TIP in Action!

Trauma Intervention Program

Spring—Summer 2016

2016 Heroes With Heart Award Winners!

On April 15, 2016 over 200 community members gathered to honor greater Portland area first responders at Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s 11th Annual Heroes with Heart event! In 2015 TIP volunteers who donated over 17,000 hrs. to

guarantee emotional support coverage remains available 24/7 were also honored for their dedication to service. (story on pg. 4)

When a crisis happens, first responders, police, and hospitals call TIP, and volun-

teers like Trisha Allenwood go wherever they’re needed: to the side of a road after a car

accident, to a home or, as in the Charlton’s case, to the emergency department.

At the hospital with Carmen and Brian Charlton, Allenwood listened as they shared sto-

ries about their husband and father. She took notes when doctors gave updates. She held

Charlton’s hand when it became clear that her husband wasn’t going to make it.

Charlton says because of Allenwood and the TIP program, she feels more at peace about

what happened that day. “Unless you really need them, you really don’t know about

them, but they’re a group of angels out there that make all the difference for people like

me and my son.” Excerpt from MPBN interview—Patty Wight reporter

To listen to the full interview go to:

http://mpbn.net/post/group-angels-provide-emotional-first-aid-mainers

MPBN interview captures the

essence of TIP’s

mission.

1

“All Smiles” Photos from Heroes with

Heart 2016

2

A TIP Volunteer’s Story

3

TIP’s from TIP! 3

Heroes with Heart 4

TIP Training begins October 27th!

4

Inside this issue:

TIP highlighted in

MPBN on-air story!

“Group of Angels”

Provide Emotional

Support to Mainers

“All Smiles” at this year’s Heroes with Heart! (story on pg. 4)

Page 2 Spring—Summer 2016

it also provides the survivor the time needed to slowly process the tragedy. Answers to a survi-

vor's questions around the circumstances of the tragedy, or what is happening now... can be a great SOS. The unknown can be a scary place, a place filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Infor-

mation can bring a sense a calmness to the cha-os being experienced. Advocating for the survivor to have their questions answered communicates to them that they are not in this alone, someone

who understands their desperate need for infor-mation is there alongside them. During moments of silence the best thing I can do for someone is to sit and engage them in conversation, to keep their mind off the

sadness of their grief, is that right?

A simple “I am sorry” or “ I am here to be with you” would be a way to begin. But when there is

nothing to say that could possibly make the most horrible event better, it is best not to speak fur-ther, let the silence sit. Wait for the person you are there to comfort begin the conversation. Be-

ing a source of strength can come in the form of silence, allowing the person to be quiet in their thoughts, allowing them the time needed to inte-grate their feelings. They do not necessarily want

to be left alone, so do not walk away because they are not talking, but sit, be present with them. Stay clear of steering the survivor towards ways in which you find comfort during stressful

events; remember that it is their tragedy, be mindful of what their needs are as they are look-ing for their SOS to survive the next few hours of a traumatic, and most often times, unexpected

event.

Immediately following an unexpected tragedy, survivors are looking for a

source of strength. A person who has just experienced a traumatic event; such as the sudden death of a loved one, a medical crisis or violence, is most often trying their best to find

a source of strength (SOS). An SOS can make it possible for those is crisis to survive the imme-diate moments during the aftermath of a trage-dy. As each tragedy is different for those expe-

riencing the event, so are the ways in which a person survives the event. Those things that can provide stability or control over things out of their control, are individual and unique for

each survivor. What are some examples of SOS?

An SOS can be concrete, such as holding a bible or a pet, clutching an article of clothing or

a special photo of their loved one. Or it can be something you may not expect, such as doing the dishes, folding the laundry, insistence that you sit down and let them make you a cup of

coffee. It may also be engaging in reminiscing about their loved one, sharing tender moments or laughable moments from their lives. Routine tasks that do not require focused concentra-

tion, are activities a survivor may engage in. They can be small steps that allow the survivor to have some control over their experience, and this brings them comfort. Engaging in conver-

sation, prompted by you and then lead by the survivor allows the survivor to share meaning-ful memories, or thoughts that they feel the need to share. To have a supporter alongside

you actively listening is not only powerful, but

Tell us a bit about yourself? Hello, Mary C. here. As a lifelong resident of Portland, I love this city . I'm fortu-nate to have family and many friends here with whom I get to enjoy much of what Portland has to offer. How did you learn of TIP? Upon retiring a few years ago, I knew I wanted to get involved in some type of volunteer program. I felt it was time to give back in some way, join some organization that provided ser-vice to those in need. I wasn't sure what would be a good fit, what group/organization to join. My friend happens to be the manager for the Trauma Intervention Program and she encouraged me to look into join-

ing them.

Can you tell us a bit with us about

your TIP experience? I wasn't con-vinced that I would make a good vol-unteer, not because of any lack of dedication or interest, but because of the nature of what is involved in providing this type of service.

TIP volunteers provide emotional and practical " first aid" in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event. This meant attending 8 training sessions, and then being available 3 days a month for a 12 hour shift. After completing the training, being assigned a "mentor" for the first month of calls, I started to feel more confident. The training is excellent, volunteers always have support from other volunteers , TIP dispatchers and

staff.

What is it about the work that keeps

you involved? . I'm always moved by

the compassion and caring that is so evident when I'm out on a call. From the first responders, from family members, and even neighbors and friends of those

experiencing trauma who want to help. My two years with TIP have been a great experience, much more than I expected. What has surprised you the most

about becoming involved in TIP? What surprised me the most is that being a TIP volunteer is not all about sadness

and tragedy.

A TIP Volunteer’s Story: Mary

TIPs from TIP - Emotional 1st Aid and Reinforcing

Spring—Summer 2016 Page 3

Volunteer Since 2014

Sources of Strength

* Faith

* Friends and Family

* Holding a beloved pet

* Engaging in a routine task,

such as doing the dishes.

Reinforce a SOS by...

* Allowing the person to grieve

in their way, be their alongside.

*Being an information advocate.

*Engaging in reminiscing

* Assisting in calling who can be

of comfort and requested.

*Be mindful of a survivor needs

Like us on Facebook!

Trauma Intervention Program

of Portland Maine

165 Lancaster St Portland, ME 04101

Trauma Intervention

Program of Maine

TIP Advisory Committee Members

Dep. Chief Cavallaro, So. Portland Fire

Jane Cleaves, MBH Board Member Chief Edward Googins, So. Portland Police

Chief David Jackson, Portland Fire

Chief Daniel Jones, Gorham Police

Sheriff Kevin Joyce, Cumberland County

Chief Robert Lefebvre, Gorham Fire

Chief Brent Libby, Windham Fire Mary Jane Krebs, SHH and MBH

Joy Moody, MMC Shannon Moss, Code Gratitude

Chief Robbie Moulton , Scarborough Police Chief Janine Roberts, Westbrook Police

Chief Michael Sauschuck, Portland Police Ed Suslovic, Portland City Council

Chief Andrew Turcotte, Westbrook Fire Chief Michael Thurlow, Scarborough Fire Chief Kevin Schofield, Windham Police Chief James Wilson, So. Portland Fire

Ron Young, MBH Michelle Zichella, MBH

Leslie Skillin, Program Mgr. Phone: 661-6478

Office Pager: 580-7858 E-mail:

skilll@mainebehavioral healthcare.org

“Paddles Raised” at Heroes with Heart 2016

For the past 11 years greater Portland community members and TIP supporters have gathered to honor first responders dedicated to assisting those in crisis at Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s Heroes with Heart Event! Through the work of the Trauma Intervention Program volunteers, first responders are identified and recog-nized for the extraordinary care and compassion they bring to scenes of tragedy. Over $34,000 dollars was raised to support TIP’s work! A special note of thanks to TruChoice Federal Credit Union for being our event’s premier sponsor this year. The staff of this local business contributed additionally when they do-nated their time at the event, selling raffle tickets and monitoring the silent auc-tion tables. Branch manager Becky Watkins shared on stage her harrowing ex-perience being held up by gunpoint while covering the teller station during one of her staff’s lunch breaks. Becky expressed her sincere appreciation for TIP volun-teer Casey who arrived to provide emotional support at the request of the Portland Police officers on scene. The generosity of those in attendance exceeded our expectations this year! During our live “support a TIP volunteer” auction fifty-six attendees raised their auction paddles committing to $100.00 donations! Leslie Skillin, TIP Program Manager shared...“I became very emotional on stage looking out into the crowd and seeing so many paddles raised to support TIP and its work. I believe I can speak for all of the volunteers when I say it meant so much that so

many pledged their support!”

Save April 12, 2017 on your calendars for the 12th Annual Heroes with Heart!

Spring—Summer 2016 Page 4

TIP Fall Training Academy Schedule

Thurs. Oct.. 27th 630-9:30 p.m. Tues. Nov. 1st 6 - 9 p.m.

Fri Oct. 28th 6- 9 p.m. Thurs. Nov. 3rd 6 - 9 p.m.

Sat Oct. 29th 9-5 p.m. Fri. Nov. 4th 6 -10 p.m.

Sun Oct. 30th 12—5 p.m. Sat. Nov. 5th 9-4 p.m.

8 classes in emotional first aid are taught. The skills learned prepare you to be

part of this amazing team of caring volunteers. Contact Leslie to learn more!

TIP Mission

Our citizen volunteers will provide emotional first aid to survivors of tragedy in order to ease their immediate

suffering and facilitate their healing and long term recovery.

Thank you to all of our 2016 Financial Supporters!

Towns of Falmouth, Windham, Cape Eliza-

beth, Cumberland, Scarborough, Cities of

Portland and Westbrook, South Portland

Public Safety, Maine Medical Center, the Eugen Friedlaender Founda-

tion, Rockefeller Trust, Morse Hill Trust, Leonardo’s Pizza, Windham

High School Project Graduation and Windham Parents Memorial dona-

tion, Westbrook Women’s Group, Falmouth Lion’s Club, Maine Behavior-

al Healthcare, Heroes with Heart sponsors, donors and attendees!