CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More

Crisis & Emergency Services

    Results: 26

  • COVID-19 Control (26)
    JP-1500.1700-150

    COVID-19 Control

    JP-1500.1700-150

    Programs that attempt to control the occurrence and spread of the virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in 2019 that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, which probably originally emerged from an animal source but has spread from person-to-person in many locales as well as to other countries around the world and has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. SARS, another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from civet cats, while MERS (the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), another coronavirus that emerged to infect people, came from camels. Symptoms of the current infection include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Those most at risk from the virus are older adults and people with preexisting health conditions. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. There is no evidence of transmission of the virus associated with imported goods. Strategies for controlling the spread of the virus include testing individuals who have had contact with people with active cases, tracing people who have had contact with people who have tested positively or have contracted the virus, quarantining individuals who have the illness and, in areas that have experienced community transmission, asking residents to engage in social distancing (avoiding large parties, sporting events and other venues where large crowds typically gather). Local authorities may ask that special events like conferences, festivals and concerts be cancelled or rescheduled or may ban large gatherings altogether, for example having sports events take place without on-site spectators.
  • Crisis Intervention (19)
    RP-1500

    Crisis Intervention

    RP-1500

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who are in acute emotional distress; who are or perceive themselves to be in life-threatening situations; who are a danger to themselves or to others; or who are hysterical, frightened or otherwise unable to cope with a problem that requires immediate action. The objective of crisis intervention is to defuse the critical nature of the situation, ensure the person's safety, and return the individual to a state of equilibrium in which he or she is capable of identifying and seeking solutions to the problem.
  • Crisis Intervention Hotlines/Helplines (3)
    RP-1500.1400

    Crisis Intervention Hotlines/Helplines

    RP-1500.1400

    Programs that provide immediate access to support and advice for people who are in distress with the objective of defusing the emotional impact of the crisis, ensuring the person's safety and helping the person to take the next steps toward resolving the problem. Hotlines/helplines are generally staffed by trained volunteers who are available via the telephone, email, live chat, texting and/or instant message (IM).
  • Disaster Preparedness (1)
    TH-1700

    Disaster Preparedness

    TH-1700

    Activities, programs and systems developed prior to an emergency that support community readiness and resiliency assessment; development and testing of disaster plans; training of staff in plan implementation; establishment of collaborative arrangements with other services; provision of suitable warning systems; identification, procurement and/or collection of the facilities, equipment, supplies and trained personnel that will be necessary for responding to an emergency; and development and dissemination of information and/or training about how individuals and organizations can prepare for a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.
  • Disaster Relief Services (3)
    TH-2600

    Disaster Relief Services

    TH-2600

    Programs that facilitate the exchange of information and/or provide short-term assistance, usually in the form of food, clothing, blankets, temporary shelter, furnishings, small appliances or temporary financial aid, for people who have suffered injuries or incurred losses due to a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community. The objective of disaster relief is to help individuals sustain their lives during the immediate aftermath of the event. NOTE: "Disaster Relief" is a category of services utilized by community human services agencies involved in disaster work. Government organizations do not recognize disaster relief as a formal part of the disaster cycle. Most of the services classified as disaster relief are considered by government to be part of disaster recovery and a few (e.g., disaster welfare inquiries) are categorized as disaster response.
  • Domestic Violence Hotlines (6)
    RP-1500.1400-200

    Domestic Violence Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-200

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for women and men who have experienced domestic abuse which may include steps to ensure the person's safety; short-term emotional support; assistance with shelter; legal information and advocacy; referrals for medical treatment; ongoing counseling and/or group support; and other related services. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.
  • Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (2)
    FF-0500.9100-180

    Domestic Violence Intervention Programs

    FF-0500.9100-180

    Programs that offer classes or groups, sponsor victim panels or provide other interventions which help domestic violence offenders understand and take responsibility for their acts of violence and abuse; realize that their behavior is the result of their desire to gain power and control over their partner's life; and make a decision to stop their abuse by looking at the damaging effects of their actions on their relationships, partners, children and themselves. The group sessions address the tactics of power and control; describe the cycle of abuse; challenge stereotypical gender role expectations; and help abusers identify and articulate their feelings and recognize behavior, emotional and physical cues which signal escalating anger. Participants learn problem solving skills, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, stress management techniques, communication and listening skills and other skills that will help them develop and maintain positive, healthy partnerships; and may be ordered by the court to attend or self-refer. The victim panels provide a venue which enables volunteers who have been subjected to abuse to describe the treatment they have endured and the impact on their lives.
  • Domestic Violence Shelters (2)
    BH-1800.1500-100

    Domestic Violence Shelters

    BH-1800.1500-100

    Programs that provide temporary emergency shelter for individuals, primarily women, who have experienced domestic violence/abuse, and for their children. Such facilities usually provide in-house individual, group and family counseling and the full range of secondary services related to domestic violence including referral to appropriate resources. Also included are similar facilities for battered men and those that can accommodate both men and women, where they are available.
  • Domestic Violence Support Groups (2)
    PN-8100.0200-180

    Domestic Violence Support Groups

    PN-8100.0200-180

    Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have been involved in physical or emotional abuse by a spouse or other partner. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; provide emotional support, information and resources for those who participate; and may be structured for victims of domestic violence, those responsible for battering them, or for adults or adolescents who as children were traumatized by witnessing violence in their homes.
  • Emergency Medical Transportation (5)
    LD-1500

    Emergency Medical Transportation

    LD-1500

    Programs that provide rapid transportation to health care facilities for accident victims and acutely ill or injured individuals who need immediate medical intervention both on the scene and en route.
  • Emergency Rescue (3)
    JR-1800

    Emergency Rescue

    JR-1800

    Programs that provide emergency rescue operations and/or lifesaving activities for people who are stranded, lost, accident victims or exposed to other life threatening dangers.
  • Emergency Room Care (4)
    LD-1700

    Emergency Room Care

    LD-1700

    Hospitals and other health care facilities that provide 24-hour diagnostic and treatment services for people who have acute, life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses.
  • Emergency Shelter (1)
    BH-1800

    Emergency Shelter

    BH-1800

    Programs that provide a temporary or transitional place to stay for newcomers, people who are in crisis, or homeless individuals in the community.
  • Extreme Heat Cooling Programs (1)
    TH-2600.1900

    Extreme Heat Cooling Programs

    TH-2600.1900

    Programs that provide access to air conditioned facilities, extend the hours during which public swimming pools and local spray grounds are open, activate street shower sites or take other steps to protect the public’s health during dangerously hot weather. Some communities operate hotlines that residents can call if they see people on the street who are in distress due to the heat so that vans can be dispatched to take victims to cooling centers or other places of shelter. At greatest risk during heat emergencies are older adults, young children, individuals with compromised immune systems and people who take certain types of medication. Existing health conditions such as chronic illness, hypertension, circulatory problems, and obesity can also heighten an individual’s vulnerability.
  • Fire Services (1)
    JR-1900

    Fire Services

    JR-1900

    Programs that are responsible for preventing, investigating, controlling and extinguishing fires. Activities include fire safety education, firefighting, investigating the causes of suspicious fires, maintaining equipment and trained firefighters necessary for a quick and efficient response to fires when they occur, and enforcing fire codes which protect lives and property from fires and explosions arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, or from conditions hazardous to life and property in the use or occupancy of buildings or other premises.
  • Fire Stations (31)
    JR-1950

    Fire Stations

    JR-1950

    Locations throughout the community which house fire equipment and personnel.
  • General Crisis Intervention Hotlines (1)
    RP-1500.1400-250

    General Crisis Intervention Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-250

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who are emotionally distressed with the objective of defusing the crisis, ensuring the person's safety and helping the person to take the next immediate steps toward resolving the problem. General crisis intervention hotlines are available to anyone who is experiencing a crisis rather than focusing on people with particular types of problems such as domestic violence, mental health or child abuse. Hotline staff are often trained volunteers who are available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.
  • Human Trafficking Hotlines (2)
    RP-1500.1400-300

    Human Trafficking Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-300

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for survivors of human trafficking (i.e., individuals who have been abducted, sold, recruited under fraud or pretense or otherwise brought under the control of another person, and forced, by means of threats, intimidation, violence or other forms of coercion, into unpaid or underpaid labor, servitude, prostitution or forced marriage) with the objective of defusing the crisis, ensuring the person's safety and helping the person to get the support they need. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.
  • In Person Crisis Intervention (5)
    RP-1500.3300

    In Person Crisis Intervention

    RP-1500.3300

    Programs that provide an opportunity for people who are emotionally distressed and/or for their significant others to meet face-to-face with someone who has been trained to assess and resolve the immediate crisis, if possible, and to link the person with appropriate resources for ongoing assistance.
  • Information and Referral (21)
    TJ-3000

    Information and Referral

    TJ-3000

    Programs whose primary purpose is to maintain information about human service resources in the community and to link people who need assistance with appropriate service providers and/or to supply descriptive information about the agencies or organizations which offer services. The information and referral process involves establishing contact with the individual, assessing the individual's long and short-term needs, identifying resources to meet those needs, providing a referral to identified resources, and, where appropriate, following up to ensure that the individual's needs have been met.
  • Poison Control (1)
    LH-2700.6500

    Poison Control

    LH-2700.6500

    Programs that provide emergency information, usually on a 24-hour basis, for medical personnel or others who may need to take immediate corrective action to treat an individual who has been poisoned or to prevent such an occurrence.
  • Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Disabilities (4)
    FT-1000.6600

    Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Disabilities

    FT-1000.6600

    Programs that provide assistance for individuals with disabilities who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law. Included are federally mandated programs that are part of the formal protection and advocacy system which includes Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) and the Client Assistance Program (CAP); and independent organizations that provide the same types of services. Protection and advocacy programs provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under federal and state laws, for all people with disabilities and endeavor to ensure full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlements, health care, accessible housing and productive employment opportunities. The programs maintain a presence in facilities that care for people with disabilities where they monitor, investigate and attempt to remedy adverse conditions. CAP agencies (many of which are housed within protection and advocacy offices) provide information and assistance for individuals seeking or receiving vocational rehabilitation services under the Rehabilitation Act, including assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies.
  • Sexual Assault Hotlines (4)
    RP-1500.1400-750

    Sexual Assault Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-750

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who are survivors of rape, incest and other forms of sexual assault which may include steps to ensure the person's safety, short-term emotional support, information regarding the person's rights and alternatives, and referrals and/or accompaniment to resources for medical, legal and emotional needs, advocacy and other related services. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.
  • Substance Use Disorder Intervention Programs (10)
    RX-8470.8400

    Substance Use Disorder Intervention Programs

    RX-8470.8400

    Programs that work with the families and friends and others who are concerned with the excessive use of alcohol and/or use of other drugs by someone they love with the objective of helping those individuals create a crisis in the life of the person as the first step in helping them to recognize that they have a substance use disorder and accept treatment. The program offers a guided process during which groups of concerned others express their feelings about the effects of the problem on their own lives; develop the strength and objectivity to confront the one they love; plan and rehearse an intervention strategy where the individual is confronted with his or her behavior and the consequences of refusing to seek treatment; confirm a treatment plan including financial arrangements and bed availability; establish a date and time for the intervention; and carry out the intervention with the hope that the person will accept treatment.
  • Suicide Prevention Hotlines (3)
    RP-1500.1400-800

    Suicide Prevention Hotlines

    RP-1500.1400-800

    Programs that provide immediate assistance for individuals who are having suicidal feelings with the objective of helping them explore alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Included are local, accredited hotlines, countywide and statewide programs, programs offered by local nonprofit organizations and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of more than 180 local crisis centers. Suicide prevention workers establish and maintain contact with the individual while identifying and clarifying the focal problem, evaluate the suicidal potential, assess the individual's strengths and resources, and mobilize available resources including paramedic or police intervention and emergency psychiatric care as needed. These programs can also help individuals who are worried about the potentially suicidal behavior of another with the objective of helping them identify warning signs and provide options for seeking further help. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated 988 as the three digit dialing code that will replace or supplement the existing toll free number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The deadline for implementation by all voice service providers is set for July 16, 2022.
  • Suicide Prevention Programs (22)
    RR-5150.5000-800

    Suicide Prevention Programs

    RR-5150.5000-800

    Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of suicide through a variety of educational interventions which have the objective of exploring alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Suicide prevention programs help people understand the nature of the problem; the risk factors and warning signs; and sources for treatment and support. Included are prevention programs that address specific target populations as well as those that are intended to reach the community at large. Delivery formats may include printed materials, videos or websites that address the subject and presentations in schools and agencies and to family groups.