Adam Shaw
EDCI 566
Purdue University
March 14, 2013
Digital Storytelling Storyboard
Making the Tough Call: A Lesson in Safe Crisis Management Decision-Making
Context:
“Making the Tough Call” is being designed to supplement Sunrise Children’s Service’s existing training in
Safe Crisis Management, a restrictive-holds program used by child welfare agencies nationwide. The
guiding principle of the program is that clients should only be placed in holds when the hold is the least
restrictive intervention. By policy, this is when a client is harmful to him/her self, his/her peers, or
property.
In order to remain in compliance with its accreditation organizations, all direct care staff employed at
Sunrise Children’s Services are required to go through initial three-day training in safe crisis
management. This is supplemented by monthly reviews of all holds and principles as well as an annual
examination and recertification. The audience receiving training is incredibly diverse in regards to race,
experience, and levels of education.
The need for this subject to be addressed is in response to direct care staff’s struggles deciding when it
is and is not appropriate to use a restrictive hold as defined by safe crisis management. By walking
through a story involving someone using this thought process, it is hoped that staff will be able to mirror
it in the workplace. The story will follow a fictional character, Eric, and his interaction with a client,
Robert, as he tries to redirect Robert’s negative behavior using SCM principles.
NOTE: In the final product, the characters’ names were changed. In it, Eric (the staff member) is referred
to as Robert, and Robert (the client) is referred to as Sean.
Sequence 1:
Shot Description: Title slide – “Making the Tough Call: A Lesson in Safe Crisis Management DecisionMaking.” This shot will include an image of an adult and youth talking.
Narration (abbreviated): This is a short story for direct care staff on using the principles of safe crisis
management to make informed and responsible decisions in residential facilities.
Sequence 2:
Shot Description: Introduction of characters (Eric). This shot will include a photographic representation
of the main character, Eric, an adult direct care counselor in a residential facility.
Narration (abbreviated): Let’s begin by meeting our characters. This is Eric, a direct care counselor at a
child welfare agency. Eric is new to the agency, having received safe crisis management training two
weeks ago, and is nervous but having a good time at his new job.
Sequence 3:
Shot Description: Introduction of characters (Robert). This shot will include a photographic
representation of the secondary character, Robert, a client in the residential facility in which Eric works.
Narration (abbreviated): Our second character is Robert, a 16-year old young man who has been
referred to the agency because his father neglected and abused him. Robert is largely quiet and keeps to
himself.
Sequence 4:
Shot Description: This shot will begin with a picture of a playground. It will then transition to a picture of
an empty bench.
Narration (abbreviated): Our story starts during some free time. While in the common area, Eric – our
direct care counselor – notices a number of clients playing a board game with one another. While this is
perfectly normal, he also notices Robert – our client – sitting by himself nearby.
Sequence 5:
Shot Description: This shot will contain a picture of a thought bubble.
Narration (abbreviated): Eric wonders if he should talk with Robert, but he knows that Robert prefers to
be left alone. What if he needs someone, though? he wonders. What if he’s just looking for help?
Despite these thoughts, Eric decides that it would be best to leave Robert alone. After all, Robert does
like to stick to himself.
Sequence 6:
Shot Description: This shot will begin with an image of an exclamation point. It will then transition to the
words being narrated.
Narration (abbreviated): A few minutes pass, and when Eric looks up, he sees Robert standing on a
table, having jumped to it from a table nearby. Suddenly, Eric is reminded of the physical intervention
policy, which says that he is responsible to intervene if the client is a danger to himself, a danger to
others, or a danger to property. Robert’s on a table, he notes, which could damage it, him, and anything
or anyone he falls near, so Eric decides to intervene.
Sequence 7:
Shot Description: This shot will begin with an image of a man walking. It will then transition to an image
of a confused-looking man. Finally, it will transition to the words being displayed.
Narration (abbreviated): Eric begins to walk toward Robert, nervous and trying his best to recall his safe
crisis management holds. While going through the training in his head, though, he begins to confuse
himself. As he works on remembering his holds, he remembers the fundamental social principle of SCM:
least restrictive alternative. According to the least restrictive alternative, Eric should only use a hold if it
is absolutely necessary. Is it necessary? he wonders. But, if I’m supposed a use one if the client can harm
himself and others, shouldn’t I do it anyway? This definitely confuses Eric, who has to make a decision
fast, since he’s coming up on Robert.
Sequence 8:
Shot Description: This shot will begin with two people talking. It will then transition to an image of a man
with his arms crossed.
Narration (abbreviated): When Eric, palms sweating, finally reaches Robert, he asks him to get off of the
table. Robert looks at him for a minute, his eyes narrow, before refusing. “No,” he says, and for a
minute, Eric considers his holds. That’s not the least restrictive environment, though, so he crosses his
arms and leans against the table. Robert asks him what he’s doing, and Eric replies that he’ll just hang
out here until Robert is ready to talk.
Sequence 9:
Shot Description: This shot will begin with a picture of a clock. It will transition to a picture of two people
talking. Next, it will transition to a picture of a superhero.
Narration (abbreviated): Minutes pass, and Eric, despite his nervousness, realizes that he’s doing just
what he’s trained to do – he’s using the least restrictive alternative. Even though Robert could fall off of
the table, the situation is under control, and he’s opened a dialogue between himself in the client.
Finally, after what feels like hours, Robert steps down off of the table and sits next to Eric. Robert tells
him that he likes to stand on and jump between the tables because they make him feel bigger and
stronger. He never had a chance to feel big or strong, Eric realizes.
Sequence 10:
Shot Description: This shot will contain a picture of a group talking. It will then transition to a picture of a
man smiling.
Narration (abbreviated): The information Eric gained from his conversation with Robert allowed
Robert’s team to work collaboratively on a plan to help him develop ways to better feel big and strong
without endangering himself or others. Equally important is that Eric used the principles of least
restrictive alternative and safe crisis management to come to the core of a client’s problem. At the end
of the day, holds aren’t really necessary. What necessary is helping clients, and that requires one to
analyze the situation like Eric has.