The Dialogue: Helping Prepare Communities for the Behavioral Health Impacts of Disasters

The Dialogue: Helping Prepare Communities for the Behavioral Health Impacts of Disasters

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health

eJournal — Volume 9, Issue 1

		Feature Article: Cross-Cultural Disaster Behavioral Health By Shamaila Khan, Ph.D. Research has repeatedly demonstrated the important role that culture plays in behavioral health response in the aftermath of disasters and mass violence. This article discusses the necessity of integrating culture-based considerations into all aspects of disaster response.
		The Shelter Field Guide: A New Resource for Spontaneous Disaster Shelters By Kam Kennedy and Arthur Vliet Recognizing a need to support spontaneous shelter operations more effectively, the Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency collaborated to create the Shelter Field Guide. This pocket-sized guide contains a wealth of information on emergency sheltering that can be used for guidance and training and as a job aid.
		The Healing Joplin Mural: Tree of Hope By Jenny Wiley, M.S.W., LCSW This article describes a community mural called "Tree of Hope" created after a devastating F-5 tornado that destroyed one-third of Joplin, Missouri, and the nearby community of Duquesne. The Tree of Hope mural was created to help the community prepare for the anniversary of the tornado and is a visual reminder of the community's resilience.
		Recommended Resource: Disaster Response Template Toolkit SAMHSA's Disaster Technical Assistance Center has released the Disaster Response Template Toolkit, a new Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series installment. This toolkit contains a comprehensive collection of online resources and editable templates that can be easily tailored to meet the needs of any disaster response program, including the provision of space to add a program logo or contact information.

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