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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/19/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (5) DATE: March 19, 2003 TO: City Council FROM: Bary Freet, Fire Chief TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council determine their interest in participating in the Trauma Intervention Program, Inc. SUMMARY: The Trauma Intervention Program, Inc., founded in 1985, establishes and operates TIP Chapters in various locations throughout the nation. In each chapter, citizen volunteers provide support to emotionally traumatized citizens and tourist immediately following a tragic incident. This is a support program to public safety personnel. Volunteers assist family members following natural or unexpected deaths, victims of crime, disoriented or lonely persons, victims of vehicle accidents, family members after a suicide, and anyone emotionally traumatized by a crisis event. BACKGROUND: CVAG committees have reviewed TIP (Human & Community Resources, Public Safety, and the Executive Committee) and have referred the concept to each jurisdiction for review and funding. The cost of the TIP program has been represented to be 12 cents per population ($5,125 for Palm Springs). Palm Springs and Cathedral City have operated a similar volunteer program for more than 13 years (Chaplain Program). The Chaplain Program originally covered the Coachella Valley from Coachella to Palm Springs, but the coordination by the fire departments in the east part of the Valley dwindled as the departments shifted from city to county operations. The Chaplain Program utilizes local ordained/professional volunteers and builds upon their training and experience to provide the ancillary counseling and support to the traumatized victims. The cost of the Chaplain Program is less than $1,000 per year total for Cathedral City and Palm Springs --- for paging services and training. The membership of the Chaplain Program does not "minister" to the traumatized person, they are there for intermediary support from the scene of the traumatic event to the Social Services Department of Desert Regional Medical Center. They are also considered to be part of the American Red Cross' mandated (by Congress) duties under the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996 and the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act of 1997. Presently we have four chaplains in the Chaplain Program. The fifth chaplain relocated in January and resigned from the program. Ideally, the Chaplain Program should have seven volunteers. Recruitment and training of additional chaplain candidates has been postponed until it is determined whether TIP will replace it. Our local Chaplain Program is part of the International Chaplain's Ministry, headquartered in Edmonds, WA. A There are pros and cons to both the TIP and Chaplain Programs: • The cost of Palm Springs for TIP would be approximately $5,100+ (another$5,100+ for Cathedral City). • The cost of the existing Chaplain Program for Cathedral City and Palm Springs is less than $1,000 (total). • TIP may not use "professionals" with counseling experience. • TIP would provide the administrative support and training to the volunteers. • The Fire Department provides the administrative support and training to the existing chaplain cadre, with support from the Executive Director of the International Chaplain's Ministry. • Either program could interface with the local hospital social service department. The Chaplain Program candidates have trained with the Desert Regional Medical Center chaplains, so the membership of both programs understands their respective roles. • Either program could interface with the mandated American Red Cross program for aviation support, but the Red Cross program is mandated to provide "qualified mental health professional or support groups". • Recruitment and retention of ordained clergy or mental health professionals for the Chaplain Program has been a challenge. Ideally we would like to have seven to ten volunteers, but we often have had less than six. CVAG provided a draft agreement to the City. Fire Chief Freet suggested some significant modification to the draft agreement to help measure performance, address liability and payment. Following review by the TIP Chief Executive Officer and their legal counsel, the TIP Agreement has been revised. It has now been made clear that the proposed agreement is to be between each jurisdiction and TIP. CVAG is not a party to the Agreement. The City of Palm Springs City Attorney has not reviewed the most current version of the TIP Agreement. Chief Freet has expressed concerns that some of his comments were not incorporated in the revised agreement, specifically: • In order for a TIP volunteer to be contacted, staff at the City's Dispatch Center (PSAP) would call the request to a TIP 24-hour Emergency Dispatch. Presently, the City's dispatchers have direct access to the chaplains through numerous telephone numbers and alpha/numeric pagers. The pager not only provides a method to make initial contact with chaplains, but the capability of providing text messages as emergency circumstances change. • TIP has touted the capability to provide a response by a volunteer within 20 minutes. It was suggested that the 20-minute response be specified to be a 20-minute response, 90% of the time. However, the revised TIP agreement states 20 minutes 80% of the time, and all calls within 45 minutes. CVAG is working with national TIP to establish an advisory committee as a subcommittee of its Human and Community Resources Committee. If the agreement is with each jurisdiction, the relevance of a CVAG Advisory Committee is questionable. 6AJ CONCLUSION: If it is the desire of the City to participate in TIP, an agreement or contract should be established with the organization, which would outlines performance expectations, fees, and liability issues. The agreement would need to be referred to the City Attorney for review. If a CVAG Oversight Committee is formed, a representative from the City should be assigned (the contractual agreement would be with the City and not CVAG). Funding for TIP would need to be identified. y� [Yary Freet, Fire Chief �— APPROVED�-%__:: City Manager d Attachments: 1. Minute Order No. -;3/ �/6-3 TIP HANDOUTS 1. Letter of Support from Captain John Horton, Indio Station Commander, County Sheriff's Dept. 2. Letter of Support from Fire Chief, Michael Warren with the City of Corona 3. Letter of Support from Lou Binninger, a Fire/Police Chaplain and TIP Coordinator w/Yuba-Sutter Counties in Northern California 4. Letter to Chaplains of Emergency Service Agencies Dated 9/18/2001 Re: TIP from Chaplain Lynn Koehn, TIP Coordinator In Lebanon, Oregon and Chaplain with Lebanon Fire Department akerr\Trauma Inter Prog\psnotes.atk i �� RNER;SIDE COUNTY BOB DOYLE, SHERIFF q Sheriff 82-695 DR. CARREON BLUD. • INDIO, CA 92201 (760) 863-8990 March 17,2003 MAR 1 8 Z003 P f Ms. Aurora Kerr Coachella Valley Association of Governments 73710 Fred Waring, Suite 200 Palm Desert, California 92260 Dear Ms.Kerr: I am writing in regards to the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP), currently being considered by the various members of your Association. I was introduced to this program while assigned to the Sheriff s Lake Elsinore Station from 1996 through 2001. Our jurisdiction included the City of Lake Elsinore and unincorporated areas East from the Orange County border to the City of Perris, and South from the City of Corona,to the City of Murrieta. The total population for the Station's jurisdiction was approximately 100,000 residents. The Lake Elsinore Station Deputies requested assistance from TIP Volunteers on a regular basis and do so today. Primarily, TIP Volunteers are called for all major incidents where our deputies find themselves very busy and unable to provide the needed attention to those citizens,including but not limited to family members, friends and bystanders traumatized by an incident. The most common incidents involve suicides,drownings, unattended deaths, fatal traffic collisions,murders and other violent crimes against persons. TIP Volunteers provide appropriate assistance to traumatized citizens immediately after an incident for a short term only. They are aware of services offered by city and county agencies, as well as community based organizations,that provide appropriate assistance for whatever may be needed for these individuals. They also provide transportation,make family notification,offer aid and comfort as well as food and clothing to those they are assisting, on an immediate basis. During my five years assigned to the Lake Elsinore Station,I was extremely impressed with the assistance provided to our department by TIP on every occasion. They were an integral part of our patrol operation and extremely important to the delivery of our law enforcement services to our citizens. Without hesitation,I can advise you that the TIP Volunteers were the most professional and helpful volunteers I've ever worked with in my twenty-seven year career with the Riverside County Sheriffs Department. As the Chief of Police for the cities of Coachella and La Quinta, as well as the Station Commander for eight unincorporated communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley,I sincerely pledge my assistance to you, in helping to bring this outstanding volunteer organization to the Coachella Valley. ,Sincerely, I n M. o r., Captain dio S tion Commander USr lSr U3 13:56 Ne3A '--- '— 49 vui CITY OF CORONA - FIRE DEPARTMENT T1`n ►7:1 915 W.SIXTH MEn7•CORONA,CA 92882-(909)736-2220•FAX(909)736-2d97 1UV'1 +GBH WWW,CLCORONA.CA.US ECRCLEM" Wry o,u. March 18,2003 Ms.Aurora Kerr Coachella Valley Association of Governments 73-710 Fred Waring Drive,Suite 200 Palm Desert,CA 92260 Fax(760)340-5949 Dear Ms.Ken: Thanlc you for the inquiry regarding the City of Corona's Trauma Intervention Program(TIP).As I indicated on the phone,the program is a tremendous success here in Corona.We also have a clergy program in place and the two programs together are a significant asset in aiding the citizens of Corona in their time of critical need. The Fire Department has been a partner with the TIP program for well over 6 years,and we find their service and contribution to be invaluable,During medical,fire or other emergency incidents where there is trauma, either pbysical or psychological, the use of the TIP volunteers has afforded the department the added resources necessary so we no longer need to commit a fire engine with four personnel to assist the victim or relatives.This in of itself is a significant cost and operational savings for the department.hi doing follow up with patients or family members at the hospital,we now request TIP to facilitate these contacts. In the case of families being displaced by emergency events,we use TIP to coordinate and facilitate the needs of the families with other support agencies such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army. The TIP volunteers work closely with our Clergy organizations to ensure the proper counseling and support is afforded where needed. The other community benefits are equally as important.During these difficult tunes facing our country,our National Leaders and State Leaders issued a call for volunteers to assist emergency responders. The TIP program is an excellent vehicle to give your residents a place and forma to answer that call,and feel they are contributing to the security of their community. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to call, Sincerely, Michael L.Warren Fir Chief L�LHU I1U114L�S eavwJ or•t 4r6D v�ar for era era:V�Frrri r. v�� Trauma Intervention Programs Inc. TIP of Yuba/Sutter Counties TIP -"Czfazenshelpingcitizensin crisis" P.O.Box645 Marysville,CA 4590154D] (530)673-9300 March 18, 2003 TO: Aurora Kerr Coachella Valley Association of Government FROM Lou Binninger Director of Trauma Intervention Program, Yuba-Sutter Counties Work 530-671-3160(X-208) Having been a fire/police chaplain since 1992 and the director of TIP since December 1994,allow me to make a few comments about the benefits of both services. Although there are some chaplain programs that are victinn-oriented, most are more employee-focused,but do respond to high profile incidents to assist victims as well. "High profile"incidents would include major traffic accidents with fatalities,homicides, fire with fatalities and officer involved shootings etc. I frequently assisted victims, but with working fulltime for a church,my time available was limited. I was doing 10-15 calls per month.This is why I believed TIP to be such a great service. It would complement the work of chaplains and respond to many more calls than the typical chaplains program would. In this community of 150,000 TIP responds to an average of 40 Calls per month (death from natural or other causes, suicide,homicide,SIDS, accidents of any type, assaults, rape, domestic violence,disoriented senior citizens,burglaries, robberies, drowning, medical emergencies, residential and commercial fires, searches for lost persons). Our 50 volunteers arrive at the scene within 20 minutes of dispatch,24 hours a day,every day of the year. The average call lasts 2 horns. Follow-up,by both phone and letter, is done for every client and a report is sent to the key emergency responders we worked with at the scene, Emotional arid practical support, resources and referrals are provided to clients. TIP serves every law enforcement and fire department, CHP, the ambulance service,hospital system and mental health. TIP people call for chaplains and/or ministers as requested by the clients. At other times,chaplains call for the assistance of TIP workers. All in all, the level of customer care has increased with the implementation of TIP. This doesn't mean that chaplains were not doing a good job prior to TIP.It simply reveals that we are now able to provide more care for what we call the"hidden" or"secondary"victims of an incident, those not physically injured but emotionally traumatized. I would be happy to consider any questions from your department leaders about TIP, chaplains and our emergency response system. 1991 Winner Innovations in State and Local Covvm rent An Awards Program of the Ford Foundation and Harvard University TIP of LINN COUNTY Trauma 1050 W. Oak street Lebanon, OR. 97355 TIP Intervention (541) 916-9160 Ikoehn(adnc.net Programs Inc. "Citizens helping citizens in crisis" Date: September 18, 2001 To: Chaplains of Emergency Service Agencies From: Lynn Koehn, Chaplain Re: Trauma Intervention Programs from the Chaplains perspective Dear Chaplain, As a fellow Chaplain working in the emergency response system I highly recommend the Trauma Intervention Program. TIP Volunteers enhance services provided by the local Chaplain by assisting with emotional and practical needs of traumatized citizens in the community whom he or she serves. TIP Volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Local Chaplains experience a sense of relief Imowing that emotional and practical needs of fellow citizens are being met during times, due to logistics or availability, he or she is not able to respond. Occasionally a Chaplain may sense the feeling of being overwhelmed where more than one family unit is involved in the same crisis event. TIP volunteers are called upon to simultaneously meet the emotional and practical needs of multiple families involved. Chaplains depend on TIP volunteers to meet emotional and practical needs of other family members, friends and by-standers while spiritual guidance and care is being provided to those desiring their expertise. Winner Innovations in State and Local Government An Awards Program of the Ford Foundation and Harvard University The intent of a TIP volunteer and TIP National is not to hinder or replace the role of the local Chaplain. In such instances where a TIP volunteer responds to a call where the_Chaplain is present the TIP volunteer quietly remains in the background until excused.by the emergency caregiver in,charge of the incident. Tip volunteers are trained specifically to refer distraught orltraumatized family members desiring spiritual care to the Chaplain and/or a clergy person of their choosing. As we know, the career of an Emergency Care Giver is relatively short due to the emotional stress he or she experiences day after day. It is the primary responsibility of a department Chaplain to look after the emotional well-being of those within his or her department, especially during traumatic situations. During such times he or she is able to breathe a bit easier knowing the emotional and practical needs of family and friends affected by crisis are being met by a TIP volunteer. Funding Fire Departments, Police Departments and Hospitals is becoming more and more competitive. Citizens are requiring more and better service from local Emergency Service Agencies. TIP is an additional service Emergency Service Agencies are able to offer citizens in our communities at no cost to them. Local citizens tend to be more supportive of the emergency service community when they are invited by them to be involved in the health and welfare of other people in their community. From my perspective, the emergency service agencies and the community at large welcome services provided by TIP volunteers. I ask that you consider welcoming them into yours. Respectfiilly, Lynn Koehn, Chaplain -2- MINUTE ORDER NO. AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM, INC., WHICH OUTLINES THE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS, FEES AND LIABILITY ISSUES, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003. ------------------ I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, authorizing the negotiation of an agreement with Trauma Intervention Program, Inc., which outlines the performance expectations, fees and liability issues, effective July 1, 2003, was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the 191h day of March, 2003. PATRICIA A. SANDERS City Clerk