Heart Essence TSL Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Update: February 19, 2004

Project Start Date: February 19, 1999

 

 

Contact Person: Nancy Hugo

Phone: 541-757-7812

e-mail: seashell@peak.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heart Essence TSL Center

 

  1. Mission:

    2. Provide and promote a place of compassion and connection for people with issues of trauma, stress, and loss (TSL). The focus is on Safety, Support, Interdependence, Stability, and Communication/Expression.

  2. Purpose:

    3. Provide a safe environment for people with trauma, stress, and loss issues, wherein:

    1. Ideas, images, and emotions may be shared, verbally and non-verbally, in an appropriate manner (discussion groups, music, painting, mask-making, etc.)
    2. Support may be offered/received, as appropriate
    3. Information is available regarding:
      1. Trauma, stress, and loss (signs, symptoms, ways of coping, etc.)
      2. Physical and emotional safety
      3. Self-support and stabilization
      4. Obtaining support from individuals, family, community, and country (national organizations, federal grants, etc.)
      5. Communication/expression of ideas, images, and emotions
      6. Compassion and connection/interdependence
    4. Individual psychotherapy may be requested/received after establishing familiarity with ideas and practicing skills identified in II-C. Availability of treatment depends on center therapist’s schedule.
  3. Activities/Services:

    4. Any activity that serves the purpose of the center would be appropriate, such as support groups, educational groups, self-protection programs, expression through art classes, newsletters, advocacy groups, meditation groups, Internet information-gathering about center activities, therapy

     

     

     

     

     

     

    IV. Who Provides Services:

    1. Individuals and group facilitators who desire to act as resources for people with trauma, stress, and loss issues provide services.
    2. Individuals/group facilitators identify a service activity they would like to provide wherein they have interest, knowledge and skills. A request is made in writing, asking permission to use the facility.
    3. The Activity Organizer (staff member) decides who uses the facility on a day-to-day basis. If a conflict arises, the Board has final authority on the use of the center.
    4. A licensed therapist with a specialty in trauma work will be available on site for consultation and treatment.
  1. Hours Scheduled To Be Open:

    2. Resource individuals/group facilitators may request permission of the center to use the facility during the day or evening hours they desire.

  2. Who Would Come? Criteria:

A. Eighteen years of age and older
    1. Individuals able to follow center guidelines and rules
    2. People with trauma, stress, and loss issues, people who desire to act as a resource for individuals with these issues

Individuals are able to actively work on their issues and/or serve as a resource to others involved in the center.

  1. General Expectations Regarding Conduct:

Individuals may not use the center if:

A. They are under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
    1. They are engaging in suicidal talk (intent, plan, means). A person who is actively suicidal may discuss their suicidality in individual treatment, with a crisis worker, or with emergency room staff at a hospital.
    2. They are loud and/or verbally/physically abusive.
    3. They are engaging in predatory behavior.
    4. They are engaging in homicidal talk (intent, plan, means). Police will be notified.

Group facilitators/center staff identify what conduct will necessitate a person leaving the premises.

VIII. Registration:

A. All people who use the center register, including the individuals who have trauma, stress, and loss issues and the individuals who are acting as resources and who have face-to-face interactions with people who have trauma, stress, and loss issues.

    1. Each individual/group facilitator who serves as a resource will register their own participants and provide the center with copies of their registration.
    2. Registration information will not be available to other resource individuals/group facilitators, the public, or to outside agencies except in emergencies. The registration information will be managed by center staff and placed in a secured site in order to maintain confidentiality.

D. The registration form includes a description of center guidelines and rules ensuring participants understand and are willing to follow center guidelines and rules.

IX. Daily Sign-In:

A. All people who use the center sign in daily upon entry into the facility, including individuals who have trauma, stress, and loss issues and the individuals acting as resources.

    1. Sign-in process consists of filling out a sign-in slip, which will then be placed in a secured box to maintain confidentiality.
    2. Daily sign-in process allows a log to be kept regarding the number of individuals using the center daily.
    1. No Person Will Be Forced Or Obligated To Be A Participant:

Participation in center activities is voluntary. The center is not designed to be used by the judicial system, mental health agencies, or other organizations as a requirement for probation, commitment, treatment, etc.

XI. Documentation of Center Use (Needed for Funding)

    1. Log of center activities and projects
    2. Number of individuals registered
    3. Number of individuals signing in daily

 

 

 

 

XII. Food:

    1. Meals are not prepared at the center
    2. Individuals may bring brown bag meals if it is appropriate
    3. Snacks are allowed when appropriate and if resources are available
    4. Individuals are expected to clean up after themselves
    5. Resource individuals/group facilitators have final responsibility to make sure area is cleaned after an activity

XIII. Criminal Background Check (Safety Issue):

Required for:

A. Center staff

B. Therapists

C. Board members

***Activity Organizer, Support Coordinator and/or the Board may request a criminal background check of anyone who comes on the premises

XIV. Complaints/Grievances:

A. Complaints/grievances are made in writing. They contain the date, nature of the complaint/grievance, possible solution, and the name, address, and phone number of the party filing the complaint/grievance if a response is requested.

B. When a response is requested, the person filing the complaint/grievance will be invited to a meeting with the Support Coordinator, or the Board, or a Board-approved subcommittee. The individual filing the complaint/grievance will be encouraged to bring another individual to the meeting for support.

C. If the Support Coordinator, the Board, or Board-approved subcommittee decides they need more input to address the complaint/grievance, they may consult whomever they desire.

    1. If a response is requested, it will be provided within seven months. This response will be in written form and will have been reviewed by the Board or a Board-approved subcommittee.
    2. All complaints/grievances are reviewed by the Board or Board-approved subcommittee, whether a response is requested or not.

XV. Board of Directors:
    1. Three to seventeen members
    2. Board meetings are held two to three times per year. Additional meetings will be held as necessary for complaints/grievances and other concerns.

 

 

Appendix A

 

Center Staff Positions
    1. Support Coordinator (assisted by Support Consultant as needed)

      2. • Orients/educates individuals/group facilitators acting as resources or delegates this responsibility

      • Helps develop useful responses to problem situations

      • Orients/educates center staff or delegates this responsibility
      • Has overall responsibility for center’s daily operations

    2. Activity Organizer/Coordinator

      3. • Contacts individuals/group facilitators in community who might want to act as resources for the center and arranges for their participation if appropriate

      • Schedules activities, is aware of and coordinates center’s daily event schedule. If conflicts in scheduling develop, makes arrangements as necessary

      • Posts center hours of operation and activity schedule

      • Key keeper

    3. Public Relations

      4. • Collects and disseminates information regarding center happenings to the community.

      • Posts relevant happenings in the community at the center

    4. Information Person

      5. • Maintains informational/educational materials

    5. Historian

      6. • Maintains forms and policies/procedures

      • Maintains log regarding number of people using the facility daily (sign-in information)

      • Maintains activities and projects log

      • Maintains by-laws

      • Maintains registration information

    6. Minutes Keeper

      7. • Keeps minutes of center/Board meetings

      Appendix A (continued)

    7. Treasurer

      8. • Maintains financial records, pays bills

    8. House Coordinator

      9. • Obtains supplies

      • Maintains center as a place with a clean, warm, inviting physical presence

    9. Fundraiser(s)
    10. Therapist/Consultant

• Licensed therapist with a specialty in trauma work. A minimum of five years experience in this field is required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

*An individual may assume more than one of the above positions

**The Support Coordinator, the Activity Organizer, and the Historian are the only staff with access to registration and sign-in information except in an emergency

 

Appendix B

 

Orientation/Education of Center Staff

Includes information, knowledge, and skill-building regarding:

    1. Greeting people and helping them feel safe, comfortable, and welcome
    2. Communication/active listening skills
    3. Center guidelines and rules
    4. Registration and sign-in procedures
    5. Phone use/how to respond to different types of phone calls

Phone calls of a warm/hot line nature will be referred out

F. Emergency Response Procedures (fire, flood, earthquakes, medical emergencies, conduct identified as inappropriate for the center (VII))

G. Location and use of:

      1. Art materials
      2. Informational materials
      3. Forms
      4. First aid kit
      5. General emergency supplies (flashlights, water, etc.)
      6. Fire extinguishers
      7. Cleaning supplies
      8. Phone numbers/addresses (individuals/group facilitators acting as resources, center staff, Board members, emergency facilities, referral agencies, center consultants/advisors)

H. How to identify if additional help is needed and process for obtaining the help (leaking roof, equipment failure, attendance at activity exceeds expectations, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix C

Consultants/Advisors
    1. Grant Writer
    2. Mental Health Advisor (consultant regarding center’s overall structure and functioning)
    3. Attorney
    4. Chartered Personal Accountant (CPA)
    5. Support Consultant (available as needed to help Support Coordinator)
    6. Insurance Agent
    7. Building Maintenance Specialist
    8. Computer Support (technical assistance)

 

 

Appendix D

 

Form for requesting use of center includes:

    1. Description of activity
    2. Goal(s), objective(s) of activity
    3. Expected start date, time, duration (how many weeks or months)
    4. Estimated number of individuals participating
    5. Names of individuals providing services and a description of their skills and background in the activity they wish to provide
    6. Contact phone numbers and addresses of resource individuals/group facilitators
    7. Date of request

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix E

 

Registration form includes:

    1. Description of center guidelines and rules
    2. Date of birth, address, phone number, signature line, and date signed
    3. Information such as medical conditions, allergies, name of physician(s), and who to notify in case of emergency
    4. Information about interests, knowledge, and skills (useful information to have when planning center activities)

 

 

 

Appendix F

 

Sign-in form includes:

    1. Name
    2. Date
    3. Activity/Project
    4. Check box to check off if a person is identified as a resource individual/group facilitator for the activity/project