From Sore to Soar

Crisis Situations

At-a-Glance

Crisis (Intense difficulty, trouble or danger) can look like acting-out behaviors stemming from changes in relationships, instability, inability to manage stress, impulsiveness, unresolved family and peer pressures, and developmental issues, separation and autonomy issues, the need for acceptance and belonging, ineffective coping mechanisms, indifference in school, social phobias, truancy, rebelliousness, social deviance, family disruptions, sexual identity, or sex-related (Parsons, 2003).

“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need tomorrow” Robert Tew

Lifelines, Helplines & hotlines

  • Call 911 (if applicable) -

  • Family Crisis Response Helpline: 833-441-2240 - in certain cases, EMS, law enforcement, and/or the mobile crisis response unit will be contacted to assist

  • Mandated Reporting -Kansas Protection Reporting Center - 800-922-5330

  • Inform Police (if applicable)

  • Get screened in emergency rooms, by nurses and physicians. Report family structure, communication patterns, past and current relationships, the strength of marital relationships, and parental experiences. Nurses should provide patient-centered planning, helping patients understand the perception and impact of the problem (risk of self-harm, coping skills, and skills tried to cope with conflict), offering financial, social, and community resources, possible intervention strategies to help return to previous levels of functioning while referring to appropriate mental health service providers. Examine social relationships including who is living in the household, extended family members, friendships, trusted people, community or other activities, financial resources, transportation needs, and occupations (Parsons, 2003).

  • Contact mental health agencies for direct case management services, children and adolescent services, social-emotional waiver services, school services, individual and group therapy services, parent training, medication management, and wrap-around services.

  • Contact developmental disability organizations to ask about support such as the crisis waiver, or another program

  • Complete initial applications and eligibility paperwork. You may need diagnostic paperwork by a qualified diagnostician, IEP, guardianship or power of attorney paperwork, identification cards, screening assessments

    • Meet with a case manager or designated representative to help better understand services and crisis applications

  • Access crisis services (outpatient or inpatient services) - Get placed on waitlists: Waitlists vary due to agency availability, client availability, the clinical scope of practice, location of service, and insurance reimbursement timelines.

  • Follow plans: Work with a counselor to build a crisis plan, define roles for family members, natural support members, and other professionals, Create person-centered planning, support coordination, transition planning, and apply for the crisis waiver

  • Crisis can resolve in 6-8 weeks but long-term mental health treatment may also be needed. Family health will determine how the crisis situation resolves by recognizing strengths and limitations, watching for signs of crisis, seeking help, and accessing resources.

Supportive Advosources

  • ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center

  • Boys Town Crisis Line

    • Website: https://www.boystown.org

    • Phone: 800-448-300

    • Description: Services to boys & families in crisis, with complex health care conditions, fosters juvenile justice reform in the form of rehabilitation & support rather than punishment & incarceration

  • Child Inc.

    • Website: https://www.childinc.com

    • Description: offers prevention, treatment, emergency shelter and advocacy services that strengthen families.

  • Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter

    • Website: https://nwacs.org

    • Description: provides a safe haven and loving care to more than 12,000 children

    • Location: Arkansas.

  • Wichita Family Crisis Center

  • $ Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities

    • Website: https://kdads.ks.gov/

    • Description: Lists community developmental disabilities organizations (CDDO) for persons with developmental disabilities and coordinate with affiliate agencies and other providers. Information on ways to apply for Medicaid funding for staffing and exceptional funding.

  • The Shade Tree

    • Website: https://theshadetree.org

    • Description: Provides safe shelter to abused and homeless women and women with children in crisis; as well as, offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity, and self-resilence

References

  • Parsons, C. (2003). Caring for adolescents and families in crisis. The Nursing Clinics of North America. 38:1. 111-122

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