Michael Botieri, left, and Scott Allen of Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National present during a two-day Situation Table Training session in Brattleboro, Vermont. (Photo courtesy Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National)
BRATTLEBORO, Vermont — Cordata’s Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) & QRT National recently delivered a two-day Situation Table Training session in Brattleboro, Vermont.
On Dec. 10 and 11, 62 attendees representing dozens of agencies were trained at the Brattleboro Fire Department on the Situation Table model, a strategy that facilitates multi-agency interventions for those at risk of experiencing a crisis. Brattleboro anticipates launching its Situation Table meetings within two or three weeks of the training, shortly after the start of the new year.
Michael Botieri, Scott Allen, and Nan Franks (M.A., LPC, LICDC) of Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National delivered the training.
The Situation Table trainings are sponsored and funded through Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s Public Safety Enhancement Team (PSET). Four pilot sites were identified through the PSET Consortium. Brattleboro was the third site to participate in the Situation Table training. The first training was held in Bennington and the second was in Springfield, both in November. The fourth site is to be determined.
The participants who attended the training came from numerous partner agencies, including the Brattleboro Police Department; Brattleboro Fire Department; Windham County State’s Attorney; behavioral health providers, including Health Care and Rehabilitation Services and Turning Point of Windham County; Vermont Department of Corrections, including Probation and Parole; about two dozen social services and community organizations; and state and local government representatives.
The Situation Table model is being introduced to the state of Vermont through PSET, in support of Gov. Scott’s 10-point Public Safety Enhancement and Violence Prevention Action Plan. The governor’s plan includes addressing specific goals that the Situation Table is designed to address.
The training focused on equipping the attending agencies with the skills and lessons necessary to mobilize and launch their Situation Table. A Situation Table is a unique, risk-based rapid triage model that brings together multiple human service providers to address situations where individuals and families face a specific Acutely Elevated Risk (AER) threshold. Situation tables comprise representatives from public safety agencies, public health agencies, service providers, and other community partners.
“Our Brattleboro Situational Table Training session was attended by more than 60 people from dozens of diverse agencies,” Senior Community Engagement Specialist Botieri said. “We couldn’t be happier with the level of participation and engagement we received during the two-day session.”
Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National thank the local project sponsor, Vermont PSET Consortium, and community organizers, including Brattleboro Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Evans, Vermont Agency of Human Services Field Services Director Sue Graff, and Brattleboro Town Manager John Potter, for their hospitality during the training and assistance with scheduling and preparation.
Through the model, an individual or family at AER can refer to the Situation Table to consider possible outreach and engagement before a crisis occurs. The table participants will collaborate and discuss the identified risk factors and potential services. When a consensus is reached, the table will identify a team of agencies to help locate the individual or family and connect them to services.
“Brattleboro is one of four pilot Situation Tables that will be launched in Vermont through Gov. Phil Scott’s Public Safety Enhancement and Violence Prevention Action Plan,” Senior Community Engagement Specialist Allen said. “We look forward to seeing them launch their Situation Table meetings to address violence prevention, substance use disorders, behavioral health issues, and other risk factors through shared community response.”
The Situation Table model was developed in Canada by Global Network for Community Safety, a Canadian-based firm that focuses on innovations to improve community safety and well-being across Canada and in the U.S. Through a partnership between Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National and Global Network, the organizations work cross-border to collectively provide multi-agency community responses to address issues of marginalization, for pre-crisis identification and crisis interventions, while creating pathways to care and support. Their combined expertise and suite of services — based on internationally recognized best past practices — help provide communities with tailored responses to meet their current needs and the ability to rapidly adjust to an evolving landscape of risk factors, including those around substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and related social health issues.
More than 150 Situation Tables have been launched throughout Canada and the United States.
###
Michael Botieri of Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National presents during a two-day Situation Table Training session in Brattleboro, Vermont. (Photo courtesy Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National)
Scott Allen of Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National presents during a two-day Situation Table Training session in Brattleboro, Vermont. (Photo courtesy Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National)
Nan Franks of Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National presents during a two-day Situation Table Training session in Brattleboro, Vermont. (Photo courtesy Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National)