Damar Response Team – Help when you need it, compassion always

Sometimes, even the best-behaved children get overwhelmed and act out. Every now and then, even veteran parents and caregivers need a little back-up. And occasionally, even the best-intentioned friends or family members can display a lack of understanding about children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It’s times like those that the Damar Response Team was made for.

A free service created to provide support in moments of crisis as well as ongoing support for families in a variety of situations, the Damar Response Team is staffed with experienced professionals who can help de-escalate difficult situations and offer guidance to people navigating the challenges of caring for a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

And you don’t have to wait for a crisis to tap into the team’s expertise. You can call if you feel like a crisis might be approaching or if you simply need help, guidance or tools for care.

Jain, whose 12-year old-son, Huxley, has autism and other disabilities, has appreciated the Response Team’s full range of services. She has called on the team to help when Huxley got overwhelmed and became a danger to himself and others, and she has also relied on the team to educate family members about his disabilities and behaviors. Team members came to her home to help in times of need and also to spend time with family members and friends who wanted to better understand how to support Huxley and Andrea.

“They’ve provided trainings where they’ve gone through everything from what’s happening in the brain when someone is having a panic attack to how to maintain a calming posture,” Jain says. “They’ve gone through all this with our family and some of our friends so we can keep Huxley safer.”

The Damar Response Team can even help families who are just beginning to engage services for their child, assisting them with paperwork, explaining their options and providing additional resources.

The Damar Response Team is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the free services can be accessed in person, virtually or by phone, text or email.

Regardless of how you reach out, Jain will tell you that the Damar Response Team’s value isn’t simply in what they can do for you. It’s also in how they do it. “They respect my son’s dignity and treat him as a whole person,” she says. “It usually takes a while for me to build trust with caretakers and communities, but it was instant trust with the Response Team.”

Support for the Damar Response Team comes from the Marion County Health Department and Damar Foundation.

To learn more about the Damar Response Team or get help now, call 317-409-7138 or email DamarResponseTeam@damar.org.

Call or text 317-409-7138 or email DamarResponseTeam@damar.org