Jim Cowser of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Daniel Meloy of O2SL & QRT National speak at the Situation Table training in Perry County on June 28-29. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Daniel Meloy of O2SL & QRT National speaks to training participants who represent various public safety agencies, public health agencies and service providers in Perry County on June 28-29. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
The two-day Situation Table training took place on June 28-29 at the Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky, sponsored by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National) 
Michael Botieri of O2SL & QRT National speaks with training participants. Approximately 18 participants from 10 agencies attended the training on June 28-29. (Photo courtesy Operation 2 Save Lives & QRT National)
PERRY COUNTY, KY – Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) & QRT National recently delivered training to Perry County communities on the Situation Table, a strategy that facilitates multi-agency interventions for those at risk of experiencing a crisis.
The training was sponsored by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (HBFF). The two-day training took place from June 28-29 at the Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky and was delivered by instructors from O2SL & QRT National and HBFF.
The training focused on preparing the attending agencies to form a Situation Table. A Situation Table is a unique, risk-based rapid triage model that brings together multiple human service providers to address situations where individuals and/or families are facing a specific threshold of Acutely Elevated Risk.
Following the training, the Situation Table launched and held its first meeting on Wednesday, July 13.
The Perry County Situation Table’s implementation and plans were highlighted by local news station WYMT. See the story here.
Through the model, an individual or family at Acutely Elevated Risk would be referred to the Situation Table for consideration of possible intervention before a crisis occurs. The Table participants will collaborate and discuss the identified risk factors and possible services. Upon reaching a consensus, the Table would identify a team of agencies to attempt to locate the individual or family and connect them to services.
Situation Tables are comprised of representatives from various public safety agencies, public health agencies and service providers in participating communities. The Perry County Situation Table includes members mainly from seven communities. Approximately 18 participants from 10 agencies attended the training.
At the conclusion of the two-day training, participants were asked to describe their experience as well as how they felt moving forward. They shared that the training was efficient, motivational, empowering, engaging and meaningful.
“The Situation Table model is a valuable multisector and collaborative initiative, and we were pleased to bring this training to Eastern Kentucky and to the 10 participating agencies,” said Michael Botieri, O2SL & QRT National Vice President of Business Development. “We thank the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for their partnership in providing the training, and QRT National Program Director Sandra Boucher and the Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky for their work coordinating and hosting the training.”
The HUB Situation Table model was developed in Canada by Global Network for Community Safety (Global Network), a Canadian-based firm that focuses on innovations to improve community safety and wellbeing across Canada and in the U.S. Through the O2SL and QRT National – Global Network partnership, the organizations work cross-border to collectively provide multi-agency community responses to address issues of marginalization, for pre-crisis identification and crisis interventions, while creating pathways to care and support. Their combined expertise and suite of services – based on internationally recognized best past practices – help provide communities with tailored responses to meet their current needs, and the ability to rapidly adjust to an evolving landscape of risk factors including those around substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and related social health issues.
###