WHAT, HOW, AND WHYWE BUILD SAFE SPACESCrystal Hutchins, Rebekah Lewis, Jordan Scruggs, Jules Wilson

Statewide Young Adult Leadership Council

REFRESHER: Who makes up the YALC?

youth and young adults ages 16-30self-identify as living with mental illness,substance abuse, and/or systemsinvolvement (e.g. foster care, child welfare,juvenile justice, housing, etc.)

REW

Come as you are!

REFRESHER: We welcomesupportive adults too!

young adults age 30 and overfriendsstaff and providersparents

REsu

All we ask is that you recognize that this is a youth-driven space that prioritizesthe voices and emotional safety of Y/YA.

REFRESHER: Why do we meet?

connect with peersgain leadership skillsgive feedback on state initiatives, such asthe Certified Young Adult Peer SupportSpecialist programlearn how to use our voices to help otheryoung people

REW

REFRESHER: How are we able to meet?REHow are we able to meet

WE ARE HEREBECAUSEYOUNG ADULTSDESERVE ASEAT AT THETABLEAnd we have expertiseto share

WE ARETHEFUTURE OFPEERSUPPORT

HOW: How can you use bestpractices to create and maintaina safe space?

WHY: Why is it essential for ALLpeer support spaces to be safespaces?

WHAT: What does a "safe space"actually encompass?

WHAT ARE SOME GROUPNORMS TO SET FOR THISCONVERSATION?

WHAT MAKES ASPACE SAFE?

empowering everyone to participatesupportive and validatingkind and respectful even when disagreeingpatient and calm atmosphereestablishes and follows group norms

no fear of retaliation or punishment for speakinghonestlyno fear of physical or emotional harmno yelling

We are used to havingdifficult conversationsbecause that's what theyouth peer movement isall about.

youthculture

feedbackloop

SAFE SPACES ARE FOR EVERYONE

The other point of creating a safe space is to make itsafe for someone to RESPOND

We want to make sure that people with a wide variety oflived experiences and backgrounds can communicate

effectively with each other about difficult topics

SAFE SPACES ARE FOR EVERYONE

We all speak different "languages", and safe spaceshelp us create a shared language.

Conferences like this help us meet people where they areand create bridges of connection.

We want to talk with you and hear your perspectives.

We feel safe here.

HOW DO YOUCREATE A SAFESPACE?

We Created GroupNorms

Group norms put everyone on an evenfooting

To have difficult conversations, everyoneparticipating needs to know that it issafe to talk

Builds trust

Lessens the fear that speaking up couldget someone in trouble

We Created GroupNorms

We review them at every meeting, nomatter what

We're always open to adding oramending them

They're specific to our group of youngadults

CREATE ANDMAINTAIN ASAFE SPACE

1.

Each person, along with theiropinion, should be respected.

If at any time you feeluncomfortable with an opinion ortopic, you can always mute theconversation to ensure yourcomfort, as well as the otherparticipants' comfort.

2. DO NOT CALLON OTHERS

Each participant will have theirown opinion and experiences withthis topic, but some individualsparticipate in different ways thanothers. To avoid making othersuncomfortable, please let eachperson speak at their owndiscretion.

3. ASSUME THATEVERYONE HAS THEBEST INTENTIONS

Use "I" statements"

Use "Yes, and" statements

Avoid the word "but"

4. PRIORITIZECONFIDENTIALITY

What is said here stays here.

Make sure everyone knows whatpotential exceptions to this maybe (due to legal or agencyrequirements).

5. USE PREFERREDNAMES ANDPRONOUNS

If their paperwork has a differentname or pronoun on there, makesure you use the one theindividual is telling you to use.

Respect everyone's right to go bytheir preferred name and/orpronoun.

You can always designatesomeone to look out forinterruptions. Or create asymbol/sign for wheninterruptions are happening.

In order to respect everyone'stime and thoughts, we will makesure that we do not interruptanother member.

6. ONE MIC ONLY

7. WE ARE ALL HERETO LEARN

We are all always growing andlearning new things. We don'tknow everything.

8.

None of us are perfect.

WE USE HART'SLADDER

to determine how much agency weactually have in spaces

to ensure we are not beingtokenized (staying above thebottom rungs of the ladder)

to have more goals to reach forwhen it comes toparticipation/involvement

YOU CAN USEHART'S LADDER

to determine how much involvementyou want from your peers in yourgroups, events, spaces, etc.

to ensure your peers are not beingtokenized (avoiding those bottomthree rungs)

to create goals for your agency ororganization about how you want toget your peers more involved

We prepareparticipants to havehealthy expectations.

We call this a "head's up!"

Ensure participants have wellness plans

It's not a question of if but WHEN someone may betriggeredDo they have a WRAP plan? Wellness tools?How can you support someone who becomes triggered inyour space?

Share the pros/cons of participation

What do your peers have to gain by participating in yourevent/group/activity?What are they risking?

How will your peer's presence benefit others?How will your peer's presence present risks to others?

And also:

WE STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF PEER SUPPORTLived experiences are important

WHY ARE SAFESPACES SOIMPORTANT INPEERSUPPORT?

For a very long time, ithasn't been safe to talkabout mental health

According to the WHO:

"Despite the existence of effective treatments formental disorders, there is a belief...that people withmental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, orincapable of making decisions. This stigma can leadto abuse, rejection and isolation and exclude peoplefrom health care or support. Within the health system,people are too often treated in institutions whichresemble human warehouses rather than places ofhealing."

MENTAL HEALTHDIAGNOSES HAVEPREVENTEDPEOPLE FROM:

Maintaining interpersonalrelationshipsHaving access to properhealthcareExploring new environments

WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOUNGADULTS IN PARTICULAR?

HOW HARD COULD IT BE?

CHILD SYSTEMS

EDUCATION

CHILD WELFARE

JUVENILE JUSTICE

MENTAL HEALTH

MEDICAID

HEALTH INSURANCE

ADULT SYSTEMS

IT IS OURRESPONSIBILITY TOMAKE OUR SPACESAS SAFE AND OPENAS POSSIBLE

So when peers DO come, theyfeel welcome

WE MODEL WHAT ASAFE SPACE LOOKS LIKEFOR THOSE WHO HAVENEVER BEEN IN ONE

CREATING A SAFESPACE ISACCOMMODATINGFOR TRAUMA

THE POINT OFACCESSIBILITY IS TOINCREASE THENUMBER OF PEOPLEAT THE TABLE

USING THESE BESTPRACTICES IS AWAY OF SAYING:

"I AM MAKINGSPACE FOR YOU"

EACH OF US HASA PIECE OF THEPUZZLE

We need all the pieces and all thepeople at the table

If we're not talking to each other, wedon't know who has what answer orpuzzle piece

Contact us!

Jules WilsonTennessee Department of Mental Healthand Substance Abuse ServicesYouth and Young Adult Coordinatorjules.wilson@tn.gov

Healthy Transitions Social MediaInstagram and Twitter: @ht_tn

Facebook: Tennessee Healthy Transitions InitiativeWebsite:https://tnhealthytransitions.org/