The Coercion Free Nebraska initiative began with hope for a better tomorrow. Many individuals who were entering the mental health system did so because of traumatic experiences that had lead to this place in their lives. The systems designed to help them were often recreating the trauma individuals were working so hard to recover from. It was determined that any intervention that recreates aspects of previous traumatic experiences or that uses power to punish is harmful to the individuals involved
Through inspiration from children, adolescents, family members, healthcare professionals, and provider organizations, a brighter future was envisioned. A future created through leadership and commitment.
The search for opportunities to become leaders in embracing this new future was embarked upon in April of 2005. Beth Caldwell, M.S. and Dr. Janice LeBel, who serves as Director of Program Management for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s Child/Adolescent Division, presented in Omaha, Nebraska on the topic of Creating ‘Violence and Coercion Free’ Mental Health Treatment Environments. The presentation coincided with the Uta Halee-Cooper Village 4th Annual Symposium entitled Trauma Informed Care: Understanding the Profound Impact of Violence and Victimization.
Following the symposium, a representative leadership
group of collaborative members convened for a Systems Planning Meeting.
The meeting centered on developing and managing an appropriate approach
for implementing a statewide system of trauma informed care. The group
focused on assisting the state of Nebraska in adopting a “trauma
informed system of care” with leadership activities designed to
create and implement a statewide model. The vision is that all providers
in the state of Nebraska who work with youth who have experienced traumatic
stress will adopt a trauma informed system of care.
The meeting built a foundation from which members
of Coercion Free Nebraska looked to:
1. Develop work groups that were voluntary and collaborative
2. Provide opportunities for Peer Sharing
3. Agree upon definitions of Restraint and Seclusion among state leaders
4. Share and communicate data
5. Identify and engage Key Leadership people
6. Enhance the Commitment to Restraint and Seclusion Free Treatment Environments
Quarterly mini-conferences were held to further explore and address additional steps identified. A full Steering Committee was created that encompasses both a strong private and public partnership. The Steering Committee was charged with defining the goal, scope, organizational structure and action items necessary to prepare for engagement of key statewide leadership. Additionally, information about the initiative was disseminated to a wider audience through each mini-conference.
The first meeting of the full Steering Committee
was held on November 17, 2005. Since that time, future goals of Coercion
Free Nebraska have been developed and planning efforts have been implemented.