Brainstorming About Safety on All Fronts (and Some Fun too) as 2019 Wraps Up and 2020 Begins Big Time!

When looking to see what's going on in one's area, check local papers and listings online and tune into one's local radio station. In the northwest corner of CT that's WQQQ, 103.3 FM, home of the smallest NPR (National Public Radio station in the country, so worth learning about and hearing Marshall Miles who mostly brings smiles to folks but he's not afraid to point out a few things that need fixin' on his own time too.)  Hats off to all bloggers, podcasters and radio DJs keeping people in the know and feeling connected with their area and bigger issues too. That's part of what this blog is intended to do. 

WSBS.com is the community radio station in Great Barrington MA...They can air PSA (public service announcements and put them on their calendar listing) for non-profits... Maybe a go-between group for the NWCT area could help more fundraising and other events be publicized in the Southern Berkshire (Great Barrington, Sheffield etc) area.

The Senior Centers in GB and Sheffield are also open to NWCT folks along with Senior Centers in Falls Village CT and Lakeville CT..so 'it's okay to cross the border..." There are also places  to offer support for families such as CHP, Community Health Programs  in Great Barrington.

Then there are libraries and community centers such as in all towns for libraries and North East Community Center in Millerton NY. Then for women and others who may need help from being controlled, neglected or endangered, there are programs such as  the Elizabeth Freeman Center in Great Barrington MA, and Susan B Anthony in Torrington CT for domestic abuse help or Women's Support Services in Sharon CT, another domestic abuse help center in CT)

More medical, social services and even school programs are warming up to screening for many needs and safety for youth and adults. Some schools are putting more guidelines in place to monitor people who have a felony charge or possibly other concerning behaviors for safety. Still with the laws and guidelines being 'a work in progress' and sometimes missing the mark (and unfortunately favoring abusers or not being implemented effectively or in a timely manner, victims are predictably often not given enough guidance and support. Ditto for their children.

That is a major public health concern few are talking about but see bmcc.org (for Battered Mothers Custody Conference) to consider what American courts and women in crisis are facing. Try to delay marriage at an early age or having a child without much experience. Consider volunteering or otherwise working in a supervised setting to learn about infants and toddlers and young children for 3- 6 months or watch a lot on line with practical tips to understand 'normal developmental behavior' and ways to network when caring for a child with community and other enriching resources.  

As with all services, be aware there are mandated reporters (who may not give you the full list of what they may feel requires reporting to another agency if not the police for a wellness check ,ect..) 

So consider what you share to almost be 'on the air' when using any public, medical, religious and evens social service, etc. Even legal representation may need to report something if you are seeming in danger to yourself or another, putting kids or elderly or others with dependency needs in harm's way or in neglect situations (not appropriately supervised depending on a person's cognitive and physical abilities (including short-term compromised mobility etc.)

 Consider the wisdom of someone needing to be able to know and get out of an unsafe situation, socially, physically and otherwise...and take reasonable precautions, having a baby monitor for sound etc at least if not an actual video of someone who may need help...with their permission and their advocate's consent as well.

 Avoiding problems that can come on with moving, changes in health or mobility, living situations (someone moving in or out of the family due to work custody, or divorce or separation--legal or trial controlled separation as one may determine with safety and legal experts may be options and with written terms approved in a court or other professional manner with both parties voluntarily taking steps if that is really deemed safe and appropriate with the modern understanding from experts in abuse and safety planning about 'higher risk of harm during a break up or talk of changing housing or relationship status, etc'. 

More states are considering having any number of people or services do voluntary or perhaps mandated 'safety assessments'. Victims of abuse, or others who are compromised situations may not be able to assess things as clearly as would be desirable. Ideally everyone would have a team of support and find ways to clarify what practical and social or safety challenges are in their midst and part of their living routines..and then find ways to obtain clarity and safety for weeks, and months with appropriate new boundaries and team players to assist with transitions and monitoring. 

The Safe &Together Institute seeks to educate social workers and others in court settings to understand the ideal of keeping children 'safe and together' with a safe parent, rather then burdening them with more responsibility to prove she (typically) is a good capable parent and not hold the abuser accountable. At the same time some national outfits are voluntarily trying to get 'shared parenting' as the basic plan in all 50 states without taking the advice of experts that say that would leave too many abused women and children in compromised situations, or even dangerous or lethal ones. 

 Such downward spirals of danger can begin during separation or not have 'obvious' signs, but often there are ominous warnings that people miss, possibly even the victims, as serious concerns. There is much to learn and discuss in public forums, but most of the media do not provide much coverage of these difficult matters. See some discussion on livfully.org and mainly on CA Protective Parents Association.

For everyone to get the help they need and deserve from early in life through young adult and even throughout their adult life, people benefit from teams of caring, trustworthy, competent people...and those can take some time and consideration to form. Ideally every state and town would have some 'volunteers' to help with conflicts and concerns before agencies who may need to take more direct if not drastic measures to address.

Accessing some services voluntarily could be done with more reference sheets to help someone feel reasonable about getting some help at public places and then perhaps have a better awareness of what home visits or rides would entail in terms of clearance of entry ways, and mobility in one's home (with things stored in waterproof tubs rather than cardboard boxes for instances to prevent fire hazards or clutter concerns.)

 Secure, heated storage units could perhaps people who are not otherwise prepared to access those on their own or move their belongings for short-term storage (or longer.) Teams willing and able to do moving work in every town would likely be kept busy and could perhaps be funded by a town funds or loans from a non-profit, perhaps through a faith ministry. Then housing for men and housing for women, much like is offered to some at Construct-Inc.com in Great Barrington MA or at a Y (such at Northwest Y in Winsted) could help some people with housing needs.

Every state should have ways to help people get to warm climates in the winter or even cool ones in the summer if a person is truly homeless and needing to live outdoors for whatever reason. Perhaps some defunct cars and vans could be turned into temporary shelters, much like a parking lot but ideally with more personal space and a way to put up some fencing, etc. These are a few ideas that could spur others to consider the needs in their state and local area.

 Whether people need food,clothing, shelter or basic transportation and phone and computer help and access (24/7) along with public bathrooms (and even shower facilities...) and laundry services, these basic necessities should be covered for those in need.

Whether loans or ways to barter or create team alliances (again with non-profits, faith groups and others helping with basic networking), getting people basic help could stave off many other problems. That would include getting people health insurance or services, dental and mental help as well and preparation for changes in the seasons, life or work transitions (even expected retirement and 'positive' moves such as to safer living situations or moving in general.)

With challenges from climate change, groups of people large (or small from fires or local floods for instance) could find themselves without power or facing a bigger challenge in terms of getting to safety or facing some serious changes.

Everyone could have some emergency safety clothing and supplies (blankets, flashlights, baby formula and canned foods, etc) as well as safety plans to keep in touch with people in one's area and family (phoning in to a common number of a family or local check-in center with one's faith, school or neighborhood group if needing to relocate.) Having a cell phone or two charged and with one at all times has become a rather common mode of staying connected, so extending that to all children who can use one such as 5 year olds who can practice etc, would also make sense.

 Having a sign one can put in one's window for a neighbor or a universal "CALL 9-1-1" sign could be a big help to people in a city building who may need help (on the lower floors) who may not have a phone..and for children everywhere to be able to feel empowered to get help if they needed it (again with some basic training and practice if a grown up fell down or said to put the HELP sign up...have a stand and simple way for the child to do that...and ideally a way for the child to call for help on the phone or get the cell phone (stored in a the same place in the home ideally or in one's bag, etc.) 

Just thinking out loud here and encouraging Others to Think Of Ways to Keep Themselves Accounted for and safe (texting someone where one is with an address etc if travelling every hour or two as would make sense... or when changing locations or routines...) and to help others in their circles also check in.

Okay on that note, I'll post this to get the ball rollin'...and Hope everyone's planning for safety with designated sober drivers and routines in general to allow for time and have one's car checked and fueled up with oil checked weekly or so as well, air in the tires and other basics without doing that 'last minute.' Some stations are closed on holidays and finding one 'along the way' may add many miles or far more time than one wants when going to an event. Make it a win-win and Plan Ahead! Best to all for a safe New Year and New Decade on many fronts!