Over the past month, our staff noticed that the city was feeling a little less safe than usual. While driving to care for their clients, they noticed people getting pulled over consistently for no apparent reason. Their concern for their safety escalated to the point where they requested that protocols be put into place for potential military or police interactions.
We are so grateful to our leadership team for creating an environment where staff feel empowered to speak up and advocate for their safety. We are sharing our protocols with you to keep you informed of the extra precautions we are taking to keep our clients and staff safe and to share ideas about practical measures you can take to stay safe during anxious and uncertain times.
While traveling to DC, staff must drive with and keep their Help in the Home ID badge on their person at all times. When driving with a client or out in public, staff must ensure that clients have their own valid ID badge with them at all times. Additionally, staff must carry the client’s Help in the Home ID card with them when going to and from their appointment. As an added measure of awareness and safety for our team members, staff will text the established DC appointments to a group text upon arrival and departure from DC. If a staff member sends out an arrival text but their supervisor does not receive a departure text by the end of the day, the supervisor will reach out to the staff member to ensure they were able to leave the area safely.
It’s important to be mindful that people with complex mental health needs often have a history of traumatic interactions with law enforcement. Due to their unique vulnerabilities they may be more at risk of being a target for interrogation. De-escalation training of law enforcement officers and military personnel is inconsistent and it cannot be assumed that they will know how to respond to someone with vulnerabilities related to complex mental health needs. Therefore, the responsibility of being aware and proactive belongs to the individual and those who help care for them.
In addition to the protocols we have put into place, staff and clients have been provided with additional directives on how to respond during a military or police interaction:
- Keep self and client safety at the forefront
- Remain as calm as possible
- Use a cooperative approach
- If prompted, offer to share identification
- Communicate respectfully
Even though the 30 day limit on the emergency order expired on September 10th, National Guard troops will continue to patrol DC for the foreseeable future. We hope that by sharing these proactive measures with you, we have made you aware of the additional challenges that people with complex mental health needs may face in DC during this time and empowered you to take additional precautions.
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If you or your loved one could benefit from partnering with mental health experts who have experience in supporting individuals and families with complex mental health needs, please call 866-967-9994 to schedule your free consultation.