Disaster Behavioral Health
Training and Technical
Assistance Services
Presented by Amy R. Mack, Psy.D., Project Director
and Michael Lodato, Ph.D.
May 11, 2011
Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference
Overview
1. Define disaster behavioral health
2. Provide overview of the SAMHSA Disaster
Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA DTAC)
services and resources
3. Describe a Federal disaster behavioral health
response grant
4. Discuss needs assessment survey efforts
What is Disaster Behavioral Health?
• After a natural, human caused, or
technological disaster, there are emotional,
physical, cognitive, and behavioral reactions.
• Behavioral health encompasses mental health
and substance abuse issues
About SAMHSA DTAC
Established by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), the Disaster Technical Assistance
Center (DTAC) supports SAMHSA's efforts to
prepare States, Territories, and Tribes to
deliver an effective behavioral health
(mental health and substance abuse)
response to disasters.
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SAMHSA DTAC Services Include…
• Consultation and trainings on disaster behavioral health topics
including disaster preparedness and response, acute
interventions, promising practices, and special populations.
• Dedicated training and technical assistance for disaster
behavioral health response grants such as the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Assistance and
Training Program (CCP).
• Identifying and promoting best practices in disaster
preparedness and planning, as well as, integrating disaster
behavioral health within the emergency management and public
health fields.
SAMHSA DTAC Resources Include…
Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS)
Contains themed resources and toolkits about:
– Disaster behavioral health preparedness and/ or
response
– Specific disasters
– Specific populations
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DBHIS
Installment and Toolkit Topics
• Installments
– Children and Youth
– Deployed Military Personnel
and Their Families
– Immediate Disaster
Response
– Older Adults
– Pandemic Influenza
– Public Safety Workers
– Rural Populations
• Toolkits
– CCP Application Toolkit
– CCP Trainer’s Toolkit
– Disaster Template
Toolkit (in development)
New DBHIS Installment Topics
• Disaster Specific—Behavioral health and response/recovery
issues specific to disasters such as floods, fire, or terrorism
• Tribal Organizations—Cultural considerations and outreach
strategies
• Languages Other Than English—Disaster preparedness and
response materials and behavioral health information in a
variety of languages
• Persons with Functional and Access Needs—Disaster
preparedness and response challenges and tips, behavioral
health impact, and outreach strategies
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Tribal Organizations Installment
Further development of this installment involves a
workgroup tasked with finding and developing
new materials.
If you have materials you would like us to consider
including in this installment, please email Amy
Mack (Amack@icfi.com).
SAMHSA DTAC e-Communications
• SAMHSA DTAC Bulletin, a monthly newsletter of resources
and events. To subscribe, email: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
• The Dialogue, a quarterly journal of articles written by
disaster behavioral health professionals in the field. To
subscribe, visit www.samhsa.gov enter your email in the
Mailing List box on the right and select the box for the
SAMHSA DTAC newsletter, “The Dialogue”.
• SAMHSA DTAC Discussion Board, post resources and ask
questions of the field. To subscribe, register at http://dtacdiscussion.samhsa.gov/register.aspx
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Customer Satisfaction Survey
• Anticipated launch in 2 months (OMB)
• Participants:
– Anyone who requested training or technical
assistance
– Anyone who subscribes to SAMHSA DTAC ecommunications
• Data will be collected on an ongoing basis
• Will inform new product development and
ensure quality of services
Crisis Counseling Assistance and
Training Program (CCP)
• Interagency Agreement between the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Center for Mental Health Services, Emergency
Mental Health and Traumatic Stress Services Branch
And
• Federal Emergency Management Agency, Disaster
Assistance Directorate, Community Services Unit
What is a CCP Grant?
• Authorized under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
• Comprised of two grant programs:
– Immediate Services Program (60 days duration)
– Regular Services Program (9 months duration)
• Culturally competent, respectful and sensitive
to the cultural makeup of communities served
What are the Goals of the CCP?
• Reach large numbers of disaster survivors
• Assess the emotional needs of survivors and
make referrals when necessary
• Link survivor to community resources and
disaster relief services
• Provide emotional support, education, and
basic crisis counseling (by paraprofessionals)
What are the Goals of the CCP?
• Train and educate CCP and community staff
about disaster reactions and interventions
• Develop partnerships with local disaster and
other organizations
• Work with local stakeholders to promote
community resilience and recovery
• Collect and evaluate data to ensure quality
services and justify program efforts
Key Principles of the CCP Model
• Strength based
• Services delivered in nontraditional settings
• Designed to strengthen existing community
support systems
• Anonymous
• Outreach oriented
CCP Trainings
• Grants Training—Provides
States/Territories/Federally-recognized Tribes the
opportunity to send staff to learn the CCP application
and how to submit a successful one.
• Training of Trainers—Provides
States/Territories/Federally-recognized Tribes the
opportunity to send staff to learn the five training
modules that are a part of the CCP and become
trainers for new grantees.
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SAMHSA DTAC
Needs Assessment Surveys
• Two initial surveys:
– State/Territory Disaster Behavioral Health
Coordinators
– Local Level Providers
• Anticipated launch within 2 months (OMB)
SAMHSA DTAC
Needs Assessment Surveys
• Data will inform:
– What the needs are for integrating disaster
behavioral health into their All-hazards plans
– What trainings are needed to build capacity
– What products/tools are needed for successful
integration
SAMHSA DTAC
Tribal Needs Assessment
• SAMHSA DTAC is in the beginning stages of
developing a needs assessment of Tribal
communities about disaster behavioral health
• Goals:
– Better understand DBH needs and challenges
– Identify topics and methods of training
– Gain a better understanding of the intersection
between Tribal, State, and Federal Governments in
DBH preparedness and response
SAMHSA DTAC
Tribal Needs Assessment
• Need input on next steps; points of contact,
focus groups, etc.
– Completed literature review
– Interviewing Emergency Management and
Behavioral Health experts from Tribal
communities and States
– Input will help us develop a methodology for
assessing the DBH needs of Tribes in 2012
Contact Us
For Training and Technical Assistance Inquiries:
• Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-308-3515
• Email: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
• Website: www.samhsa.gov/dtac
Dr. Amy Mack, Project Director
SAMHSA DTAC
Phone (direct): 240-744-7090
Email: AMack@icfi.com
Dr. Michael Lodato
ICF International
Phone (direct): 703-934-3794
Email: MLodato@icfi.com
Thank You and Questions