Steps to follow When
Asked To Do a Check-in With a Volunteer Who Has Returned
From A Disaster Assignment:
D. Bridgeman, Ph.D., Edited,
J. Kaupp, Ph.D. 9/14/05 –
1.) You will get a call from the Chapter, or Diane
Bridgeman, or Diane Cohan to let you know when the person is returning from
their assignment.
2.) Call the volunteer the next day and arrange a
time to meet – ideally within a day of their arrival home. Some people have
had more challenging experiences and will need to be seen right away.
3.) If your schedule precludes you from seeing the
returning volunteer right away, please let the person who called you know so an
appointment can be set up with someone else.
4.) It is always preferable to do a face-to-face
post-check-in. However, if the returning volunteer prefers talking with you by
telephone, please accommodate them accordingly, as it is better to check-in with
them by telephone than not at all. Reminder, we are using a psycho-educational,
stress-reduction model not psychotherapy in our post assignment check-ins.
5.) It is better to meet with the returning
volunteer at your office, though if necessary you can arrange for a room at the
ARC Chapter. For the latter, be sure to give advance notice in order to reserve
an available room.
6.) If the returning volunteer does not want to meet
with you in person or by telephone, try to offer a few suggestions about
transitioning and self-care and let it go at that. But do report the limited
extent of the check-in.
7.) It is customary to schedule a follow-up
interview, which can be done by telephone if this works better for both of you.
8.) Ideally, the same person conducts both the
check-in and follow-up interviews, though we are aware that circumstances
sometimes prevent this.
9.) You are not expected to keep notes on these
check-ins. If you detect something more serious during the interview, you can
suggest that the volunteer consider seeing a therapist in our community and give
them the MBPA (831) 429-7799, or CAMFT (831) 429-7786 Info & referral
numbers.
10.) We sometimes bring a group of volunteers who have had similar experiences together, if they are comfortable in a group setting. This would generally be in addition to an individual check-in, though this is not always the case. Also see ARC doc. #4472 &73, 12/91 “Emotional Health for Workers”.
The following are a few guidelines regarding
expectations and self-care that
can be shared with returning volunteers:
(b)
Returning
home and transitioning from the disaster experience can take a while. For
example, loved ones and friends may not be able to fully relate to what you have
experienced.
(c)
Most
people will be very proud of you for your volunteer efforts – a few might be
envious or even a little upset that you left and they didn't get to share the
experience with you.
(d)
You
may find yourself ruminating about your experiences for quite some time after
you return. One way to prevent thoughts and feelings from consuming your day is
to set a specific time to reflect on the experience, and perhaps even write
about it. It helps to include both rewards and challenges in your reflections,
and to think about what you have learned during your most recent volunteer
experience.
(e)
Give
yourself a few days before you have to resume your job and other everyday tasks
if you can. Try using the first day or two to nurture yourself and to re-connect
with family and close friends.
(f)
Other
than a brief call to check-in with the Chapter, allow yourself a few days (or
more) before seeking even local volunteer Chapter assignments again.
(g)
Try
to get regular exercise – it can help you cope with the mixed feelings
normally experienced by those working on an intense disaster.
(h)
Try
to follow good self-care guidelines: Get adequate sleep – when you first
return you may need more sleep than usual, as your body must recuperate from the
sleep deprivation common for volunteers; eat healthy foods; spend some time in
nature and with close friends; check in with other volunteers to see how they
are doing; spend time on a favorite hobby or activity that gives you
satisfaction; and consider yoga, meditation, or some calming activity that helps
you experience balance and harmony.
(i)
The
ease of your return may be dependant on the level and quality of support during
your volunteer work and upon your return; the presence of recent challenges or
losses in your life (which ideally were taken into consideration during
screening); and the level of hardship presented by your volunteer assignment.
Also, see or give out a copy of ARC document # 4473, 12/91 “Returning Home From a National Disaster Assignment”
Guidelines for Therapists Re: Post Assignment Check-Ins
In keeping with our promise to take care of
one another as we do the difficult work of emergency and disaster response, it
is the intention of our local program and hopefully for all mental health groups
to offer volunteers who are returning from challenging assignments an
opportunity to talk about their experiences in a safe and confidential format.
First and foremost, we want to address the
value of self-care. Volunteers may need to be reminded – given permission –
to take care of their own physical and emotional needs. It is especially
important for therapists to promote the benefits of social support for returning
volunteers coping with difficult thoughts and feelings associated with their
assignments. Be sure to encourage them to consult with trusted friends and other
clinicians if they feel a need to work through any personal reactions to the
situation.
Returning workers are often exhausted and
disoriented. A reassuring phone conversation is both an assessment opportunity
and a way of inviting volunteers to come see us, especially if they are hesitant
about the check-in policy. Please, try to make it easy for volunteers to reach
you as quickly as possible, and try to offer a variety of times and days to
accommodate their schedules. Remind volunteers that they may need a day or two
after their return to transition back, rest, and reconnect with family or close
friends before resuming their usual responsibilities.
The post assignment check-in is not therapy.
It is a safe space to vent about all manner of things, including how the
wonderful institution we all love, the Red Cross, can be tying at times.
If you feel someone needs aftercare, please
talk to them about their insurance plans and encourage them to follow through.
Get their phone number and let them know you will be calling to see how that is
going. Finally, let volunteers know you will help them find a counselor, if
necessary.
You may consult with the Post Assignment
Committee Chair, Diane Cohan, MFT, at (831) 425-5878, or Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
(ARC & MBPA Disaster Mental Health), (831) 420-1109, or drdianebridgeman@hotmail.com
at any time for support or if you have questions.
Thank you for your commitment to public service!