After identifying the occupational challenges for frontline violence-intervention workers, this paper draws on lessons from the field in developing effective strategies that incorporate self-care for such workers.
Overall, the recommendations in this paper provide a framework for building strong, successful programs with healthy, motivated, and committed frontline staff. Frontline Violence Intervention (FVI) workers perform a wide range of functions that include responding to the scene of violent incidents, visiting injured individuals at their hospital bedsides, mediating high-stress conflicts, case management, and mentoring. Performing these job functions can be demanding, and this requires training and support. Investing in frontline workers requires that organizations take into account the many ways in which staff can be impacted by the work. FVI worker training should focus on the emotional effects of the work and how to deal with them. Such training should include regular self-care outings as a team. Monthly or bimonthly, the team should engage in group activity, such as hiking, engaging in sports, or going to a movie, so as to get away from the daily stress and trauma-producing events. Self-care practices, which are critical for the health and well-being of frontline workers, will differ among individuals. They can include keeping a journal, meeting with a counselor, music, or strenuous exercise. Staff should have accessible tools they can use to reduce the stress of being exposed to the effects of violence. Effective strategies for incorporating self-care in a violence intervention program include mental health support; staff meetings that provide a safe space for sharing feelings and stressful experiences; training and education about vicarious trauma and how to treat it; staff retreats; and investment in staff case-study training and skill building.