Disaster Response Team

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1 Disaster Response Team Disasters are difficult to predict and control and are often unpreventable. When a disaster strikes in the community it can leave in its wake destroyed property and lives, as well as survivors and rescuers who must cope with trauma. The AllHealth Network Disaster Response Team (DRT) was created in early 2000 when the State of Colorado joined forces with other community mental health centers in order to more effectively respond to disasters and other tragic events in our local communities. The Columbine shootings were one of the first official community tragedies AllHealth Network responded to as an official DRT. As a part of our mission as a community mental health center, AllHealth Network is committed to providing support through our DRT when large scale events impact our community. Our short term response is rarely reimbursed by payors but AllHealth Networks sees this as a vital service to our community. Laurie Elliott, Division Director and lead of the 35 person volunteer team, shared, "Being able to respond to those directly impacted by a traumatic experience is some of the most rewarding and meaningful work I have ever done. It is a humbling experience and a privilege to be allowed to walk alongside individuals following a tragic event." Disaster response work is not therapy. The team is there to support survivors, be present, and be a listening ear. The goal of disaster response is to increase adaptive functioning by decreasing stress. Responders assist with immediate basic needs and support toward emotional regulation. They take the lead from the individual or agency who requested the response and provide the necessary support. The DRT has responded to significant events, including shootings at Columbine High

2 School, Arapahoe High School, and the Aurora Theatre, and fires such as the Hayman fire, Fourmile Canyon fire in Boulder, as well as other natural disasters and public health challenges in the area. The team mobilizes in a numbers of ways and as a member of the community's overall response network, they are committed to working with partners to ensure disaster responses are always a team effort across agencies. Groups directly impacted by a disaster may contact the team through AllHealth Network's call center during business hours or through our 24/7 crisis hotline if after hours. If recent events are causing you, or someone you love, stress, anxiety, or griefknow that we are here for you. Information and appointments: /7 Crisis Intervention: Denver Metro Out of the Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death overall in Colorado, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) intends to help change that. The AFSP Colorado Chapter will hold its Denver Metro Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday, September 24, 2016 to raise funds to help create a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, research and advocacy, and support for those affected by suicide. Suicide is not a new concern for Colorado and has been the focus of recent government talks and initiatives. In June Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a new bill aimed at suicide prevention, which will fall within the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Department of Public Health and Environment. Each year over 42,000 Americans die by suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has made the bold goal to reduce the suicide rate nationally 20 percent by the year The upcoming Denver Metro walk will help put us closer to that goal. Who: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Colorado Chapter What: Denver Metro Out of the Darkness Community Walk When: Saturday morning, September 24, 2016 Where: Coors Field Why: There is no single cause to suicide, and it most often occurs when stressors exceed current coping abilities of someone suffering from an existing mental health condition. By creating a culture that is smart about mental health, we can help prevent future losses. "Together we are making an impact in educating and empowering our society to help save lives," said Sheri Cole, Rocky Mountain Area Director of AFSP. "The event brings the community together in such a powerful way, and fundraising efforts come back to benefit our local communities." Last year, this event brought nearly three thousand participants to Coors Field and raised over $200,000 dollars. This fundraising event is free, non-denominational and open to the public.

3 Suicide Statistics in Colorado Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death overall in Colorado On average, one person dies by suicide every 8 hours in the state. Six times as many people die by suicide in Colorado annually than from homicide; the total deaths to suicide reflect a total of 22,280 years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65. Suicide cost Colorado a total of $1,053,409,000 of combined lifetime medical and work loss cost in 2010, or an average of $1,217,814 per suicide death. Learn more about the event atwww.afsp.org/denver. If you or someone you know is in distress, reaching out is the first step to safety. The Colorado Crisis Services line offers 24/7/365 support. Call TALK (8255) or text TALK to to speak to a trained professional. Smart-Girl World Denver Workshop On August 4th, Smart-Girl had the pleasure of hosting a workshop with World Denver for the International Visitors Leadership Program. The participants of the workshop were from 23 different countries around the globe including Bangladesh, Kosovo, Rwanda, and Italy. This group was themed "The Role of NGOs in Promoting Global Women's Issues" and members came from a variety of professions including lawyers, government officials, and nonprofit leaders. At the workshop, high school leaders from around the Colorado led the visitors in discussions about building a safe environment for girls, utilizing interactive and

4 innovative ways to tackle tough topics in daily life, and how to be a strong, supportive mentor while having fun. Through the insightful conversations and exciting activities, the international visitors connected with our Colorado Smart- Girls. Both groups learned that the power of social-emotional development and being advocates for our women and girls transcends borders, languages, and cultures. Thank you, World Denver for this awesome opportunity! 5 Ways to Infect Others with Motivation Motivating employees, your team, and yourself. Adapted from Psychology Today by Ronald E. Riggio Ph.D. When I talk to managers, one of their most common issues is difficulty in motivating employees. Here are some (research) proven methods for motivating employees, and they also work for motivating yourself. Positive Affect is Contagious. Being upbeat and positive is a good foundation for motivating others. There is solid evidence that emotions-positive or negative-can "infect" others through a process known as "emotional contagion." So, don't let employees or team members see anything but your positive, "can-do" energy. Remember, positive reinforcement is always better (encouraging positive work behavior) than being punitive and focusing on the negatives. Be a Motivational Role Model. A good leader would never ask a follower to do more than he or she is willing to do. Set an example of hard work and high levels of activity and many of your workers or team members will follow your lead. Be the first one to tackle a task or a problem, and others will fall in behind you. Focus on the Shared Mission. Many people lose motivation because they forget about the purpose. A good leader focuses on the mission of the group or organization and gets people committed to that mission. When motivation lags, the leader can remind followers of what the common purpose is and the importance of the work that they are doing. Set Challenging Goals. Goal setting is one of the best ways to engage and motivate others. But goal setting is a science and requires careful attention to the process in order to be successful. The acronym is to set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. What that means is that goals should be associated with specific, measurable outcomes. They need to be realistic, neither too high (so that they are unattainable) nor too low (not challenging), they should mean something to the individual and there should be a time-to-completion. Celebrate Small Wins. Research has suggested that the best way to drive continuous levels of motivation is to allow the person to experience "small wins"-breaking down a

5 large task into smaller, measurable steps and celebrating the attainment of each step or level. This is the strategy that makes on-line games so "addicting"-as you reach each level in Angry Birds or Candy Crush, or get a small win in your game battle or add a piece to your farm, etc., you are motivated to achieve more. So, the bottom line is this: You can use these motivational techniques to lead groups or teams, but these are also the basics of motivating your children, your students-or yourself. Thank You to Our August Featured Sponsors AllHealth Network STAY CONNECTED: