Our hearts are broken to hear of the recent unfathomable loss of precious life in the past weeks. However, the nature and scale of the impact of the events on the families, community, and our nation makes it challenging to offer words of comfort.
ACES stands up for a safe community where our kids and loved ones can live their lives without fear, without violence. Our society is going through many mental health challenges and support for families is essential. There is too much suffering and also love in the community showing up for each other.
We Pray for the Families of Uvadale and Tulsa and All the Families Impacted.
While each of us chooses to respond to such an atrocity in different ways, at ACES, we take a moment to reflect on what we can do. In addition to honoring the loss of life with our heartfelt sentiment, we wish to share what we do every day to ensure the safety of our clients and families:
Safe Entry and Safe Exit
ACES ensures that anyone who enters the ACES building is a relative, provider, or designated person for our clients. Persons who enter the ACES building are signed in and accounted for using a digital sign-in process. Additionally, anyone picking up a child must be authorized and sign the child out per our guidelines. Our front desk administrators closely monitor the entrance and exit processes.
Daily Site Checks
Our team walks the building every day, watching for potential hazards. As soon as a hazard is identified, immediate corrective action is noted and taken.
Regular Safety Drills
Did you know that we run safety drills at ACES?! We practice safety in various situations, from intruder lockdown drills to fire and earthquake hazards. In addition, we involve the kids through social stories and provide safety backpacks with toys to keep them happy during the training. Safety social stories and activities are available to all clients, and we strive to incorporate them into their treatment plans.
Coordinated Response with Experts
ACES leadership is trained in emergency response. We are prepared to react quickly and support experts in the security field with immediate decisions and the implementation of processes.
First Aid and CPR Training
ACES provides its employees with professional first-aid and CPR training to ensure our children are in the best hands in case of an emergency.
Crisis Planning
Every client at ACES has a proactive crisis plan written into their treatment plan in case of an emergency.
Crisis Prevention
ACES Clinical Leadership is trained in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NCI) to treat and coordinate care regarding each person’s mental and behavioral needs. NCI is a behavior management system owned and managed by Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), and it is proven to be a safe and non-harmful tactic in the event of a potential crisis.
We wish to assure the ASD community that we are committed to offering a safe and secure environment for our clients to thrive.