Press Release- Devon Corpus, Behavioral Health

 

Devon Corpus, Monterey County Behavioral Health Crisis Team Supervisor was recently nominated and subsequently selected to receive the prestigious (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation) "ICISF Award", which will be presented at the ICISF 12^th World Congress on Stress, Trauma and Coping to be held in Baltimore, Maryland on February 23, 2013.

Devon has devoted her personal and professional life to the mental well-being of Monterey County Emergency Services Personnel.  She has forged an unwavering one of a kind collaboration between her team of behavior health professionals and law enforcement, specifically with the Salinas Police Department. The Salinas Police Department has developed a unique professional relationship with Devon, which is based on credibility and trust. Protocol for the Salinas Police Department Hostage Negotiation Team is to partner with Devon's team in all SWAT/HNT (Hostage Negotiation Team) callouts.  They train together each month.  Devon was a driving force behind this effective collaboration.  The Salinas Police Department has a valued group of officers trained in individual crisis intervention, peer support and group crisis intervention.  Each of these officers has been trained by Devon and her team.

Devon extended the reach of first responders to include Monterey County 911 dispatchers and call takers.  Previously overlooked, these professionals are the actual first ones to be affected by a critical incident.  They are a vital component to the success of a tragic incident.  They are now, thanks to Devon, part of the team and included in all debriefs.   The collaborative working relationship has proven beneficial time and again.  Devon's expertise has been instrumental in several crisis situations involving barricaded subjects.  Not only does Devon involve herself with debriefs, she coordinates the behavioral health crisis negotiation team and crisis intervention training academy.

First responders are exposed to traumatic events daily.  Devon, who has a family of her own, is always just a phone call away.  She makes herself available and accessible.  Devon has headed numerous debriefs over the years for the Salinas Police Department.  She deeply cares and has  instant credibility.  Her father was a police officer , she has prior military experience from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) at the Presidio of Monterey.  This experience coupled with her education, personality and passion is a perfect blend to unite people during these all too common disturbing events. Devon is an experienced listener with an innate ability to effectively communicate with people.  She leads people to speak and spends the time to explain some of the emotions that an individual may experience.  She does essential follow-up with affected personnel.

Salinas Police Department personnel have had to experience the tragic deaths of several infants, officer involved shooting situations and critical incidents involving mentally ill individuals over the past year.  Devon and her team inject themselves selflessly each time the need arises.  She is so thorough that she has made sure to debrief the debriefer. Devon is in some measure responsible for the mental well-being of many officers at the Salinas Police Department.

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Devon Corpus can be contacted at,

Devon Corpus, LCSW  Behavioral

Health Unit Supervisor – Crisis Team

Natividad Medical Center

1441 Constitution BLVD BDLG 400 Suite 202

Salinas, CA 93906

Phone:  (831) 755-4083

Cell: (831) 252-4464