introduction to crisis response crtc 501 module 250… · conceptualize a standard response to...

Introduction to Crisis Response 1

Light University Online

Introduction to Crisis Response

CRTC 501

Module 2



Module Two

Table of Contents

The Ethics and Protocol of Crisis Care Jim Nelms, B.A. ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

Compassion Fatigue and Self Care Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min. ...................................................................................................................................... 9

Getting Plugged In: The Logistics of Responding to Crisis & Disaster Kevin Ellers, D.Min. .................................................................................................................................................. 13

ETHIC, SELF CARE, & LOGISTICAL

CONSIDERATIONS



Description Approximately fifty-percent of the professionals who responded to Hurricane Katrina returned reporting psychological symptoms similar to the victims they encountered. The provision of care to crisis victims requires significant variation to generally accepted standards in the community of mental health providers, laity and clergy. This lesson provides an overview of adjustments that must be made when a disaster occurs. TThe provider without a guideline is certain to be added to the casualty list of any crisis. It is the intention in this lesson to provide a clear understanding of the risk involved in the demanding field of Crisis Care. In terms of Ethics and Protocol, the content of this lesson combined with reverent prayer will help the potential Christian Crisis Responder make an informed decision about their role in the field of crisis intervention.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of terms related to Crisis Intervention. 2. Conceptualize a standard response to crisis intervention.

3. Explain how Christians can respond to those victims in a healing way.

The Ethics and Protocol of Crisis Care

VIDEO

Jim Nelms, B.A.



Introduction For those of us who offer comfort to people who struggle mentally and spiritually, the stringent adherence to a professional, social and spiritual code of ethics has long been considered foundational for the survival, healing and success for both clinician and client. The conceptual process to “do no harm”, transcends all methodology in mental health care provision. Existing protocols to effectively treat clients demand established “standards of care," however, the emerging field of crisis intervention, to include the Christian provider, creates a greater demand for a more focused adherence to a code of ethics, partnered with specific practical application. What has traditionally worked well in counsel must now be turned up a notch. For example, in crisis intervention there is no established client - clinician relationship and therefore significantly alters both confidentiality and privileged communication. Informed consent requires a clinically tenacious approach due to the acute affect of the crisis on an individual. In fact the degraded status of a victim’s cognition may make it very difficult for meaningful conversation to occur. We will examine some aspects of a crisis code of ethics and how that relates to protocols from a practical sense. Clearly both victim and provider have significant needs. The urgency to respond quickly finds the provider in awkward and potentially problematic relationships. When the provider’s response is perceived as uninvited they may find themselves in a hostile environment and subsequently harm is done that is often irreversible. The lesson’s intent is to raise awareness as a preventative measure.



Definitions

1. Critical Incident Stress- also known as: traumatic stress or acute stress; Intense stress reactions to an event or incident where the individual or a group’s ability to cope is overwhelmed. 2. Crisis Intervention- an attempt to emotionally stabilize, acknowledge, understand and support individuals and/or groups suffering from the painful experience of a crisis. 3. Critical Incident Stress Management- systematic, multi component, comprehensive and multi-physic approach to the mitigation of critical incident stress; providers include clergy, laity, peer and professional mental health care. 4. Code of Ethics- professional and Christian Counseling ethics are at the core of Christian Crisis Intervention and are not opposed but rather offer insight into how we should behave in intense situations. Whether professional, pastor or laity each has an obligation to articulate basic biblical and social values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. God’s word for the Christian provider offers direction and clearly defines the values, principles, and standards to guide the crisis worker’s conduct. 5. Informed Consent- answers the questions: Does the person in crisis have the capacity to give consent? Does the person in crisis reasonably understand the nature of your presence? Does the client freely give consent to your purpose, without coercion or undue influence?

Concepts 1. The Responders, “Send Me” a. Are you called to Care? b. Are you Trained to Care? c. Are you available to Care? d. Are you able to Care?



2. The Ethical Response Protocol, “Go into the World” a. When will you come home?

b. Have you assembled a group and planned for this response?

i. Individuals who respond on their own get hurt really bad.

ii. Individuals who respond on their own hurt others really bad.

iii. Individuals who respond on their own become victims.

iv. BE A PART OF A TEAM!

c. Is your group being asked to respond?

i. “Self Dispatch”--- the most dangerous term associated with Disaster response ii. On what authority was the request made? d. Where will your group land? e. Where will you work / what will you do? f. When will you come home? g. Who will care for your group when you return? 3. Victim Care Ethical Protocol, “Love God, Love People” a. Special Needs Group - Bigger than Life i. They are not sick ii. They are not your client iii. They generally cannot pay you iv. They will be highly agitated v. They will be extraordinarily suspicious vi. They will be angry at God vii. They will ask you to fix what cannot be fixed iix. They will contaminate you emotionally



ix. They will frustrate you and offend your values b. The Symptoms Presented by Malignant Versus Benign Diagnosis i. May have preexisting condition that is difficult to assess ii. May get better without you iii. May be catastrophic iv. May require medical attention, shifting your role of support

4. Ethical Aftercare Protocol, “Come to Me and I Shall Give You Rest”

a. Begins prior to deployment as condition for the deployment b. Accountability partners established c. Group debriefing date determined d. Family support debriefing date determined e. All debriefings should be facilitated by a professional who DID NOT participate in the deployment/ intervention. f. Includes group and individual assessment g. Anniversary debriefing

Conclusion Crisis intervention requires intelligent focus on both protocol and ethical application. It is incumbent upon the provider to adhere to both. The training required to meet this standard cannot be assumed or self established but must originate from recognized curriculum. When the need arises the Christian Crisis Responder must reflect on their mental and physical wellness accurately and with integrity. The responder must know that it is God’s will to respond, that in fact they are able to respond and do so in such a way that their actions bring honor to Jesus Christ, His Church and those who suffer.



Further Consideration 1. What questions must you ask of yourself and your team before deploying to a disaster situation? 2. How is informed consent different from typical patient/ client consent? 3. Why are individual responders so unsuccessful? 4. What are some ways that your team can protect itself from becoming victims?



Description In this lesson, Dr. Ron Hawkins outlines the concept of compassion fatigue and emphasizes the importance of self-care in the process of helping others, particularly victims of crisis.


1. Understand the concept of compassion fatigue and its application in your life.

2. Develop an awareness and understanding of multiple tools that will

help you perform self-care in crisis situations.

Compassion Fatigue and Self Care

VIDEO

Ron Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.



Introduction Being a Christian is about responding to people in need. To follow Jesus is to imitate Him and His involvement in caring for others. It is difficult to admit that we could ever run out of energy to help people and to fulfill God’s will, but compassion fatigue is a very real concern for people who have chosen to be caregivers. It is important that Christians care for themselves in order to best represent God’s will.

Definitions

1. Compassion Fatigue- caring burnout can and will happen to you 2. Self-care- God cannot use you if you don’t take care of yourself

Concepts 1. The Cost of Caring

a. God felt the cost of caring through his love for Israel. b. Jesus felt the pain of compassion in the garden on Gethsemane. c. Isaiah felt how much it costs to be a vehicle of God’s love when he experienced trauma in his own household.

2. Cautious Responsibility

a. We have a calling to show compassion to victims of tragedy. b. But, we must be very cautious that we don’t cause unnecessary danger to ourselves.

3. We are Total Beings

a. We are spiritual beings, thinkers, feelers, physical beings, and relational beings. b. To take care of ourselves as total people, we must learn certain skills to help us avoid fatigue. c. When the mind is asked to process something overwhelming, it can go under stress and have unusual and dramatic reactions.



d. Physical effects are related when we lose sleep and appetite. e. This leads quickly into emotional distress, anxiety, and fear. f. With this fatigue and confusion, we often withdraw from the Lord. g. The next step is that we isolate ourselves from other people who care about us.

4. Self-Care for Crisis

a. Monitor Yourself- we must monitor all of the various parts that make up our total beings. b. Pace Yourself- we must learn to be responsible with our pace to achieve the goal of stewardship. c. Take Planned Breaks- we must schedule time for breaks and stick to the schedule. d. Be on a Team- we must be intentional in developing our support system; disengage the “fix it all” mindset; regularly report to friends. e. Focus on the accomplished- we must concentrate on the things we have accomplished rather than what remains to be done in order to avoid despair. f. Plan Laughter- allowing laughter in our lives on a regular basis is an important part of not burning out; humor helps us balance our lives. g. Physical Care- be careful to eat, sleep, rest and exercise properly; you must be healthy to care for others. h. Practice Spiritual Disciplines- continue your prayer and scripture-reading routine; spend time with healthy people in your situation.



i. Surrender Leadership- sometimes we must honor one another by asking other to take a leadership position; being the expert on everything can be draining.

Conclusion Jesus Christ is the ultimate crisis responder. In order to be like Him, we must respond to those in need with compassion and grace. We must also imitate Him in the ways that he took time out to revitalize his energy. We are whole people who are impacted in many ways by overwhelming situations, in order to stay healthy and avoid compassion fatigue, we must take responsibility for self-care.

Further Consideration 1. What are some examples of how caring has a high cost? 2. Why is compassion fatigue so dangerous? 3. What are some ways that being a part of a group can aid us in self-care?



Description This lesson outlines how to actually be deployed for crisis response once an individual is trained and ready to join a team.


1. Develop understanding of the pressure and inconveniences associated with crisis response.

2. Learn how to be deployed to a disaster scene and how you will best fit

into a disaster situation.

Getting Plugged In: The Logistics of

Responding to Crisis & Disaster

VIDEO

Kevin Ellers, D.Min.



Introduction As believers, it is a biblical mandate for us to respond to disasters and touch people who are suffering. This might mean going on location to a huge natural disaster site or praying with a church member who is grieving.

Definitions

1. Stealth Mental Health- informal, over a cup of coffee, mental health; particularly useful in disasters where victims are resistant to aid

Concepts 1. Role of Local Church

a. It’s our responsibility to respond to the needs of suffering members of our community. b. The faith community can bring emotional and spiritual therapy that the government cannot provide. c. The church is a long-term solution to problems that crisis teams and government might overlook. d. Preparedness is KEY. Ill-equipped pastors can do more harm than help.

2. How Can You Use Your Training?

a. Just showing up is not the best idea. b. Infrastructure is not always prepared for drop-in helpers. c. Being a part of a team is the best way to make sure you are safe and supported in disaster situations.



3. Large Organizations Can Use You a. Carefully choose which organization you want to work with. b. Do your research; consider mission statements and how they line up with your own views and values. c. Pray about where your calling is. d. Contact your local resources online or by phone.

4. Disaster Scenes are Different

a. A disaster scene is not a counseling office or a church fellowship hall. b. Organization may not the same as what you are used to. c. The people who you are trying to help might not want you there. d. You will be most successful when you meet people in the trenches. e. You will not be able to plan what will happen. f. You must be able to think quickly on your feet and be highly flexible.

5. CISM is Difficult

a. You must be prepared for the incredible impact of disaster. b. Your spiritual and emotional strength will be tested again and again. c. Living with the responsibility of the livelihood of others can negatively impact responders without a self-care action plan.

6. What I Need To Know

a. What is the nature of my assignment? b. What conditions will I face? c. What is the length of my deployment? Extension possibility?



d. How long will the response phase last? e. What kind of items will I need to bring? f. What costs are covered?

7. How Do I Make the Decision

a. Do I want to go? b. Why or why not? c. Am I in the middle of personal trauma? d. Am I too close to the situation? Will I bring my own pathology to the scene? e. Am I trying to pad my resume? f. What am I leaving at home? Am I trying to escape something? g. Do I think that no one can do the job as well as me? h. Am I merely bored in my home/workplace?

8. Barriers to Serving

a. Fear b. Inconvenience c. Burnout d. Idea that someone else will go e. Feeling of inadequacy



9. Take Care a. Your health is your own responsibility. b. Use an accountability partner to help you identify your warning signs. c. Take mental and physical breaks. d. Balance your tasks. e. Keep in touch with your family. f. Take care of your spiritual health.

10. Coming Home

a. It’s hard to detach; close relationships are formed with your team. b. The pace of the “real world” can cause disassociation. c. Make the transition in a planned way; be prepared. d. Maintain healthy contact with the people you served with. e. Decide whether you want to talk about what you’ve experienced.

Conclusion Flexibility is key for crisis responders. It’s very important to assess your own needs, your pre-conceived notions, and your risk factors before agreeing to join a response effort. Be prepared for a life-changing experience that you have little control over. Trust God to lead you in your informed decisions about crisis response.



Further Consideration 1. How can you decide which organization will be able to best use your skills? 2. What is the danger of responding unannounced? 3. How will you develop a routine for re-integrating yourself with daily life?

introduction to crisis response crtc 501 module 250… · conceptualize a standard response to...

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