DONATE

Safety Planning

A safety plan is a prioritized list of coping strategies that someone at risk of suicide can use before or during a crisis. A safety plan includes six steps (Stanley & Brown, 2008):

  1. A list of warning signs:  Ask, “what do you experience when you start to think about suicide or feel extremely distressed?”  The list should include thoughts, images, moods, situations or behaviors that might trigger suicidal thinking or indicate that a crisis is about to occur.
  2. Internal coping strategies:  Ask, “what are some things that you can do to take your mind off your problems by yourself without having to contact another person?”  Examples might include watching TV, reading, listening to music, going on the internet, exercising/going for a walk, cleaning, playing video games, playing with a pet, or cooking.
  3. People and social settings that provide distraction:  Ask, “who takes your mind off of your problems,” or “where are some safe, healthy places that you can go to?”  Examples of places might include bookstores, coffee shops, the gym, the library, a shopping mall, a park, a church, or a friend’s house.
  4. People whom I can ask for help:  Ask, “who are the people that you feel comfortable confiding in or reaching out to in a crisis?”
  5. Professionals or agencies to contact in crisis:  Professionals or agencies to list here include the person’s psychiatrist and/or therapist, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Grassroots Crisis Line, Maryland Crisis Line, the nearest hospital, local urgent care services, churches/congregations, or 911.
  6. Making the environment safe:  Ask, “what means would you consider during a suicidal crisis?”  Ways to make the environment safe includ removing access to firearms and removing other lethal means, including limiting the supply of pills on hand.

http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/SafetyPlanTemplate.pdf

 

A person at risk of suicide should write his or her plan down and keep it somewhere easily accessible, like on their bedside table, in their wallet, or on their smartphone by taking a picture of it. The goal is to start with step one and progress through the steps, using the least number necessary to stay safe. If, after completing a step, a person is still having suicidal thoughts, he or she can proceed to the next step.

http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/SafetyPlanningGuide%20Quick%20Guide%20for%20Clinicians.pdf

Joe Eldred

Director of Homeless Services

Joe Eldred joined Grassroots in 2023 as director of Homeless Services where he oversees the emergency shelter programs and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. He started his career in homeless services nearly 20 years ago, having previously worked in education, after participating in a homeless count in Seattle. He has held every position in affordable housing from Onsite Property Manager to Director of Housing and Property Management.

Over his years, Joe has run all types of housing offerings including those for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use issues, seniors, farm workers, and those with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. He has also worked with many different types of funding programs including HUD, PRAC 202, PRAC 811, USDA Rural Housing funds and funding services designed to break the cycle of homelessness like Continuum of Care and the Maryland Homelessness Solutions Program. Joe has had the opportunity to see how housing programs differ throughout the country, working in Seattle, Chicago, Harrisburg, PA and Ventura, CA, among others.

Nancy Campbell

Sr. Director of Operations & Corporate Compliance Officer

Nancy Campbell supervises the operations of Grassroots, including HR, finance, emergency shelter, homeless services, case management and facilities. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing organizations’ operations activities, mostly in the human services field. 

Community support is a passion for Nancy. She feels that mental health and homelessness often co-occur, and her goal is to develop strong strategic plans that meet the needs of Grassroots’ clients. She looks to make a difference by effectively working with our programs and staff to explore what we can offer to the community. She pays special focus on efforts that help individuals adjust while in the emergency shelter, as well as those that help them achieve stable housing. Nancy has her PMP, master’s degree in Psychology and MBA, and is currently in school to pursue a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Management.

Laura Willemin, LCSW-C

Sr. Director of Clinical and Crisis Services

Laura Willemin oversees all of the clinical and crisis services at Grassroots, including the crisis line, walk-in services, 988 crisis chat and text services, Mobile Crisis Team, substance use disorder program, urgent care mental health services and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. She joined Grassroots in 2021 having previously served as manager of the Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. She also worked in Prince George’s Child Protective Services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the community.

Laura’s career has been concentrated in intense, fast-paced, high-acuity, safety-related and high-risk areas of practice. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals and families during the most difficult or intense circumstances they may experience through the lifespan. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C).