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SIDS Mid-Atlantic

SIDS Mid-Atlantic . Peer Contact Training. SIDS Peer Contacts. Responsibilities of Peer Contacts Procedures for Peer Contacts Relationships between Peer Contacts and grieving families Skills for referrals to professionals Inappropriate Peer Contact relationships Special needs.

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SIDS Mid-Atlantic

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  1. SIDS Mid-Atlantic Peer Contact Training

  2. SIDS Peer Contacts • Responsibilities of Peer Contacts • Procedures for Peer Contacts • Relationships between Peer Contacts and grieving families • Skills for referrals to professionals • Inappropriate Peer Contact relationships • Special needs

  3. SIDS Peer Contacts • WHAT DOES A PEER SUPPORTER DO? • Listening is the most important thing a peer supporter can do. • Similar experiences may enable you to help the family in ways professionals may not.

  4. SIDS Peer Contacts • A Parent Coordinator will give you the name and phone number of the parent you are to contact. The initial contact is made by you, preferably within 24 hours, either by phone, email or in-person visit. • If you feel you cannot be a Peer Supporter at the time you are contacted for whatever reason, that's fine. We'll call you again when an appropriate match arises.

  5. SIDS Peer Contacts • WHAT DOES A PEER SUPPORTER DO? • Offer encouragement, support and information on local resources, literature, and other relevant information as needed. • Respect the confidentiality of the relationship. • Provide follow-up information regarding your contacts to the Parent Coordinator. • Some parents need only one call from a Peer Supporter while other might need a few more. Sometimes lifelong friendships develop

  6. SIDS Peer Contacts • WHAT A PEER SUPPORTER DOES NOT DO • A Peer Supporter does not give medical advice. • A Peer Supporter is not a psychologist or social worker. If you are concerned about the parent’s safety or mental status, please let the Parent Coordinator or the Social Worker know.

  7. SIDS Peer Contacts • Information about YOU • Did you lose a baby? • Baby’s birth and death dates, gender • Complications in pregnancy • Age, race, sex, religion, occupation, education • Number and ages of surviving children

  8. SIDS Peer Contacts • Making the first phone call • Express condolences • Find out if the family wants a peer contact • Gather information about baby’s death: name, date of birth, date of death, circumstances of death • Explain the peer contact procedure • Give the family referral information and contact information for the peer contact

  9. SIDS Peer Contacts • Peer contacts may phone, make a home visit, email or meet the family in a restaurant or other location • A personal visit helps establish the level of contact

  10. SIDS Peer Contacts • Keep a record of your contact with families • Date of contact, name of family, address, phone, email • Specifics of the baby’s death • Overview of matters discussed • Notations regarding status of family

  11. Peer Contacts • Confidentiality is critical • Provide resource information to families for support groups, professional counseling, etc • If in doubt about family’s mental health, have a policy for making an appropriate referral

  12. SIDS Peer Contacts • Peer contacts support the families, they do not counsel • Don’t analyze family members behavior or feelings • Don’t counsel or advise family members as to actions they should take • Don’t advocate on behalf of family members with legal, medical or social service officials.

  13. SIDS Peer Contacts • Peer support means • Be an active listener • Express interest without interrupting • Ask non threatening questions or offer comments to encourage family member to continue discussion

  14. SIDS Peer Contacts • Follow the family member’s lead • Validate feelings • Don’t change the subject • Don’t interject your experiences unless asked • Don’t impose a time restriction on grief • Don’t discuss the next tasks of grief until she indicates she is ready

  15. SIDS Peer Contacts • Phrase suggestions in first or third person • First Person “ when my baby died, I felt better when I…” • Third person: “One family said it helped…” • Avoid second person: “You should… You might want to…”

  16. SIDS Peer Contacts • Discuss irrevocable decisions and help the family member determine when a decision may be delayed • Taking crib apart and storing it instead of giving it away • Moving • Burial or cremation

  17. SIDS Peer Contacts • Guide family members toward independence • Gradually decrease the frequency of your calls • Emphasize the positive progress they make • Downplay your experience to place emphasis on their decision making • Reassure them that they will continue to heal and one day life will seem better

  18. SIDS Peer Contacts • Referrals to professional counseling • Give families options • Recommend counselors you trust • For some families counseling carries a stigma

  19. SIDS Peer Contacts • Danger signs • Refer to professionals if a family member says things like: • “Life’s not worth living without my baby, I just want to be with my baby” • If concerned, ask “Are you considering suicide? Do you have a plan to kill yourself?”

  20. SIDS Peer Contacts • Determine the degree of risk • Calm the person • Refer to coordinator or hotline

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