Where do I begin?
Some tips for up & coming L.O.S.S. Teams
Looking to start a L.O.S.S. Team in your community but don't know where to begin? Maybe you are already moving forward, but aren't sure if you're missing something. Below are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to launch a team.
Need a training or consultation?
Download a L.O.S.S. Team Checklist
Know
Your
Community
The first thing to do is to know your community. You want to show you've done your homework when speaking to stakeholders.
Being able to answer the following questions is important.
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What are the suicide statistics for your community?
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What are the community demographics and are there any special populations to address?
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What support is currently in place for loss survivors?
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Who are your key partners?
Establish Credibility
It's important to establish credibility with your key stakeholders. This includes the coroner or medical examiner, law enforcement, and other community members.
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Some of the ways to establish credibility are:
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Determine volunteer qualifications.
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Consult with established LOSS Team champions to develop a training plan.
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Create a volunteer "Code of Conduct" - and include law enforcement and the coroner/medical examiner in the process.
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Include a loss survivor in stakeholder meetings.
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This is a short list to start. There are more things available through various L.O.S.S. Team trainings.
Then
What?
The following items can be done in conjunction with other steps.
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Identify Survivor Resources.
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Identify how to recruit volunteers.
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Create an On-Call Process.
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Determine how and when survivor follow-ups will occur.
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Answers to these questions will look different for your community than someone else's. That doesn't mean we can't learn from each other.
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Consider joining our community and become a member of LOSSteam.com today!