NCJ Number
59409
Journal
Social Work Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 316-317
Date Published
1976
Length
2 pages
Annotation
A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY COOPERATES WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CENTER TO INCREASE SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING IN WORKING WITH EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PEOPLE AND TO EXPEDITE REFERRALS TO THE HEALTH CENTER.
Abstract
TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MOST SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE WITH ADEQUATE FUNDING AND SUFFICIENTLY EXTENSIVE TRAINING, THE CENTER FOR PERSONAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING IN PULLMAN, WASH., ASSISTED THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 3 YEARS IN DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR TEACHING HELPING SKILLS TO THE OFFICERS. SKILLS TO THE OFFICERS. IN THE FIRST YEAR, INFORMAL MEETINGS BETWEEN MALE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND OFFICERS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO MEET THE OFFICERS' NEEDS, LED TO A PROGRAM WHICH ENTAILED THE DISCUSSION OF THEORIES OF SUICIDE AND HOW TO HANDLE A SUICIDAL PERSON, REVIEW OF DIFFICULT CASES, AND SIMULATIONS OF CRITICAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE OFFICERS PLAYED VARIOUS ROLES. DURING THE SECOND YEAR, A FEMALE SOCIAL WORKER ACTED AS LIAISON FROM THE CENTER. SHE WENT THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO FAMILIARIZE HERSELF WITH THE NEEDS OF THE OFFICERS, AND THEN IMPLEMENTED A TRAINING UNIT DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION AND HUMAN SENSITIVITY OF THE OFFICERS. FORMAL PRESENTATIONS WERE GIVEN ON THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS, HOW TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSON, AND ON ROLE PLAYING. IN THE THIRD YEAR, THE TRAINING OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING ON THE PROGRAM. DURING THIS YEAR, A MORE COMPLEX AND EXTENDED VERSION OF THE SIMULATION CRISIS SITUATION TECHNIQUE WAS USED--FROM THIS, MASTER TAPES WERE MADE SHOWING EXAMPLES OF THE BEST AND WORST POLICE PROCEDURES. THE FOURTH YEAR IS BEING USED TO IMPLEMENT THE BEST OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS' EXPERIENCE, AND PERSONAL COUNSELING FOR POLICE OFFICERS IS TAKING PLACE, ALONG WITH SPINOFF PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE CRISIS INTERVENTION. IT APPEARS THAT THE MUTUAL COOPERATION EFFORT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AS BOTH POLICE OFFICERS AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE OTHER OPERATES. (MHP)