Crisis Counseling 

Assistance and 

Training Program 

(CCP)

What Services Are Funded 

by the CCP? •	 Individual Crisis Counseling—Helps

survivors understand their reactions,

improve coping strategies, review their

options, and connect with other individuals

and agencies that may assist them

•	 Basic Supportive or Educational Contact—

General support and information on

resources and services available to disaster

survivors

•	 Group Crisis Counseling—Group sessions

led by trained crisis counselors who offer

skills to help group members cope with

their situations and reactions

•	 Public Education—Information and

education about typical reactions, helpful

coping strategies, and available disasterrelated resources

•	 Community Networking and Support—

Relationship building with community

resource organizations, faith-based groups,

and local agencies

•	 Assessment, Referral, and Resource

Linkage—Adult and child needs

assessment and referral to additional

disaster relief services or mental health or

substance abuse treatment

•	 Development and Distribution of

Educational Materials—Flyers, brochures,

tip sheets, educational materials, and Web

site information developed and distributed

by CCP staff

•	 Media and Public Service

Announcements—Media activities and

public messaging in partnership with

local media outlets, State and local

governments, charitable organizations, or

other community brokers of information

Questions?

If you would like to know more about the

CCP, its eligibility criteria, and its application

requirements, please contact the SAMHSA

Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC).

SAMHSA DTAC

Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515

E-Mail: dtac@samhsa.hhs.gov

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac

Printed 2009 (SMA) 09-4373
What Is the Mission of 

the CCP?

The mission of the Crisis Counseling Assistance

and Training Program (CCP) is to assist

individuals and communities in recovering

from the challenging effects of natural

and human-caused disasters through the

provision of community-based outreach and

psychoeducational services.

What Is the CCP?

The CCP is composed of two grant programs:

•	 Immediate Services Program (ISP)—

60 days in duration

•	 Regular Services Program (RSP)—

9 months in duration

The CCP is:

•	 Authorized under the Robert T. Stafford

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance

Act (Stafford Act)

•	 Funded by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA)

•	 Requires a Presidential declaration of

disaster for Individual Assistance for shortterm behavioral health support when

disaster response needs are beyond States’

capacity

•	 Administered through an interagency

Federal partnership between FEMA and

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center

for Mental Health Services

•	 Culturally competent, understanding,

respectful, and sensitive to the cultural

makeup of communities served

Who Can Provide CCP 

Services?

•	 States, U.S. Territories, and federally

recognized tribes are eligible to apply for a

CCP grant

•	 Services are typically provided to the

affected areas by behavioral health

organizations through contracts with a

State’s department of mental health

•	 A combination of mental health

professionals and paraprofessionals, who

are trained and supervised to deliver an

array of crisis counseling services

•	 CCP staff are usually indigenous to the

affected communities and are sometimes

survivors themselves

What Are the Goals of 

the CCP?

The CCP strives to:

•	 Reach large numbers of people affected

by disasters through face-to-face outreach

to shelters, homes, and other locations

•	 Assess the emotional needs of survivors

and make referrals to traditional

behavioral health services when necessary

•	 Identify tangible needs and link survivors

to community resources and disaster relief

services

•	 Provide emotional support, education,

basic crisis counseling, and connection to

familial and community support systems

•	 Train and educate CCP staff and other

community partners about disaster

reactions, appropriate interventions, and

CCP services

•	 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

•	 Leave behind a permanent legacy of

improved coping skills, educational

and resource materials, and enhanced

community linkages

What Are the Key Principles 

of the CCP Model?

CCP is:

•	 Strengths Based—CCP services promote

resilience, empowerment, and recovery

•	 Anonymous—Crisis counselors do not

classify, label, or diagnose people; no

records or case files are kept

•	 Outreach Oriented—Crisis counselors

deliver services in the communities

rather than wait for survivors to seek their

assistance

•	 Conducted in Nontraditional Settings—

Crisis counselors make contact in homes

and communities, not in clinical or office

settings

•	 Designed To Strengthen Existing

Community Support Systems—The CCP

supplements, but does not supplant or

replace, existing community systems