Toolkit with Report Form - Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic ...

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Section seven Individual and Community Crisis Reaction An individual trauma is a “blow to the psyche that breaks through one’s defenses so suddenly and with such force that one cannot respond effectively.” ~ Kai T. Erikson, In the Wake of the Flood, 1979 Communities can also experience trauma and react collectively. Every community will differ in its immediate and long-term reactions to a traumatic event. Factors influencing such reactions include: ◗ Trauma history within the community ◗ Its identification of risk and preparation for traumatic events prior to any trauma ◗ The duration of the trauma ◗ How the community responds to the traumatic event There is a patterned crisis reaction that occurs in all of us (as previously mentioned in Section 5). The long-term crisis reactions each person will experience vary and may be impacted by: ◗ The immediate response in the aftermath of trauma ◗ Trauma history ◗ Age ◗ Developmental stage ◗ Life factors ◗ Social support ◗ Access to resources ◗ Resiliency factors ◗ Physical and cognitive abilities It is necessary to respond to communities in crisis to begin to undo the harm done and support the healing of all communities affected by the traumatic event. Leaders, responsible for the entire community or a smaller subset of the community, should recognize that diverse groups might react differently based on similar factors that influence individual crisis reactions. Recognizing the range of possible reactions will help communities respond and access the resources that are best suited for sub-communities that contribute to the strength of the overall social fabric. According to Erikson, collective trauma is a “blow to the tissues of social life that damages the bonds attaching people together.” page 50 When Crisis Strikes | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence | 2012
◗ A community-wide response to a traumatic event may look different each time a crisis occurs. ◗ Those within one or more of the “ripples,” such as schools or workplaces, may want to provide assistance to those more directly affected by the traumatic event. ◗ Community leaders should recognize that those who are even peripherally affected might find comfort in providing assistance in some way. ◗ The media, volunteers, staff and board members can help get the word out about identifying and filling those needs. ◗ All parts of the community may be affected by the traumatic event. So reach out with resources that are designed to address a range of needs, questions and concerns. ◗ Community leaders can help facilitate time, place and space for ongoing memorials to those lost. As a leader within your community, you can help! ◗ DO reach out for help, and DO suggest others do the same with the best interest of your shared community as the focal point. ◗ BE proactive. Find out if there is an emergency or crisis response plan designed for your community. Become familiar with the agencies that can/will respond to critical incidents. Each community will differ in resources and capacity to respond; PCADV or KCIT can help direct you to those resources upon request. Managing critical incidents includes preparation. (Refer to Section 6 for more information about a program Critical Incident Response Plan). Domestic Violence Intersections with Collective Trauma If the traumatic event has occurred within a domestic violence program, its impact on staff, BOD, volunteers and victims may be more or less intense due to: ◗ Existing trauma history ◗ Life factors (shelter, food, clothing, etc.) that either create a solid foundation for the victim or add to her/his vulnerability ◗ Social supports that may be limited due to the imposed isolation on the domestic violence victim ◗ Their ability to tap into resilience factors that worked in the past Domestic violence fatalities or near fatalities may be publicized quickly depending on media response and interest. Publicity around these tragic events ripples throughout the larger community, beyond the program walls. Those living in the community as victims of domestic violence and those witnessing violent acts at home may identify with the victim and have trauma histories that yield an intense reaction. Others in the community may exhibit extreme responses because it is a critical incident that reminds them of some previous trauma that is not related to domestic violence. Education about crisis reactions and resources is crucial for all members of the community to address these needs. Beyond those who exhibit crisis reactions will be others who simply want to help the victim’s family or generally help restore the community in some way. Section seven When Crisis Strikes | Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence | 2012 page 51
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When Crisis Strikes: A Toolkit for
Page 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. When Crisis St
Page 6 and 7: Section ONE PCADV technical Assista
Page 8 and 9: Section two Involve other systems i
Page 10 and 11: COMMUNICATIONS Do: Don’t: Do: Don
Page 12 and 13: Responding to Subpoena for Program
Page 14 and 15: Section four PROTECTING CONFIDENTIA
Page 16 and 17: Section four RESPONDING TO A subpoe
Page 18 and 19: Section four ◗ Staff should never
Page 20 and 21: Section five 4. Trauma ◗ A unique
Page 22 and 23: Section five E. Take Care of Staff
Page 24 and 25: Section five A Team Approach Most c
Page 26 and 27: Section five Communication with Fam
Page 28 and 29: Section five Take Care of Staff Fee
Page 30 and 31: Section five Vicarious Trauma Impli
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Page 34 and 35: Section five Physical Injury Severe
Page 36 and 37: Section five In securing personal i
Page 38 and 39: Section five Children and Death Whe
Page 40 and 41: Section five Appendix Resources Res
Page 42 and 43: Section six Managing Communications
Page 44 and 45: Section Six A Reference Guide to th
Page 46 and 47: Section Six Preparing Victims and S
Page 48 and 49: Section Six DISPELLING MYTHS Myth:
Page 50 and 51: Section Six Myth: Women Lie About B
Page 52 and 53: Section Six Myth: There’s Nothing
Page 56 and 57: Section seven Honoring Victims Prof
Page 58 and 59: Section seven Community Awareness E
Page 60 and 61: Section seven Randi’s Race This a
Page 62 and 63: Section 1: General Information Prog
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