EXECUTE THE PLAN
LETS TALK LOGISTICS…
MAKING CALLS
Make calls to people the victim needs to contact in order to ensure this agreed upon plan falls into place easily and safely
Ask the patient who they will need to call and offer to make the calls for them. This could include:
Family
Friends
Partners
Coordinating with police
The victim should not have to do this. It can be a barrier to reporting. Make it as easy as you possibly can to get victim space to report their story to police.
Transportation (calling an Uber, ensuring a family member can drive them, calling a taxi, etc.)
If the victim is hungry ensuring they have access to food
WAITING & COUNSELING
It is likely that if the victim decides to file a report that they will have to wait a lengthy period of time. It can take hours for the police to come collect a statement. In this period where they are waiting ensure they have someone to talk to and are made comfortable. This could include but is not limited to offering them a blanket, getting a family member there for them to talk with about the trauma, or may include you specifically listening about their experience and providing trauma counseling.
FORMULATE A PLAN
Ensure you have spoken and outlined a plan with the victim going forward. Make sure to write this in their aftercare discharge paperwork! Are they going to look into counseling? Have you given them access to resources for counseling? How are they getting home or to the police station? Are they going home with a trusted friend or family member? Do they have access to testing?
Ensure these questions are answered before being discharged and the victim feels as confident as they could about future steps.
An excellent way to begin the process of formulating a plan is through asking them the question of, “What can I do to help?” Through asking this open ended question you will be able to target their major concerns and interests.
SPEAKING WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
In many cases especially where the victim has been drugged the victim can experience severe drowsiness, memory loss, and weakness. Therefore, explaining what their options are to them may not be the best if they have family or friends that can help in formulating a plan for next steps so the victim can focus on recovery.
In speaking to the family and friends there are a few aspects that may need to be covered:
What happened to the victim
The victims options going forward
logistical steps on how to carry out those steps
Best ways to best help the victim in recovery
