EMERGENCY PSYCHOLOGY - A MOBILE SERVICE FOR POLICE CRISIS CALLS

• NCJ Number: 56549
• Journal: Family Process Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 281-292
• Author(s): D S EVERSTINE; A M BODIN; L EVERSTINE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Mental Research Institute
• Sale Source: Centaur Publications
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROGRAM PROVIDING CRISIS INTERVENTION BACKUP FOR POLICE IN A 10-CITY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA IS DESCRIBED, AND CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE THE PROGRAM'S OPERATIONS.

Abstract

THE EMERGENCY TREATMENT CENTER, A NONPROFIT AFFILIATE OF THE MENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN PALO ALTO, CALIF., RESPONDS TO CALLS FOR HELP IN CRISIS SITUATIONS (FAMILY DISTURBANCES, RAPES, ADOLESCENTS BEYOND PARENTAL CONTROL, RUNAWAYS, PERSONS DANGEROUS TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS). MOST OF THE CENTER'S CALLS COME FROM ONDUTY POLICE OFFICERS. THE CENTER DIFFERS FROM OTHER EMERGENCY INTERVENTION SERVICES IN THAT ITS RESPONSE TEAMS BEGIN FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AT THE SCENE OF THE EMERGENCY, RATHER THAN SIMPLY EVALUATING THE SITUATION AND REFERRING CLIENTS TO HELPING AGENCIES. RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS, WHO ARE TRAINED THERAPISTS, ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ANY SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. ALTHOUGH THE CENTER DOES NOT PROVIDE LONG-TERM TREATMENT, IT USUALLY SEES CLIENTS FOR TWO TO SIX VISITS AND MAKES A SPECIAL EFFORT TO FOLLOWUP ON REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES. THE CENTER REFERS LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF ITS CASES FOR HOSPITALIZATION, COMPARED TO 40 TO 50 PERCENT FOR MOBILE EMERGENCY PROGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZE EVALUATION AND REFERRAL RATHER THAN TREATMENT. IN ITS FIRST YEAR (1975), THE CENTER PROVIDED SERVICES TO 340 FAMILIES, INTERVENING IN 8 CASES OF THREATENED OR ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE, 38 CASES OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY ADOLESCENTS, AND 23 CASES OF RAPE, ASSAULT, INCEST, OR MOLESTATION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLETED SUICIDES OR HOMICIDES IN ANY OF THE CASES HANDLED BY THE CENTER. MOST INITIAL VISITS ARE CONDUCTED BY TWO-MEMBER TEAMS IN THE HOMES OF CLIENTS AND LAST ABOUT 2 HOURS. MOST FOLLOWUP VISITS ALSO TAKE PLACE IN CLIENTS' HOMES. THE PER-VISIT COST IS $24.14. THE CENTER'S OPERATIONS ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL AND ILLUSTRATED IN CASE STUDIES INVOLVING A FAMILY DISTURBANCE AND A TROUBLED ADOLESCENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)