Fires. Car accidents. Natural disasters. Neighborhood shootings. Death. Destruction. These are all events which bring tragedy, sadness and grief. Medical teams are there to aid with the injured. What about the people who weren’t hurt physically though? They are still affected. Who is there for them? The Freeborn County Crisis Response Team is the answer.
Started by the National Organization for Victim Assistance, the Crisis Response Team is a group of volunteers who are trained in giving aid to those who are mentally and emotionally affected by an event. Through trauma presentations, group crisis interventions and more, they help people recover from traumatic events.
“We provide emotional support after traumatic events,” said Rose Olmsted, organizer of the Freeborn County Crisis Response Team.
The Crisis Response Team was started in Freeborn County in 2000. Since then it has assisted in over 40 situations mostly within the county, but also outside of the county. People on the team have traveled to Florida to aid with hurricane relief and also to other cities and towns.
“Sometimes if there’s a big national crisis, people go to the place that needs aid, such as Hurricane Katrina,” said Colleen Thompson, a member of the Crisis Response Team who recently joined.
Thompson is an Albert Lea High School junior and one of two youth on the Crisis Response Team. Thompson said the team is looking for new members, especially youth.
“Since the majority is adults, they want more teenagers,” Thompson said. “Teens go through traumatic things too, so teens can sometimes relate better.”
For instance, Olmsted said they once had a situation where a teacher had been killed. The students were told on the following Monday and that is where it would have been nice to have team members the students age so they could connect better.
“I feel really strongly about having youth on our team,” Olmsted said. “There’s always credibility created with the youth.”
To become a part of the Crisis Response team, an application must be submitted along with an interview. Then 24 hours of training must be completed, which is spread out between three Saturdays. The training involves learning about trauma, how trauma affects different people and how to talk to those who have gone through a traumatic event. Members are also trained in giving trauma presentations.
Along with being able to help people, Thompson said being on the Crisis Response Team is a great way to volunteer and has taught her how to interact with different people.
“I have a lot better idea of how to help people when they are going through a rough patch,” Thompson said.
Olmsted said anyone, male or female, young or old, is welcome to submit an application, as long as they are 13 years of age or older. Thompson said it is a great team to be a part of and would recommend applying to anyone who likes to help people.
“You just have to have a helpful, caring heart,” Thompson said. “What we do is help people and it is so worth it.”
11
‘What we do is help people’
Freeborn County Crisis Response Team seeking new members
“
I have a lot
better idea of how to help
people when they are going through a rough patch.
-Colleen Thompson, junior
How to join Crisis Response Team
• Contact Rose Olmstead at 507- 377-5461
• Fill out an application
• Set up an interview with Olmstead
*must be 13 years of age or older to join
*minors need parents consent
chelsea petersen
guest writer
ALBER
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