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Dr. Dan Jensen
Educational Resources
P.O. Box 904
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 933-2169
John Absher
Lakeview Living Center
1270 S. Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL
(773) 721-7700
Violence is sadly becoming very commonplace in our daily lives. We see it in our communities, on television, and yes, even at work. Violencs, as we are continually reminded. is a serious problem in the United States. A safe work environment is the right of every service provider. The intent of the presentation is to provide a comprehensive, authoritative overview of what i s known, regarding diminishing the potential for violence. There are strateqies that minimize the risk of violence in the work place.
On a daily basis, service providers are exposed to potentially violent clients. Service providers are among those most often judged to be .at risk for violence. A recent study found that during one month,. 25,000 incidents of violence or threats of violence were reported in Veterans Administration facilities in the United States. A study from the Department of .Justice showed that from 1992 to 1996, more than 2 million people were victims of a real or threatened violent act in the work place.
Service providers continually encounter numerous individuals who see the world as dangerous and unpredictable and view aggression as an acceptable and even necessary response to many situations. We must be continually aware of behaviors that are potentially explosive. Violence is multifactorial in origin. Rarely is there a single cause for a persons violent behavior. Violence does not occur- in a vacuum but rather in response to psychological , social and environmental factors. Violent behavior occurs within a social context that includes both antecedents and consequences.
Despite official recornmendations, many human service organizations have not developed a "crisis plan" to help service providers deal with actual violence, the potential for violence, or procedures to diminish or defuse violence before it occurs.
Violence is so common now, in the human service field, that it is essential that service providers become more aware of situations or circumstances that could compromise their safety. Violent episodes can be defused. The presenters have many years of direct clinical experience in dealing with viols-nt clients.
Today, the human service provider will encounter increasingly violent clients. Service providers must be prepared to react appropriately to potentially assaultive or violent incidents in a manner that helps ensure safety of both the service provider and client.
Specific procedures anti practical advice is given to more fully ensure the emotional and physical safety of service providers,