OhioRISE care coordinators learn self-defense
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OhioRISE care coordinators are prepared to take care of themselves while helping others.
The newest staff members recently learned what to do in an emergency when they participated in a self-defense course from Powers Defensive Tactics in late July.
The Jefferson County Educational Service Center OhioRISE program is a Medicaid managed care program for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs in Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
OhioRISE, which is operated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, was formed to coordinate resources and connect families with available services.
OhioRISE Director Courtney Mason said self-defense training has been part of the program’s care coordinator training since its inception in 2022. Two recent sessions were held, with about 15 care coordinators attending each.
"Once a year, new care coordinators will get registered to attend this safety training," Mason said. "The training is to learn some self-defense and safety precautions to keep yourself safe. They learn basic things like how to use pepper spray."
The course also covered the use of a kubotan self-defense implement. Care coordinators were paired off and trained in techniques to fight back against an aggressor.
Mason said the training provides valuable information for her staff.
"The training includes many interesting things for our staff to learn," she said. "Hopefully they never have to use it, but they have the information."
Mason said care coordinators work in a variety of settings and often meet families who are facing challenging circumstances.
"We do go into the homes and some of the time we are meeting our members for the first time. So this training builds our knowledge on how to keep ourselves safe."
Observation and awareness are among the most important tools care coordinators have, she said. Staff members were taught ways to reduce their vulnerability, including making sure items such as lanyards can be quickly detached and cannot be grabbed and used against them.
Mason said care coordinators also are taught to watch for warning signs when entering a client’s home, including an emotionally charged atmosphere or signs that an argument may have recently occurred.
She said staff members also understand that people react differently to stressful situations.
Fortunately, Mason said, OhioRISE care coordinators have not encountered many serious incidents.
"We could see yelling, arguments when we're in the home," she said. "We have done de-escalation trainings so we know what to look for."
The mission of a care coordinator requires staff members to meet families where they are, Mason said.
"We go into the homes. We meet members in the community. We work with them and their team on their behavioral and mental health needs and goals. We make referrals to outside agencies and community partners as part of action steps of goals created on care plans."
Care coordinators also help develop crisis and safety plans.
Mason said mobile response and stabilization services, or MRSS, are now available in all eight counties served by OhioRISE. Care coordinators can use the services when a crisis arises.
Care coordinator supervisor Jason Headley attended the recent course and has participated in previous training sessions. He said having these skills is important for people working in social services.
"It was a great class going through," he said. "A lot of informative stuff. What to do, what not to do. I really enjoyed it."
Headley has a background as a law enforcement dispatcher and understands the importance of care coordinators having the skills to protect themselves and those around them.
He said care coordinators encounter families dealing with a variety of situations.
"You don't know what you're walking into sometimes," he said. "It was a huge help. A huge benefit. Especially for some of the people who are new to this type of work, new to going into peoples' homes, new with dealing with mental health issues."
Headley said the group setting also was beneficial because it gave care coordinators an opportunity to discuss potential situations and how they should respond.
Mason said she is proud of her care coordinators and the work they do to evaluate clients’ needs and coordinate with service providers using a "wraparound" approach designed to address each young person’s unique circumstances.
"I'm thankful that our staff get the opportunity to learn these skills. I think that it's important," Mason said.
OhioRISE will participate in upcoming back-to-school events as the school year begins, and Mason said care coordinators expect an increase in referrals. The program also continues to hire care coordinators as demand grows.
"We're still growing."
For more information about OhioRISE, call 740-792-4011, email ohiorise.info@jcesc.org or visit the Jefferson County Educational Service Center website.