) in five languages (English, German, Spanish and French). The manuals have been complied paying special attention to the findings by the  Konsensuskonferenz [consensus conference] initiated by the Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe [Deparment of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance 2007-2010; the guidelines set by the Dutch group IMPACT (2007) and the NATO & OTAN Non-binding Guidance (2008).

Manual I is focusing on a central TGIP segment and describes the theoretic and practical background for using the Cologne risk index. The current state of research on risk factors for developing post traumatic stress disorders after a large-scale emergency is summarised based on meta-analysis reports, field studies and expert opinions. The items selected for the Cologne risk index (KRI), which ascertains the risk profile of victims of large-scale emergencies and ensures a structured intervention programme, are derived from those findings. This manual has been designed for the professional aid worker and demonstrates the possibilities and limits of this process.

Manual II includes all TGIP intervention modules of emergency psychosocial care all the way through to post-traumatic stress therapy. Planning measures for each individual emergency psychosocial care is based on the time criterion as well as the risk and resource profile of the victim. The structural aspects of the psychosocial crisis management after large-scale emergencies follow.

Manual III presents a manualised form of trauma-based psychological information based on the latest research findings.

Manual IV addresses the question how the needs of victims affected by participation disorders as a result of large-scale emergencies can be assessed using the Questionnaire on Functional Impairment (Q-FIS). The Q-FIS is based on the International Classification of Disability, Health and Functioning (ICF). The concept provides a multi-disciplinary access for peers, social workers, psychologists, physiotherapists and psychotherapists to document the psychosocial effects of emergency situations. Adding the Q-FIS model to the TGIP created the foundations to recognise the need for rehabilitation, to define rehabilitation goals and evaluate rehabilitation results.