Behavioral health Safety Plan

Oftentimes, physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities are accompanied by behavioral health needs. Hope's Haven staff and leadership are trained to handle a variety of behavioral health needs. Most behavioral concerns can be accommodated at Hope's Haven. However, due to our short duration and training time for volunteers, not all behavioral health needs are appropriate for Hope's Haven. To address this, a tiered safety plan is in place to protect all involved with Hope's Haven. 

Hope's Haven tiered safety plan is based off of 4 levels of care, identified using state standards of childhood behavioral health needs. We assign a child a level based on their application and previous camp experience. We may require a call with a child's guardian to acquire more information. We prepare for this child's needs prior to camp and assign them a volunteer(s) based on level of need. If a behavioral incident occurs at camp, a child may be moved to a higher level of care at leaderships discretion.

This tier indicates a child with minimal history and current presentation of behavioral or emotional disturbances. A child at this level requires little to no personal preventative measures to keep themselves or others safe. Most of our campers qualify for this level of care.

This tier indicates a child who displays moderate behavioral or emotional disturbances. This level is appropriate for a child who has no, or a very minimal, history of violence towards others. At this level a child will be placed with an experienced volunteer and triggers for behavioral concerns will be closely prepared for and monitored. A personalized coping plan will be put in place for this child to make sure they have what they need to regulate.

This tier indicates a child with moderate to severe behavioral and emotional disturbances. This child may become dysregulated frequently. They have no recent history (past 6 months) of violence towards others. A child identified to be appropriate for this level of care will be place with 2 experienced volunteers who have crisis prevention training. An interview will be conducted with parent prior to camp to ensure we have all tools available to help prevent an outburst and to help a child regulate post outburst. Preventative measures will be taken to remove triggers and alternative activities provided as needed to keep camper regulated. 

This is the only level of care that is not appropriate for Hope's Haven. A child at this level has severe or extreme behavioral and emotional disturbances. If a child has been suspended or expelled from school for violence, has injured someone to the point of medical care during a dysregulated episode, or regularly acts out violently towards others they would qualify for his tier. To keep our staff, volunteers, and our campers safe, a child at this level of care will not be permitted to attend Hope's Haven. If a child escalates to this level of care at camp, their guardians will be contacted to pick them up. 

Please reach out to emily@hopeshaventn.com if you have further questions about measures we take to keep our camp safe for all or about your child's specific needs. Emily Brown may contact you after your application has been reviewed if further behavioral health discussion is required.