Crisis Intervention 101
This is usually the first step in a crisis intervention encounter.
What is assessing for immediate safety/risk?
A person reports suicidal thoughts and needs immediate emotional support by phone.
What is 988?
Before approaching a scene, staff should first identify exits, hazards, and this.
What is situational awareness?
This suicide assessment tool is specifically named in the CRT assessment process.
What is the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)?
Who Said That? Client or Staff?
"I’m just trying to make it through today."
Both
A technique that helps reduce escalation by using calm communication, validation, and non-threatening body language.
What is de-escalation?
If a caller reports visible weapons or imminent danger, CRT should conference in this emergency service.
What is 911/MPD?
If weapons are visible or violence is escalating, staff should do this first.
What is disengage/call law enforcement/create distance?
CRT teams are expected to respond to referrals within this timeframe when teams are available.
What is 60 minutes or less?
This annual springtime DC event celebrates the city’s famous flowers.
What is the Cherry Blossom Festival?
This type of question encourages a person to share more information instead of answering yes/no.
What is an open-ended question?
If a consumer is already linked to services, CRT should attempt to coordinate with this type of provider before deployment.
What is a CSA or ACT team?
This communication practice helps teammates stay informed during field responses.
What is regular check-ins?
This certification allows CRT staff to author FD-12 applications for emergency hospitalization.
What is DBH Officer Agent Certification?
Mumbo sauce is most commonly paired with this DC carryout favorite.
What are chicken wings and fries?
This intervention style focuses on empathy, collaboration, and meeting people where they are.
What is trauma-informed care?
A child/youth referral comes in outside CRT child response hours. Staff should refer to this provider.
What is ChAMPS?
CRT staff are generally dispatched in this format unless co-responding with another agency.
What are teams/pairs?
Where are two places you can find CRT's Policies and Procedures?
In the copy/printer room. On Teams on the CRT platform. Also linked in email.
Who Said That? Client or Staff?
"I haven't slept in like.... three days"
Both lol
If a consumer does not meet involuntary hospitalization criteria, CRT must complete this with the consumer and supports.
What is a safety plan?
A team responds in the community to behavioral health crises and helps stabilize individuals in the field.
What is the Community Response Team?
Before deployment, assigned teams should review this if it exists for the consumer.
What is the consumer’s chart?
This protocol explains how CRT informs consumers of their right to choose among DBH-certified providers.
What is the Consumer Choice Protocol?
This U Street music genre, known for live percussion and call-and-response, is considered the official music of Washington, DC.
What is go-go music?