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Tips for Up & Coming LOSS Teams

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Thinking about starting a LOSS Team in your community but unsure where to begin? Or maybe you've already taken some steps and want to make sure nothing's being overlooked.

 

Here are a few key things to keep in mind as you prepare to launch your team.

Know Your Community

Know
Your
Community

Start by getting to know your community. When meeting with stakeholders, it's important to demonstrate that you've done your research and understand the local landscape.

 

Before launching a LOSS Team, it's important to understand the following aspects of your community:

  •  Historical and current suicide data

  •  Demographic makeup, include any priority or underserved populations

  •  Existing services and resources available to suicide loss survivors

  •  Key stakeholders and community influencers who can support your efforts

Establish Credibility

Establish Credibility

Building credibility with your key stakeholders is essential. This includes the coroner or medical examiner, law enforcement, and other community partners.

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Here are a few ways to start building that credibility:

  •  Determine clear qualifications for volunteer.

  •  Collaborate with experienced LOSS Team leaders to develop a solid training plan.

  •  Create a volunteer "Code of Conduct," and invite input from law enforcement and the coroner/medical examiner during its development.

  • Involve a suicide loss survivor in your stakeholder meetings to offer a personal and powerful perspective.

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This is just a starting point - many additional tools and strategies are available through various LOSS Team trainings.

LOSS Team next steps

Then
What?

The following tasks can be completed alongside other steps.

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  • Identify Survivor Resources.

  • Decided how to recruit volunteers.

  • Develop an On-Call Process.

  • Determine the timing and method for survivor follow-ups.​

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​The answers to these questions may look different in your community than in someone else's. That's okay - we can still learn from each other along the way.

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Consider joining our community and become a member of LOSSteam.com today!

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