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Rahm EmanuelMayor

Bechara Choucair, MDCommissioner

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR COMMUNITIES (PFAC):

A TOOL FOR PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HELP IN TIMES OF DISTRESS

Marlita WhiteOFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION

June 27, 2012

Psychological First Aid for Communities (Adapted from Pynoos RS, National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

• Guide: Where, when, and with who? • Establish: PFAC core actions• Process: Participate in a brief activity • Practice: Review and questions

Today’s Format and Goals

Goals

What is PFAC?

An IntroductionPsychological First Aid is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping.*

*National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2006).Psychological First Aid, Field Operations Guide 2nd Edition

What is Trauma?An experience, that completely overwhelms the ability to cope or integrate ideas and emotions; a sense of being overwhelmed lasting for a prolonged period as the person struggles to cope with the immediate circumstances; can lead to serious long-term negative consequences by directly changing the biological functions of the brain*

*Moroz, K.J. (2005) The Effects of Psychological Trauma on Children and Adolescents. Vermont Agency of Human Services Department of HealthDivision of Mental Health

• Pioneers-(1988) Robert Pynoos and Kathleen Nader (the National Child Traumatic Stress Network- developed the Second Edition of Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide )

• International Federation of Red Cross & Danish Red Cross- 1990; Red Crescent Societies- Listen. Protect and Connect

• Numerous adaptations – 3, 6, 12, 18 hour training sessions, from state to state and beyond (Montana, Manitoba, UN, Chicago Dept of Public Health)

Historical Background (PFA)What is PFAC?

PFAC vs. PFAPFA: Originally designed with children, adolescents, parents/caretakers, families, and adults exposed to macro-level disaster or terrorism in mind- it can also be used by and for first responders and disaster relief workers.

PFAC: The Chicago Department of Public Health applied the principles outlined in PFA to experiences that occur on a more frequent basis within communities . This puts the “C” in PFAC.

What is PFAC?

Potentially Traumatic Experiences

Potentially traumatic experiences:

In the HOME:• Substance Abuse• Domestic

Violence• Fire• Home

Invasion/Theft• What else?

Potentially traumatic experiences:

In the COMMUNITY:• Serious injury

Shootings/stabbings • Fights• Robbery • Car Accidents • What else?

General Guidelines of PFAC

General guidelines of PFAC:

Everyone can give PFAC

Cultural Humility • There are something that you will miss

or not understand when you are bridging a cultural gap to provide PFAC

• Make sure to tread lightly • Be open to being corrected• Always ask if unsure

General guidelines of PFAC:

• It’s the person’s/child’s experience

• Not every person/child will be traumatized

• Avoid ‘talking down’

• Focus on what the child/person has done that is effective

No Assumptions General guidelines of PFAC:

Working with Children

Working with children:

How do young children experience trauma differently than the rest of the population?

Children at special risk• Separated from parents/caregivers• Adolescents who may be risk-takers• Youth exposed to grotesque scenes

or extreme life threatening situations• CEV= children exposed to violence

Working with children

Build on Protective Factors

• Attachment & Bonding• Healthy friendships• A caring, positive adult relationship • Strong self-esteem

Working with children

When offering PFA:

• Accept the person’s readiness to share

• Not the time to press for details• Only offer accurate information• Keep safety as a theme and focus

Working with children

Behavior that may help• Speak at child’s/person’s eye level• Help child/person verbalize feelings• Provide simple labels• Avoid extreme words• Reassure by voice, body language

Working with children

PFAC Core Actions

PFAC Core ActionsCore Actions Overview

1. Contact and Engagement 2. Safety and Comfort 3. Stabilization 4. Information Gathering5. Practical Assistance 6. Social Supports 7. Coping 8. Linkage to Services

PFAC Core ActionsContact and Engagement

Look, speak, acknowledge

PFA Core ActionsSafety and Comfort

Protect, reassure, encourage

PFAC Core ActionsStabilization

Consistency, familiarity, dependability

PFAC Core ActionsInformation Gathering

Asking, listening, organizing

PFAC Core ActionsPractical Assistance

Responsive, constructive, optimistic

PFAC Core ActionsSocial Supports

Connecting, sharing, encouraging

PFAC Core ActionsCoping

Informing, educating, framing

PFAC Core ActionsLinkage to Services

Discuss, assess, link

When child is exhibiting

What s/he needs: How to respond:

HelplessnessPassivity

Provide support, rest, play; have they eaten?

Establish child friendly space

Generalized Fear

Calm adult presence; support for each child

Reassuring familiar activities-

PFAC Interventions

When child is exhibiting

What s/he needs: How to respond:

Clinginess Consistency, honesty- doing what you say you will do, being where you say you’ll be

Encourage families to spend more time together; to practice and celebrate consistency

Regressive Behaviors

Tolerate for limited time- e.g. 2 weeks

Avoid criticizing or name-calling

PFAC Interventions

• Contact & E_______________• Safety and C______________• Stabi____________________• Information G______________• Practical A_________________• Social S___________________• Supports with C_____________• Linkage to S______________

PFA Core ActionsReview

Wrap Up Review

• Define: Immediate help after a potentially traumatic event

• Guide: Events that happen in the community to families effect children

• Establish: PFAC core actions

Local Resources

• CDPH, Office of Violence Prevention: 312.747.9396

• Emergency: 911 Information: 311

• Chicago Domestic Violence Helpline: 1.877.863.6338

• Metropolitan Family Services: 312.371.3600

• Family Focus, Englewood: 773.962.0366

• Heartland Human Care Services: 773.728.5960

• Casa Central: 773.645.2300

• Safe From the Start programs: 312.814.1708 (IL) http://ivpa.org/

• LaRabida Child Trauma Center: 773.374.3748

???Wrap Up

Questions