DIVISION OF YOUTH CORRECTIONS

1. DIVISION OF YOUTH CORRECTIONS Verbal De-Escalation DON’T LEARN SAFETY BY ACCIDENT!!

2. What is Verbal De-escalation? • Verbal De-escalation was introduced to DYC to help limit the number of staff who were injured on the job. • Verbal De-escalation is what we use during a potentially dangerous situation in attempt to prevent a person from causing harm to themselves or others. • It is the Divisions philosophy, when controlling our clients, to make every attempt to verbally de-escalate any situations in our facilities before the use of physical force. • It is part of our policy, and is taught to all DYC employees.

3. Using Verbal De-escalation • Tactics are non-physical skills used to prevent a potentially dangerous situation from escalating into a physical confrontation. • Tactics have four main categories • Tactics that you use to prevent a potentially dangerous situation from escalating. • Tactics you use to de-escalate the situation. • Tactics that you use to evade or escape from an attack. • Tactics that you use in conjunction withtechniques during a Confrontation to insure your safety. • Some Tactics are: • Distracting the youth • Re-focusing the youth on something positive • Changing the subject • making jokes/lightening the mood • Motivating the youth • Simply listening

4. De-escalating Effectively • To verbally de-escalate a youth you must open as many clear lines of communication as possible. • The staff and youth must listen to each other and have no barriers. • Barriers to Communication are thing that keep the meaning of what is being said from being heard. • List of Barriers; • Criticizing • Name-Calling • Engaging in Power Struggles • Ordering • Threatening • Minimizing • Arguing • Not Listening.

5. Listening • Three Main Listening Skills: • Attending: Giving you physical attention to another person. • Following: Making sure your engaged by using eye contact, un-intrusive gestures (such as nodding of your head, saying okay or asking very infrequent question). • Reflecting: Paraphrasing, reflect back using the feelings of the youth (empathetically).

6. Physical Force • Physical force is used as the last resort and only when all tactics have failed. • Techniques: are physical actions taken against another person in order to subdue, control or restrain them (PPCT).

7. De-escalation Tips • 93% of our communication is non-verbal. It is very important to be able to identify what we are communicating non-verbally. • It is important to understand the non-verbal cues from a person who has the potential of escalating. • You may be trying to de-escalate the situation by talking to the resident but your body language may be showing a willingness to get physical. • While de-escalating a resident you want to be positioned in a non-threatening position.

8. More Tips • AVOID; • Becoming emotionally involved, control your emotions at all times. • Engaging in power struggles. • Becoming ridged in your process. • Promising rewards for good behavior. • Telling the resident that you “know how he or she feels.” • Raising your voice, cussing, making threats, and giving ultimatums or demands. • Aggressive language, including body language. If you see staff engaging in any unacceptable behaviors, appropriately & tactfully, TAP THEM OUT!

9. THE END Division of Youth Corrections Risk Management Oversight Committee