Advocate Handbook

Frequently Called Numbers STSM Crisis Hotline: (803) 771-7273 or (800) 491-7273 Operators call from: (803) 434-8232, (803) 296-3999, 477-87 To call operators back: Call our hotline number OR (803) 434-6000 FNE office at Palmetto Health: (803) 434-6626 Palmetto Health Communications Center (ask to speak to FNE on call): (803) 434-7222 STSM Office Info: Columbia: 3830 Forest Drive, Suite 201, 20204 Sumter: 533C Oxford Street, 29150 Newberry: 1530 Main St, Suite 201, 29180 Office phone: (803) 790-8208 Fax: (803) 790-8282 To reach staff after hours, call the hotline!

Advocate Handbook Goals of Advocacy: 1) Re-empower survivor in your words and actions.

2) Connect survivor to information and helping resources. 3) Provide assistance navigating systems with medical staff and law enforcement. 4) Create a safety plan with survivor. 5) Stay in your lane: do not provide counseling, investigate, or document the assault.

The Advocate Report Form (ARF) When filling out the ARF, did you… •

Get complete demographic information, phone number, and address?

Crisis Communication •

Provide a safe space for survivor to be in crisis

•

Project sincerity and empathy at all times

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Be attentive to the survivor’s well-being

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Indicate if the survivor wanted follow up?

•

Normalize and validate survivor’s feelings

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Document all other agencies they interacted with?

•

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State services you provided to survivor?

Help identify ways for survivor to regain a sense of control over their life

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Document ethically & omit unnecessary details?

•

Make sure your form is complete and accurate?

Submitting the ARF •

Give call information to staff by noon the next business day (whether or not survivor requests follow-up)  How? Call the office in the morning, leave a

Tips for active listening at the hospital: •

Face the survivor, maintain comfortable eye contact & open body language

•

Be fully present & take notes subtly

•

Do not fill out ARF in front of survivor

•

Focus on what the survivor is saying, not what you will say next

•

Provide encouraging/furthering responses

•

Allow and embrace silence

voicemail after hours, or fax over. •

Must be labeled “CONFIDENTIAL” when mailed/faxed.

•

Original form must be turned in within 1 week.

How to Be an Effective Advocate

Before You Leave Home 

Write down the name of the hospital, nurse who called, & any other information given.

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Freshen up & brush your teeth :)

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Leave a note or tell your family/housemates.

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Make sure to take your hospital bag! It should contain: • • • • •

Survivor handbooks A pen A small notebook A coloring book and crayons Water & a snack for you

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Check your directions.

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Finally, stop to collect yourself & take a deep

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Be well rested, well fed, and emotionally prepared

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Listen non-judgmentally

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Be survivor-focused and trauma-informed

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Act with competence & professionalism

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Ensure the survivor gets appropriate medical care and attention

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Ensure the survivor is appropriately treated by law enforcement

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Intervene when family/friends act inappropriately

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Get food & clothing for the survivor

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Explain services and ask if survivor wants a followup call from STSM

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Get appropriate referrals for transportation, shelter, and other services

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Practice self care after each call

breath. You are going to do a great job!

Hospitals Palmetto Health Richland (803) 434-7000 5 Medical Park Columbia, SC 29203 Clothing: FNE exam room; Food: ER utility closet or FNE fridge Palmetto Health Baptist (803) 296-5010 1501 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29201 Clothing: Trunk in ER storage room at top right corner of nurses’ station, combination 4312; Food: Left of nurses’ station (ask) Lexington Medical Center (803) 791-2000 2720 Sunset Drive West Columbia, SC 29169 Clothing: Social work office; Food: Behind nurses’ station (ask) Palmetto Health Baptist Parkidge (803) 907-7000 400 Palmetto Health Parkway Columbia, SC 29212 Clothing: Doctor’s lounge lockers 13 & 14, combination 4312; Food: Black fridge by triage rm 12, marked “Patients Only” Palmetto Health Tuomey (803) 774-9000 129 N. Washington Street Sumter, SC 29150 Clothing: Ambulance bay storage room (nurse opens), locker combination 4312 (push lock up then pull down); Food: Nurse

Hospitals Inmate hospital calls: If you arrive & survivor is incarcerated or has been arrested, always call staff to determine next steps. Providence Hospital (803) 256-5300 2435 Forest Drive Columbia, SC 29201 Clothing: Rm 125 down hallway marked “1 East”, blue Rhino box combination 7160; Food: Nurse Providence Northeast Hospital (803) 865-4530 120 Gateway Corporate Blvd. Columbia, SC 29203 Clothing: Storage room across from ER rms 3A & 4; Food: Nurse

Newberry Memorial Hospital (803) 276-7570 2669 Kinard Street Newberry, SC 29108 Clothing: Staff Lounge locker 1, combo 7-29-9; Food: Nurse

Always try to make it to the hospital within 45 minutes!

Other Agencies SC Victim’s Assistance Network (803) 750-1200 ext 155 After Hours: call or text SCVAN Staff: (803) 563-7501 For possible short term hotel stay if other shelter/housing is not available. MUST report to LE & give STSM info for billing ASAP. We need permission to follow-up for further connection to shelter resources.

Follow Up As an Advocate, you are the bridge that connects survivors to STSM services. Be sure to discuss the option to get a follow-up call from staff to check in and make sure that the survivor’s need for services and resources are being met. Receiving follow-up from STSM does not mean that the

Transitions Homeless Shelter 2025 Main St

(803) 708-4861 Columbia, SC 29203

survivor has to commit to receiving counseling. Here are some reasons why follow-up may be beneficial to survivors:

Sistercare

(803) 765-9428

Toby’s Place (Oliver Gospel Mission) 1100 Taylor St

(803) 254-6470 Columbia, SC 29201

 To see how they are doing after hotline/hospital call  To check on their safety  Schedule their first appointment  Assist with criminal justice process

The Women’s Shelter 3425 N. Main St

(803) 779-4706 Columbia, SC 29203

Follow Up

Follow Up Here are some examples of how to talk to survivors about follow-up:

In all of these cases, we are still able to make a follow-up call

 “You’ve had a long day and received a lot of information. Would you like for a STSM staff member to call and check on you [next business day] to see how you are and if there is anything we can help you with?”

to check on them and their safety, provide accommodations

 “STSM offers free and confidential counseling services for survivors. Would you like a staff member to call you [next business day] to answer any questions you may have and to get started with scheduling your first appointment?”

for our services, and/or connect them with other resources. If they still decline follow-up, that’s okay! Let the survivor know that our services are available to them at any time and that they have our hotline and office numbers to call if

Here are some reasons why a survivor may initially decline follow-up:

needed.

 The survivor is already in counseling /lives outside our service area

Make sure you collect the following information for follow

 The primary survivor is under the age of 12

up:

 The survivor is not ready for/not interested in counseling yet

 Name

 The survivor does not have transportation

 Phone Number

 The survivor is going to be admitted to the hospital for further care

 Permission to contact survivor

 The hotline caller wants to remain anonymous