CCP Trainer’s Guide

Disaster Anniversary Training

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program

Module 4

resilience

community

hope

recovery

partnership

outreach
Rev. 2/2013

How to Use This Trainer’s Guide

This trainer’s guide contains a suggested schedule and learning activities for delivering the 

required Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) Disaster Anniversary 

Training. This training focuses on helping crisis counseling staff anticipate and respond to 

disaster anniversary reactions, including adapting public education and media messaging to suit 

changing needs.

Trainers are encouraged to adapt and modify how they deliver the course to meet the needs of

the specific program, audience, and circumstances, while keeping to the established course 

purpose and learning objectives. For example, the time available and the number of 

participants are two factors that would affect how the course is delivered.

This trainer’s guide presents a detailed plan of instruction for a 1-day course. The agendas 

assume an 81⁄2-hour training day, including 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon, and 

1 hour for lunch.

The activities and timing of this design are intended for a group of about 25 participants. If the 

group is smaller, the activities and group discussions may take less time than indicated in this 

plan of instruction. If the group is larger than 25, you will need to modify the activities in order to 

fit the time available. For example, when a table exercise is indicated in the design, with reports 

from each table, you may want to have the participants work in trios and take a few examples to 

process in the large group, rather than reports from all of the small groups.

The CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training provides detailed instructions for 

suggested talking points and group exercises. It contains images of all slides. If you wish to 

print the slides out separately, you can do so directly from the PowerPoint file contained on the 

USB drive in the Trainer’s Toolkit. 

The CCP Disaster Anniversary Training Participant Workbook contains all the essential content 

from the slides that participants should have as reference material, along with worksheets 

tailored to the learning activities described in this training manual. The CCP Disaster 

Anniversary Training Participant Workbook is saved in Word format on the USB drive in the 

Trainer’s Toolkit; please modify the file, as necessary, before having it reproduced for 

participants. It is suggested that the CCP Participant Workbooks be reproduced on three-holepunch paper and provided to participants in a three-ring binder.
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CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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CCP Trainer’s Guide

Disaster Anniversary Training

Table of Contents

Pre-Training Checklist................................................................................. 5

Recommended Agenda .............................................................................. 7

Welcome and Introductions ........................................................................ 9

SECTION 1: Disaster Anniversary Reactions ...........................................13

SECTION 2: Intervention Strategies .........................................................23

SECTION 3: Public Education and Media Messaging...............................31

SECTION 4: Stress Management .............................................................35

Applying Your Learning and Course Evaluation........................................39
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CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Pre-Training Checklist 

Prior to the course, contact the CCP program manager to discuss the following: 

Disaster Specifics

 Type of disaster 

 Size and scope of disaster

 Unique dynamics of the disaster

 Population affected, including special populations and cultural factors

Program Data

 Regular Services Program (RSP) start and end dates, disaster anniversary date

 Size of program—number of providers and counselors, status of recruitment

 Background and experience of counselors

- Ask the program manager about the strengths and needs of the staff in order to 

tailor the training appropriately. 

 Current status of service provision

Request a copy of key program documents:

 Summary of data on service provision to date

 Current Needs Assessment

 Current Outreach Strategy/Plan of Services

 Current Staffing Plan/Organizational Chart

 Maps of the disaster impact

Course Logistics

 Number of participants—encourage the program manager to attend the entire 

training. 

 Determine whether other community representatives would benefit from attending 

the training. 

 Confirm length of course, and start and end times. 
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 Know/follow up on logistical details.

− Location and training facility—training room size and setup

− Audiovisual support—LCD, computer, easel stands, and tear sheets

− Name tags, markers, etc.

 Reproduce the CCP Disaster Anniversary Training Participant Workbook and other 

materials (handouts of program documents, CCP Job Aid for Crisis Counselors, 

etc.)—modify Disaster Anniversary Training Participant Workbook, if 

desired/necessary. 

Travel Logistics

 Flight recommendations

 Lodging recommendations

 Reimbursement procedure

Other Items

 Review the training agenda and activities with the program manager.

 Agree on how the staff input generated through the training activities will be captured 

and transferred to the program manager.

Post-Training 

 Make recommendations to the program manager about post-training followup—e.g., 

subsequent meetings, training, other actions. 

 Submit completed participant evaluations and trainer feedback form to Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical 

Assistance Center (DTAC). Participant feedback forms are included in the Disaster 

Anniversary Training Participant Workbook, and trainer feedback forms are included 

at the end of this trainer’s guide.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Recommended Agenda

Disaster Anniversary Training

8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

9 a.m. Section 1: Disaster Anniversary Reactions

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Section 2: Intervention Strategies

Noon Lunch

1 p.m. Section 2: Intervention Strategies (cont.) 

2 p.m. Section 3: Public Education and Media Messaging

2:30 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. Section 3: Public Education and Media Messaging (cont.) 

4 p.m. Section 4: Stress Management

4:45 p.m. Applying Your Learning and Course Evaluation

5 p.m. Adjourn
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CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Welcome and Introductions (30 minutes)

15 minutes WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Begin the course by welcoming participants and 

introducing yourself.

Materials needed: Press-on (self-adhesive) name 

badges (one for each participant)

Ask participants to introduce themselves to each other 

in the following way:

 Write your name and two adjectives that describe you 

on a name badge. 

 Mingle with others around the room, find someone with 

similar (or opposite!) adjectives, and talk for 5 minutes. 

Ask the partners to introduce each other to rest of the 

group. 

15 minutes COURSE OBJECTIVES, AGENDA, AND NORMS

Review objectives of the course. Note that the course 

agenda and objectives appear in the workbooks. 

Objectives—By the end of the course, participants will 

be able to do the following: 

 Identify the key concepts of disaster anniversaries.

 Describe individual and community reactions.

 Apply individual/family and community intervention 

strategies.

 Assess special populations and identify intervention 

strategies.

 Apply community-building intervention strategies.
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 Recognize the importance of cultural awareness. 

 Revise public education and media plans.

 Apply strategies for managing stress.

Emphasize that the organizing theme of this course is to 

reflect on what has been accomplished during the RSP 

to date, identify next steps, and begin to think about 

phasedown.

Review the course schedule, and discuss how the 

objectives will be addressed during the training. 

Be sure to cover logistical details such as these: 

 Lunch and break times and locations 

 Restroom locations

 Time (follow clock in the room)

Pause and ask for participants’ reactions or questions, 

and ask whether they feel there is anything missing from 

this program.

Introduce the CCP Disaster Anniversary Training 

Participant Workbook, and describe how it will be used 

during the course. Highlight the following: 

 The workbook will be used to convey key concepts 

covered in the course. 

 There is space to make notes and capture reflections. 

As in any course, having agreed-upon norms is helpful.

Write the following guidelines on an easel stand, and 

review them with participants. These guidelines also 

appear in the CCP Disaster Anniversary Training 

Participant Workbook. 

 Keep time (start on time, return from breaks on time, 

end on time).

 Switch mobile phones off or to “vibrate.” 

 Participate fully. 

 Ask questions freely.

 Balance talking and listening.

 Respect each other’s points of view.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Ask the participants to decide on the following: 

 If there are any guidelines they would like to modify

 If any are missing

Write any additional guidelines on the easel stand, and 

check to see if everyone in the room can agree to the 

list. You can keep it light by asking them to shake hands 

with someone at their table to signify agreement with this 

“social contract.”
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CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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SECTION 1: Disaster Anniversary Reactions

(1 hour, 30 minutes) 

5 minutes SESSION INTRODUCTION

Introduce this session by telling participants that we’re going 

to start by discussing the types of reactions that commonly 

occur around the disaster anniversary, both among individuals 

and at the community level.

Review the session objectives:

 Identify the key concepts of disaster anniversaries.

 Describe individual and community reactions.

40 minutes KEY CONCEPTS OF DISASTER ANNIVERSARIES

Set the stage by discussing the range of things that the 

program and staff should be doing and thinking about as the 

disaster anniversary approaches:

 Take stock of the accomplishments of the CCP.

 Reassess the needs of the community.

 Enhance and strengthen connections with community 

stakeholders.

 Continue creating educational materials and community 

partnerships that promote resilience and leave a legacy.

 Remember that the program is time limited.
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Ask if the program is doing any of these things already.

Review the phases of disaster graph

(Zunin/Meyers, as cited in U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. [2000]. Training manual for mental health 

and human service workers in major disasters [DHHS 

Publication 90–538]. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health 

Services). 

Discuss the characteristics of the anniversary phase and 

subsequent phases.

Suggested talking points:

 Anniversary reactions are often responses to trigger events 

that occur around the anniversary of the disaster event. 

While each disaster is different, experience with past 

disasters has shown that disaster event anniversaries are 

often accompanied by painful memories and potentially 

stressful media, political, and community attention. Some of 

these reactions are predictable and can be planned for.

 Working through grief is the process of coming to terms with 

disaster losses, developing constructive coping strategies, 

and building a new post-disaster life. This process can 

sometimes take years. 
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Ask if the program has seen data that suggest a surge or 

change in reactions in advance of the disaster anniversary. 

Ask if the crisis counselors have personally observed any 

change in reactions lately. 

Make the following points:

 While every disaster is different, there are some disaster 

reactions related to the anniversary that can be anticipated.

 As the disaster anniversary approaches, there may be an 

increase in the distress reactions of some survivors.

 There will be a need for updated educational materials and 

media messages related to the disaster anniversary.

 Anniversaries allow individuals and communities to reflect 

on resilience and healing.

 Anniversaries are a time to mourn losses associated with 

the disaster. 

 Each community may perceive the anniversary differently.

 Each community will decide how it will observe the 

anniversary.

Discuss anniversary triggers.

Typical triggers include these: 

 Media accounts of the anniversary

 Seasonal changes that remind survivors of the disaster

 Personal events, such as birthdays, that correspond with 

the disaster anniversary

 Personal losses associated with the disaster, including 

losses of loved ones, pets, and property

Suggested additional talking points: 

 Trigger events can occur in any phase following the impact 

of disaster, but they are more typical in the later phases—

after the reality of the initial traumatic event has set in. 

Trigger events vary by disaster, community, and individual, 

but some trigger events can be predicted. For example, 

upsetting reports in the media about survivor suffering or 

shortcomings in the disaster response can increase stress 

in individuals and communities.
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 Setbacks are trigger events that occur in the reconstruction 

phase. Examples include reoccurrence of disaster or 

reports in the media of new painful discoveries related to the 

disaster. A community’s sense of recovery—of having 

come to terms with the disaster—can be damaged by these 

unexpected setbacks.

Triggers:

 May increase in frequency around the time of the disaster 

anniversary

 Can occur unexpectedly

 Are unique to each person

 May not be easily recognized

 Can ebb and flow

 Tend to occur more often when stress is present

Assign the following task:

At your table, discuss the following: 

 Which trigger events have occurred recently 

 Which trigger events you anticipate in the near term

 The effects of actual and anticipated triggers on individuals 

and communities

Take 10 minutes at your table for your discussion. 

Facilitate reports from the tables. (15 minutes)

 What trigger events did you identify that have already 

occurred? 

 What were the effects on individuals and communities?

 What potential trigger events did you identify?

 What do you think the effects will be on individuals and 

communities?

Summarize the key points from the reports, and transition to 

talking about individual and community reactions. Make the 

link between the impacts they identified and anniversary 

reactions. Make sure you clarify the difference between 

triggers and reactions.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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45 minutes INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY REACTIONS

Discuss the types of individual reactions that can be 

expected during the disaster anniversary. 

As you discuss the next three slides, pause periodically and

ask participants if they are seeing these reactions. How 

common are they? What are some specific examples?

Thoughts, feelings, dreams, and memories—Individuals may 

experience recurring thoughts, feelings, dreams, and 

memories about the event. They may see repeated images 

and scenes associated with the trauma or relive the event in 

their minds. These reactions may be as vivid during the 

anniversary as they were during the actual disaster or 

traumatic event. 

Grief and sadness—Individuals may experience grief and 

sadness related to loss of income, employment, a home, or a 

loved one. Even people who have moved to new homes 

often feel a sense of loss during the anniversary. Those who 

were forced to relocate to another community may experience 

intense homesickness for their old neighborhoods. 

Fear and anxiety—Fear and anxiety may resurface around 

the time of the anniversary and lead to jumpiness, startled 

responses, and vigilance about safety. These feelings may 

be particularly strong for individuals who still are working 

through the grieving process. 

Frustration, anger, and guilt—The anniversary may reawaken 

frustration and anger about the disaster or traumatic event. 

Survivors may be reminded of the possessions, homes, or 

loved ones they lost; the time taken away from their lives; the 

frustrations with bureaucratic aspects of the recovery process; 

and the slow process of rebuilding and healing. Individuals 

also may experience guilt about survival. These feelings may 

be particularly strong for individuals who are not fully 

recovered financially and emotionally.
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Avoidance—Some survivors try to protect themselves from 

experiencing an anniversary reaction by avoiding reminders of 

the event and attempting to treat the anniversary as an 

ordinary day. It can be helpful for these people to learn about 

common reactions that they or their loved ones may 

encounter, so they are not surprised if reactions occur. 

Remembrance—Many survivors welcome the cleansing tears, 

commemoration, and fellowship that the anniversary of the 

event offers. They see it as a time to honor the memory of 

what they have lost. They might light a candle, share favorite 

memories and stories, or attend a worship service. 

Reflection—The reflection brought about by the anniversary of 

a disaster or traumatic event is often a turning point in the 

recovery process. It is an opportunity for people to look back 

on the past year, recognize how far they have come, and give 

themselves credit for the challenges they surmounted. It is a 

time for survivors to look inward and to recognize and 

appreciate the courage, stamina, endurance, and 

resourcefulness that they and their loved ones showed during 

the recovery process. Recovery from a disaster or traumatic 

event takes time, and it requires rebuilding on many levels—

physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, with 

patience, understanding, and support from family members 

and friends, survivors can emerge from a disaster or traumatic 

event stronger than before.

Restlessness—This refers to the inability to relax or remain 

still long enough to eliminate or reduce stress.

Complicated grief—Complicated bereavement takes many 

forms, such as the absence of grieving, conflicted grief, 

pathological grief, and chronic mourning. It is a state of being 

overwhelmed by emotions brought on by grief and accepting 

the loss. If severe enough, referral to services may be 

needed to resolve the grieving process. 

Gallows humor—Gallows humor is a type of humor that arises 

from stressful, traumatic, or life-threatening situations such as 

accidents, wartime events, or natural disasters, often in 

circumstances where death is perceived as impending and 

unavoidable.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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Discuss additional individual reactions:

 Increased readiness and desire for group crisis counseling

 Deepened anxiety or depression, acting as limitations, as 

the new reality of life after disaster sets in

 Anger around the limits of governmental assistance and 

insurance (e.g., “the system,” “red tape”)

 Increased substance use

 Evolution of unaddressed trauma into diagnosable 

conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder or 

depression

 Stress from multiple losses as resources run out

Discuss common community reactions:

 Increase in preparedness activities

Note that preparedness activities may increase due to 

the fact that the time of the year corresponds to specific 

types of disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

 Resurgence of media and political attention

 Community solidarity or discord

Note that communities may pull together around 

anniversary events or may still be reacting to the slow 

rebuilding and dwindling resources.

 Increased demand for CCP services 

 Surge in calls to the program or local hotline

Ask these questions: 

 Have you seen these reactions among the communities you 

serve? 

 To what extent?
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Say that it is certain you are going to see a change and, likely, 

a surge in disaster reactions as the anniversary approaches 

and occurs. It’s important for the CCP to be prepared to 

respond to that surge.

Let’s spend some time thinking about how you will prepare for 

and respond to anniversary reactions among individuals and 

communities.

Preparation 

Prepare three tear sheets with the following questions as 

headings:

 How will you respond to anniversary reactions among 

individuals?

 How will you respond to community anniversary reactions?

 What will you do as a CCP to prepare to respond to 

anniversary reactions?

Post these tear sheets in different places around the training 

room.

Activity

Divide participants into three groups, and have each group 

stand by a different tear sheet.

Tell participants that in this activity, they’ll spend 5–10

minutes at each “station” brainstorming actions in response to 

the question on the tear sheet. 

 Write your ideas directly on the tear sheet. 

 Write clearly because others will have to read what you 

write without your being there to explain it!

Remind participants of the ground rules for brainstorming—

listed in their CCP Disaster Anniversary Training Participant 

Workbook: 

1. Focus on quantity—The greater number of ideas generated, 

the greater the chance of producing an outstanding idea. 

2. Withhold criticism—By suspending judgment until later, 

individuals feel free to generate unusual ideas. 

3. Welcome unusual ideas—New ways of thinking may 

provide better solutions. 

4. Combine and improve ideas—Good ideas may be 
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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combined to form a single better idea. 

Start the first round of brainstorming. After 5 or 10 minutes, 

call time and have participants move to the next station and 

brainstorm on the next question. 

Tell participants to start the second round by reviewing what 

the group before them wrote. 

 Make a check mark next to the ideas you like. 

 Build upon existing ideas, and add entirely new ones.

Start the second round of brainstorming. Call time after 5-10 

minutes. Have participants move to the next station for the 

final round of brainstorming. 

Tell them that in this final round they should review what 

those before them wrote, and expand on the existing ideas or 

add ones. They should also choose three top actions to 

report back to the rest of the group. 

Start the final round of brainstorming. After 5 minutes, tell 

groups to start choosing their top three. After another 5 

minutes, call time. 

Ask each group to report out their top three actions for each 

of the questions.

Facilitate discussion of these recommended actions: (20 

minutes)

 What are the other groups’ reactions to the 

recommendations? 

 What linkages do you see among the groups’ 

recommendations? 

Summarize the discussion, and give the participants a 15-

minute break. Tell participants that when we come back, we’ll 

continue to build on this discussion as we talk about 

intervention strategies.

15 minutes BREAK
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CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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SECTION 2: Intervention Strategies 

(2 hours, 15 minutes) 

5 minutes SESSION INTRODUCTION

Introduce this session by explaining that in this session we’re 

going to reaffirm the intervention strategies for 

individuals/families, communities, and special populations, 

paying special attention to how to adapt intervention 

strategies to fit changing needs during the disaster 

anniversary. 

Review the session objectives:

 Apply individual/family and community intervention 

strategies.

 Assess special populations, and identify intervention 

strategies.

 Apply community-building intervention strategies.

 Recognize the importance of cultural awareness. 

5 minutes KEY CONCEPTS

Discuss the principles that staff should keep in mind about 

the role of the CCP, noting that these are principles to keep in 

mind as they are carrying out the ideas they generated in the 

last session.

 Leave community organizations stronger and more aware of 

survivor needs. 

 Facilitate responsibility among local organizations for 

community fairs, events, and activities. 

 Leave individual survivors better informed about community 

resources. 

 Leave individual survivors with tools to better manage 

stress, cope with challenges, and connect with others. 
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 Encourage community leaders and groups to plan for and 

organize activities and events. 

 Provide consultation and guidance to local organizations 

responsible for planning events. 

 Participate in local activities and events. 

 Initiate anniversary events only after community 

engagement efforts have proven unsuccessful.

20 minutes INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR 

INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES

Discuss the interventions needed for individuals/families

around the disaster anniversary. 

Emphasize these points: 

 Basic crisis counseling techniques are effective intervention 

strategies for dealing with anniversary reactions.

 Services need to be continued and enhanced as reactions 

intensify around the time of the anniversary.

Specifically, crisis counselors should do the following: 

 Educate survivors about triggers and common reactions.

 Address unresolved issues and feelings.

 Educate survivors about how the anniversary can be an 

opportunity for healing.

 Assist survivors in reflecting on life changes.

 Emphasize the use of problem solving tools.

 Provide educational materials for survivors.

 Encourage planning and participation in community rituals.

Ask these questions: 

 How do you do these things?

 How do these match with the actions you identified in the 

previous brainstorming session?

 How will you continue to assess individuals/families? 

Summarize the key points from the conversation, and segue 

to talking about intervention strategies for special populations.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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45 minutes INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR SPECIAL 

POPULATIONS

Note that each CCP has a unique set of special populations it 

must consider, but there always at least one special 

population group present—children and youth.

Discuss intervention strategies for children and youth:

 Help children recognize and cope with disaster reminders.

 Allow children to experience the anniversary in their own 

way.

 Be honest with children about adult reactions and concerns.

 Limit exposure to traumatic images in the media.

 Provide opportunities for children to make positive 

differences in their lives and communities.

 Discuss concerns about children with teachers and other 

support professionals.

 Make sure a parent or guardian is present when working 

with children and youth.

 Educate parents, caregivers, and teachers about these 

intervention strategies so they may provide appropriate 

support and encourage effective coping strategies.

Emphasize that when crisis counselors are working with 

children and youth, a parent or guardian should always be 

present. In many ways, the crisis counselor’s role is to 

educate parents, caregivers, and teachers about what kinds 

of support children and youth need.

Discuss and solicit participant input on how you do each of 

these things—including how to educate parents, caregivers, 

and teachers. 

Ask training participants what they are doing (or what they 

can do) to help and educate parents. Reference the tips for 

parents included in the CCP Disaster Anniversary Training 

Participant Workbook. 
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Review basic guidelines for interventions with other special 

populations.

 Target materials to identified special populations—Make 

sure materials are in appropriate languages and are 

applicable to special populations.

 Educate caregivers on anniversary reactions—Educate staff 

at nursing homes, hospitals, and substance abuse and 

mental health facilities on disaster anniversary reactions.

 Encourage and facilitate participation in community 

anniversary events—Partner with local groups to ensure 

access to anniversary events (e.g., transportation).

Give the following task:

At your table, have a discussion in which you identify the 

following: 

 The special populations in the affected communities

 The needs of each of these special populations

 Intervention strategies for meeting those needs

Give the tables about 10–15 minutes for their discussion.

Facilitate the table reports by doing these things: 

 Asking each table to report out on just one of the special 

population groups it identified. 

 After each report, asking the other tables if they identified 

that same special population group. If so, do they have 

anything to add about that group’s needs or intervention 

strategies?

 Repeating until all the special population groups identified 

have been discussed—or you run out of time. 

Summarize the key takeaway messages about intervention 

strategies for special populations.

Break for lunch (1 hour), and tell participants that when we 

come back we’ll be discussing intervention strategies for the 

community and cultural awareness. 

LUNCH
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45 minutes INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR THE COMMUNITY

Welcome participants back from lunch. Remind them that 

we’re going to continue our discussion of disaster anniversary 

intervention strategies by looking at strategies for the 

community.

Start by making the following points:

 The CCP assists but does not replace community support 

systems. Crisis counselors facilitate or participate in but do 

not organize commemorative events. The CCP can provide 

quiet spaces and a compassionate presence, enhance and 

increase helpline capacities, and plan media messaging 

regarding expected reactions and effective coping 

strategies. 

 The CCP should ensure that there are clear referral 

mechanisms in place to account for the increased demand 

for mental health services around the time of anniversaries.

 There should be a plan in place for media messaging that 

includes references to individual and community resilience 

and emphasizes stories of people who have received help.

 Sharing losses, traditions, and rituals, and acknowledging 

community resilience and hope for the future, can promote 

healing.

 Communities, families, and survivors must own their 

memorial, anniversary, and commemorative events. 

However, CCP staff can provide useful consultation during 

the planning process.

Discuss intervention strategies for the community.

 Plan for increased demand for services.

 Engage in frequent staff meetings to plan for the 

anniversary, and provide staff support.

 Provide guidance and consultation to community 

stakeholders.

 Participate in community gatherings and rituals by 

maintaining a compassionate presence.

 Prepare press kits and media messaging materials. 

 Create a calendar of events for staff, survivors, and media.
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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 Reestablish contact with community groups and leaders.

 Prepare and distribute public educational materials that 

address anniversary reactions and triggers. 

 Increase distribution of informational materials to community 

groups and partners.

 Prepare the helpline staff for anniversary reactions and a 

surge in calls. 

Assign the following table task or facilitate a large-group 

discussion: 

 What community functions have been planned or are likely 

to be planned to commemorate the anniversary?

 How can CCP team members take part and assist in these 

functions?

Give the tables 15 minutes for their discussion. 

Facilitate the table reports. (20 minutes)

Summarize the discussion, and reemphasize the supportive 

role the CCP should take in community anniversary 

commemorations. Segue to discuss strategies for cultural 

awareness. 

15 minutes STRATEGIES FOR ENSURING CULTURAL 

AWARENESS

Discuss strategies for cultural awareness for the disaster 

anniversary:

 Recognize the importance of culture, and respect 

diversity—Culture is one medium through which people 

develop resilience. Culture also provides validation and 

influences rehabilitation following a disaster.

 Maintain a current profile of the cultural composition of the 

community—The range of cultural diversity (ethnic, 

religious, racial, and language) should be assessed and 

described in a comprehensive community profile. The 

profile should include the values, beliefs, social and family 

norms, traditions, practices, and politics of local cultural 

groups, as well as the history of racial relations or ethnic 

issues in the community.

 Recruit crisis counselors who represent the community—
CCP Trainer’s Guide: Disaster Anniversary Training

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 Recruit crisis counselors who represent the community—

Recruiting staff whose cultural, racial, and ethnic 

backgrounds are similar to those of the affected people 

helps ensure a better understanding of both the survivors 

and the community, and increases the likelihood that 

survivors will be willing to accept assistance.

 Provide ongoing cultural awareness training to staff—

Training should be provided to direct-services staff, 

administrative and management staff, language and sign 

language interpreters, and temporary staff. Training 

programs work particularly well when they are provided in

collaboration with community-based groups.

 Ensure that services are accessible, appropriate, and 

equitable—Ensure that staff members speak the language 

and understand the values of the community. Involving 

cultural group representatives in disaster recovery 

committees and program decision making can help ensure 

that disaster services are accessible, appropriate, and 

equitable. 

Other strategies include

 Reassess and reevaluate the cultural awareness of 

programming and staff.

 Ensure that educational and informational materials are 

culturally appropriate. 

 Recognize the role of help-seeking, customs, traditions, and 

support networks.

 Communicate with cultural brokers, especially in relation to 

anniversary reactions and rituals.

Ask training participants how they can help ensure that 

anniversary commemorations and crisis counseling 

interventions are culturally sensitive. 

Facilitate a large-group discussion on this question, and 

record key points. Give the tear sheet to the program 

management after the session.

Summarize the discussion, and give the participants a 15-

minute break. Tell them that we’ll be working on public 

education and media messaging after the break.
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SECTION 3: Public Education and Media

Messaging (1 hour, 45 minutes) 

5 minutes SESSION INTRODUCTION

Introduce this session by stating these points:

 It is important to pay special attention to public education 

and media messaging prior to and during the disaster 

anniversary because survivor reactions and needs will

increase. 

 Specific messaging related to the disaster anniversary, as 

well as program phasedown, should be developed. 

 The key focus of anniversary messaging should be 

educating people that it is common to have a resurgence of 

reactions.

In this session, we’re going to focus on the following: 

 Assessing and revising the public education plan

 Assessing and revising the media plan

 Developing talking points

Review the session objective—

 Revise public education and media plans.
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1 hour CONCURRENT WORKING GROUPS

Explain that in order to cover the most ground in the shortest 

amount of time, we’ll be dividing into three working groups. 

Tell participants that, in a moment, you’ll ask them to choose 

the working group in which they want to participate. To help 

them decide, review the specific questions they’ll be tasked 

with answering.

Tell the groups they’ll have 30 minutes for their discussion 

and they should prepare to present their recommendations to 

the group.

Present the public education plan working group questions:

 Which groups need to be educated about anniversary 

reactions?

 Which strategies should be used to reach these groups?

 What are the goals of each public education event?

 What messages should be conveyed?

Present the media plan working group questions:

 What is the current media plan?

 What messages have already been conveyed?

 What messages need to be conveyed at this time?

 Who should be involved in developing and implementing the 

revised plan?

Present the developing talking points questions:

 What are the current talking points for the CCP?

 How should they be modified to be relevant to the disaster 

anniversary? 

 How should these anniversary talking points be used?

Who should deliver them?

Who are the target audiences?

Where should they be delivered—in what venues or 

media?
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Those who are working on developing talking points will have 

additional information in their Participant Workbooks to assist 

them. 

Ask participants to choose the group with the topic in which 

they’re most interested and about which they know the most. 

Adjust the size of the groups so that you have a relatively 

similar number of participants in each of the three groups.

If you have a very large group, you may want to have more 

than three groups, e.g., two groups for each topic area.

After 30 minutes have passed, facilitate the reports from 

each group. (30 minutes)

Have each group report out, and then ask the other groups if 

they have any clarifying questions about the presentation.

After all groups have reported, ask what connections they see 

across the three plans. How do the public education plan, 

media plan, and talking points link up and impact each other? 

Ask what action items they will take to follow through on this 

discussion.

Summarize the key points from the reports and discussion of 

next steps. 

Transition to the next activity related to public education.

15 minutes BREAK
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40 minutes CREATING AN ANNIVERSARY BROCHURE

Materials needed: Tear sheets and markers in multiple 

colors for several groups

Explain that this next activity is going to tap into their creative 

sides.

Divide participants into groups of about four to six participants 

each. Give each group a couple of tear sheets and several 

markers in different colors.

Ask the groups to take their tear sheets and fold them like 

you would a tri-fold brochure.

Tell them that their task is to design a tri-fold brochure that 

could be used for public education for the disaster 

anniversary.

Explain that they should start by determining the key 

messages the brochure should convey. Encourage them to 

build upon the conversation we just had about public 

education, media messaging, and talking points.

Explain that once they’ve agreed on their key messages, 

then will have to be creative in determining how to present 

them in the brochure. What imagery would enhance the 

message?

Give them 20 minutes to create their brochures.

Have each group present their brochure to the rest of the 

participants, explaining the key messages and the layout.

Lead the group in enthusiastic applause after each brochure 

is presented. After all the brochures have been presented, 

display them at the front of the training room. 

Ask participants what common messages stand out for them 

across the brochures. 

Ask participants, if they had an anniversary brochure like the 

ones they created, what they would do with it and where they 

would distribute it.

Summarize the conversation, and bring this section to a 

close. Transition to the next and final session on stress 

management.
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35

SECTION 4: Stress Management 

(45 minutes)

5 minutes SESSION INTRODUCTION

Introduce this session by saying that we’re going to engage 

in a relaxation exercise that will also help to generate ideas 

for managing personal and organizational stress.

Review the session objective—

 Apply strategies for managing stress.

40 minutes STRESS MANAGEMENT

Ask participants these questions: 

 How is your current stress level?

 Are you feeling the effects of the approaching anniversary? 

If so, how?

Facilitate a brief conversation to gauge the current stress 

level of the staff. 
36

Explain that you’re going to lead them through a visualization exercise to promote relaxation and 

identify some things that would be helpful to enhance their personal stress management and the 

CCP’s organizational stress management. (10 minutes)

Discuss how an aspect of effective stress management is consistently engaging in activities that 

renew your energy, as stress depletes energy. Ask participants what are some things that help them 

renew their energy or recharge themselves? Take just a few examples from the group.

Transition to the visualization activity. Lower the lights in the training room, and put on some soft, 

instrumental music, if possible.

Use the following script as a guide. Speak with a clear, calm, soothing voice. Adapt or repeat 

sections, as needed, using your observations of the group to gauge the appropriate pace of the 

exercise.

Script

 Get into a comfortable position, and when you feel comfortable, close your eyes.

 Take a deep breath in and hold it—1, 2, 3, and release.

 Take another deep breath in, and hold it a little longer—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and release.

 Take a deep breath in and hold it—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and release.

 Let yourself relax and continue to breathe.

 You see a stairway in front of you, and you are going to walk down the stairs. There are 10 stairs. I will 

count each of the stairs and, as I do, you will walk down each one. When you get to the bottom of the 

stairs, you will be in a place that you love. It can be a real or an imagined place where you can relax and 

enjoy yourself. 

 Now, we’re going to walk down the first step.

 Now, the second step.

 Now, the third step.

 Now, the fourth step.

 The fifth step. 

 The sixth step.

 The seventh step.

 You’re getting closer to your favorite place.

 The eighth step.

 The ninth step.

 And now, the tenth step, and you are entering your favorite place.

 Take a moment to look around and see all the colors, the surroundings. If you don’t see anything, that’s 

okay—just experience a relaxing feeling.

 Take in the smells, if you smell them. Listen to any sounds there. Let yourself relax in that lovely place.
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37

 When you are ready, ask your higher intuition to give you guidance about how you can renew your 

energy and minimize stress. 

 Let whatever comes up come up. Sometimes, it may be an image, or a voice, or a thought. Don’t judge 

it; just allow whatever comes up to be there. If nothing comes up, that’s okay. You may get guidance 

later on. Be patient and allow your higher intuition to guide you. 

 [Wait for a little while to allow participants to experience whatever guidance they may get or just hang out 

in their favorite place for a bit.]

 Now ask your higher intuition to provide guidance on how your team can renew its energy collectively 

and minimize stress. Let whatever comes up come up. Don’t judge it. Just pay attention to whatever 

information you get: a picture or image, a voice or sound, a feeling . . . 

 [Wait for a little while.]

 When you are ready, thank your higher self for the guidance you received, and prepare yourself to move 

toward the same staircase on which you entered. 

 Move slowly toward the staircase. You are approaching the staircase. You are about to climb the steps 

as I tell you, one by one.

 Go up the first stair.

 The second stair.

 The third stair.

 The fourth stair.

 The fifth stair.

 The sixth stair.

 Begin to prepare yourself to get back to the place you left.

 Go up the seventh stair.

 The eighth stair.

 The ninth stair.

 You are about to go up the 10th stair, and you will again take some deep breaths when you get there.

 Go up the top stair, and take a deep breath. Hold it—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and release it.

 Take another deep breath and hold it—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and release.

 Take another deep breath and hold it—1, 2, 3, and release.

 I am going to count backward from 5 to 1, and when I get to 1, you will open your eyes and be refreshed, 

relaxed, and awake.

 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

 You can open your eyes now.

 Welcome back.
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Ask participants to reflect on their visualization and make 

some notes in their Participant Workbook. 

Ask them to find a partner and discuss what they saw in their 

visualizations. (10 minutes)

 What images or words came to you about renewing your 

own energy and minimizing stress? 

 What images or words came to you about renewing the 

team’s energy and minimizing stress? 

Facilitate a large-group discussion of the personal and 

organizational stress management ideas that came up. 

Record their ideas. (15 minutes)

Summarize the discussion; reinforce any action items they 

have identified. 

Bring this session to a close, and segue to the next and final 

section—Applying Your Learning and Course Evaluation.
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Applying Your Learning and Course 

Evaluation (15 minutes)

10 minutes APPLYING YOUR LEARNING

Tell participants that what we’re about to do is the most important part of any course.

Studies have shown that if you don’t use new skills you have acquired during training 

within 2 weeks of the course, those new skills are lost to you, and so it is essential to 

take a few moments to review your learning and set your intention to apply what you 

have learned in the real world. 

Have participants turn to the reflection worksheet in their workbooks and complete the 

worksheet there. Give them about 5 minutes to complete it.

Tell the participants to find a partner and share their plans with each other.

Encourage them to make a commitment to check back in with each other in 2 weeks to 

see if they’re following through on the actions they’ve identified.

Give them about 5 minutes for their discussion.

Ask for a few examples of the following:

 Key learning

 Specific actions they intend to take to apply that learning

5 minutes COURSE EVALUATION

Hand out the course evaluation form, and ask participants to complete it.

Encourage them to write specific comments on the form, as the feedback is collected 

and used to improve future deliveries of this course.

Thank them for their time, hard work, and attention. 
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Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP)

Training Feedback Form for Trainers and Leadership

CCP Name/Disaster Number: _____________________________________________ 

1. The content of this training module included all of the elements necessary for 

participants to adequately understand and deliver CCP services.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 

2. The supporting materials, including slides, handouts, and instructor’s notes, 

facilitated effective delivery of module content.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 

3. The content of the training module was thorough and well organized.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 

4. The material was adequately covered in the time allowed.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 

5. The Exercises and Trainer’s Tips booklet contained activities that effectively 

facilitated learning. 

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5 

6. The overall training session was well received by the participants.

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

1 2 3 4 5
42

7. What elements of this training session were most effective in facilitating learning?

8. What, if anything, would you change to improve the content or organization of the 

training materials?

Thank you for your valued feedback. Please return this form and all the participant 

evaluations to the state CCP director. Remember to tell the state CCP director to send 

copies of all forms to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) at the following address:

SAMHSA DTAC

9300 Lee Highway

Fairfax, VA 22301

1-800-308-3515