Chicago Department of Public Health Rahm Emanuel Mayor Bechara Choucair, MD Commissioner PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR COMMUNITIES (PFAC): A TOOL FOR PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HELP IN TIMES OF DISTRESS Marlita White OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION June 27, 2012 Psychological First Aid for Communities (Adapted from Pynoos RS, National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
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Marlita White OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION June 27, 2012
PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR COMMUNITIES (PFAC): A TOOL FOR PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HELP IN TIMES OF DISTRESS. Marlita White OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION June 27, 2012. Psychological First Aid for Communities - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Chic
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Dep
artm
ent o
f Pub
lic H
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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
• 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/