The Dialogue: Preparedness and Disaster Behavioral Health Planning

The Dialogue: Preparedness and Disaster Behavioral Health Planning

Preparedness and Disaster Behavioral Health Planning

		This issue of The Dialogue looks at three important topics that can be addressed well before a disaster occurs. First, we review the steps to "branding" a disaster behavioral health response program and offer the Disaster Response Template Toolkit as a robust resource to assist you in the process. We then look at several issues related to immediate response work, such as shielding family members from unwanted interveners and preparing to support those who are bereft. In relation to these topics, we move to responding with religious and spiritual literacy and competency, two distinct concepts that we can learn and practice prior to a deployment. Download the PDF and Read More   (3.5 MB)

Articles Featured in This Issue

		Special Feature: Branding a Disaster Behavioral Health Program By Steve Crimando, M.A., Certified Trauma Specialist The importance of branding and building a strong, positive identity for products and services like disaster response programs applies equally across both the public and private sectors. Branding products and services before an incident occurs can help community members recognize programs after a traumatic incident. It can also help local planners better understand how and where disaster behavioral health fits into the overall scheme of emergency management.
		Crisis Counseling for Survivors of the Sandy Hook School Shooting By James Halpern, Ph.D. Perhaps one of the most challenging recent disaster behavioral health responses was to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The author explains how service providers focused on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and attended to parents and other survivors to ensure they received both practical assistance and emotional support.
		The Role of Religious Competency and Literacy in Disaster By Peter B. Gudaitis, M.Div., and Frank Levy, M.F.A., M.A. The impact of a disaster on the lives of individuals and the communities in which they live must be understood and responded to within the spiritual, social, and cultural context in which they occur. The authors define religious literacy and religious competency, and highlight the benefits of engaging and working with all faith communities within their jurisdiction.
		Recommended Resource: New Webinar! Mass Casualty: Support and Response This webinar provides information for Medical Reserve Corps team members, Commissioned Corps Officers, and other responders in their efforts to understand and address the needs of survivors as well as promote responders' individual and peer group resiliency. The speakers share information about the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) website, including SAMHSA's guides, pamphlets, tip sheets, the Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series, The Dialogue, the DTAC Bulletin, prerecorded webinars and podcasts, and other disaster behavioral health-related items.

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About The Dialogue

The Dialogue is an arena for professionals in the disaster behavioral health field to share information, resources, trends, solutions to problems, and accomplishments. Read previous issues of The Dialogue.