1st Edition

Behavioral Health Response to Disasters

Edited By Julie Framingham, Martell L. Teasley Copyright 2012
    442 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Disasters can cause long-term disruptions to the routines of individuals and communities, placing survivors at risk of developing serious mental health and substance abuse problems. Disaster behavioral health services provide emotional support, help normalize stress reactions, assess recovery options, and encourage healthy coping behaviors. They also connect survivors to community resources that can assist the recovery process. Today’s increasing frequency and intensity of disasters merit greater focus on the development of modalities for intervention and mitigation against the psychological impacts of disaster.

    In Behavioral Health Response to Disasters, professionals with years of practice, research, and national advisory board service review and discuss key topics in the field. Highlighting the themes of cultural competence and evidence-based practice, this volume:

    • Presents an interdisciplinary approach to examining specific disaster behavioral health topics
    • Considers how an individual’s culture may impact willingness to seek out and accept services
    • Incorporates research on vulnerable or at-risk populations who are likely to suffer disproportionately more adverse psychological consequences of disaster
    • Discusses clinical studies of cognitive behavioral treatments for disaster-related distress and post-traumatic stress disorder

    In the past two decades, disaster behavioral health research, policy, and practice have grown exponentially. This volume covers the wide variety of issues in this emerging field, highlighting concerns that we must address in order to create more disaster-resilient communities.

    Overview of the History and Fundamental Concepts behind Disaster Behavioral Health
    Past Disaster Experiences and Behavioral Health Outcomes; R. Salkowe
    Disaster Behavioral Health Outreach: A Nontraditional Approach to Assisting Survivors; J. L. Framingham
    Organizational Response to Disasters and Key Partners
    Governmental Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Behavioral Health Response and Recovery;
    R. Salkowe and J. L. Framingham
    Nongovernmental Organizations Responding to Disasters in the United States; A. M. Eikenberry and T. Cooper
    Disaster Mental Health: A Public Health Paradigm; A. T. Ng and J. Straussman
    Psychological Resilience and Pathological Responses to Disaster
    Coping with Loss and Overcoming Trauma; M. J. Zakour
    Mental Health Outcomes of Disasters and Terrorism; P. Santucci
    At-Risk Populations, Disaster Risk Factors, and Individual and Community Vulnerability
    Disaster Behavioral Health for Children and Adolescents: Best Practices for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; M. J. Brymer, G. Reyes, and A. M. Steinberg
    Disaster Behavioral Health and Older Adults: American and Canadian Readiness and Response; L. M. Brown, M. Gibson, and D. L. Elmore
    Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health Disaster Response: The Challenge, the Opportunity; K. A. Crawford, M. C. Bennasar, and L. M. B. Mizock
    Helping the Helpers: Ameliorating Secondary Traumatic Stress in Disaster Workers; A. Naturale and M. L. Pulido
    Understanding Climatic, Geographic, and Topographic Considerations for Assessing Disaster Vulnerability; J. C. Pine
    Addressing Barriers within Systems of Care
    Disaster Vulnerability and the School Setting: Understanding Environmental Risk and Implications for Behavioral Health Response; M. L. Teasley
    Issues in Providing Mental and Medical Health Care in Long-Term Care Settings during Disasters; D. Dosa, K. Hyer, and L. M. Brown
    Delivery of Behavioral Health Services in General and Functional Needs Shelters; B. D. Phillips, E. Harris, E. A. Davis, R. Hansen, K. Rouba, and J. Love
    Disaster Behavioral Health Interventions
    Initial Behavioral Health Response: The Conundrums of a State Crisis Counseling Program; J. L. Framingham
    Long-Term Mental Health Treatment for Adult Disaster Survivors; J. L. Hamblen, E. Barnett, and F. H. Norris
    Disaster and Substance Abuse Services; D. S. Owens, B. McKernan, and J. L. Framingham
    Understanding Disaster Recovery Case Management and Behavioral Health: A Review of Research; M. L. Teasley
    Leaving a Legacy: Training and Community Empowerment
    Disaster Mental Health Services: Implementation, Training, and Sustainability; B. H. Young and J. I. Ruzek
    The Role of Social Marketing in Developing Disaster Behavioral Health Programs; L. M. Brown, C. Haley, and C. Bryant
    Planning for Disaster: A Behavioral Health Perspective; R. Runo and J. L. Framingham

    Biography

    Julie L. Framingham, MSW, has an extensive background in writing disaster grants and managing large federally funded disaster behavioral health recovery projects that have provided crisis counseling, clinical interventions, and case management services for hurricane and tornado survivors. She was the director of the SAMHSA-funded Project Recovery and the FEMA-funded Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People in Emergencies) in Florida from 2005 through 2008. Each of the programs managed represented either new approaches to supporting survivors or a paradigm shift toward more evidenced-based technologies for dealing with the reactions to traumatic events. She has made numerous presentations at state and national conferences on disaster behavioral health, and she has served as a consultant and trainer for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center. Ms. Framingham also has collaborated with the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the Administration for Children and Families to develop new approaches to mental health intervention and case management services for disaster survivors.

    Martell L. Teasley, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Social Work and Disaster Recovery Certificate Program at Florida State University College of Social Work. Part of his research agenda includes a focus on disaster relief and recovery with a particular emphasis on cultural competence and vulnerable populations. Dr. Teasley works with several faith-based organizations in educating and training disaster case managers and paraprofessionals. This includes the evaluation of case management practices and emergency management organizational readiness assessments. He has served as a consultant for the Administration for Children and Families on the development of national case management standards and presented both nationally and internationally on disaster planning, relief, and recovery.