A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2

IN THIS ISSUE 

 2 Working Together in the Field: 

Traditional and Disaster Behavioral 

Health Response to the Shooting of 

Greenland, New Hampshire, Police 

Chief and Officers 

 5 The Work of a Psychiatry Disaster 

Responder

 7 West, Texas: Resiliency in Action 

 9 Recommended Resources

10 Upcoming Events
The Dialogue is a quarterly technical assistance journal on disaster behavioral health which 

is produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC). Through the pages of The Dialogue, disaster 

behavioral health professionals share information and resources while examining the 

disaster behavioral health preparedness and response issues that are important to the field. 

The Dialogue also provides a comprehensive look at the disaster training and technical 

assistance services SAMHSA DTAC provides to prepare states, territories, tribes, and local 

entities so they can deliver effective behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) 

responses to disasters. To receive The Dialogue, please go to SAMHSA’s homepage 

(http://www.samhsa.gov), enter your e-mail address in the “Mailing List” box on the right, 

and mark the checkbox for “SAMHSA’s Disaster Technical Assistance newsletter, The 

Dialogue,” which is listed in the Newsletters section.

SAMHSA DTAC provides disaster technical assistance, training, consultation, resources, 

information exchange, and knowledge brokering to help disaster behavioral health 

professionals plan for and respond effectively to mental health and substance abuse needs 

following a disaster.

To learn more, please call 1-800-308-3515, e-mail DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov, or visit the 

SAMHSA DTAC website at http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac.

IN THIS ISSUE 

 2 Working Together in the Field: 

Traditional and Disaster 

Behavioral Health Response 

to the Shooting of Greenland, 

New Hampshire, Police Chief 

and Officers 

 5 The Work of a Psychiatry 

Disaster Responder

 7 West, Texas: Resiliency 

in Action 

 9 Recommended Resources

10 Upcoming Events

The Dialogue is not responsible for the information provided by any webpages, materials, or organizations referenced in this publication. Although The Dialogue

includes valuable articles and collections of information, SAMHSA does not necessarily endorse any specific products or services provided by public or private 

organizations unless expressly stated. In addition, SAMHSA does not necessarily endorse the views expressed by such sites or organizations, nor does SAMHSA 

warrant the validity of any information or its fitness for any particular purpose.
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 1

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

In This Issue

Continuing with this year’s theme (“Response”), 

this issue of The Dialogue highlights the work of 

disaster behavioral health responders. Our first 

article summarizes an interview conducted with 

traditional and disaster behavioral health responders, 

and discusses their experience responding to the fatal 

shootings of a police chief and several other officers 

in a small, close-knit community. The next article is 

written by a disaster psychiatrist, who comes from 

a select and important discipline in the response 

community and has experience responding to several 

large-scale disasters. Our final article exemplifies 

the work of disaster behavioral health responders 

in a human-caused accident—the fertilizer plant 

explosion in West, Texas—and describes how they 

worked tirelessly to help survivors and responders. 

We hope that the information shared by these wellinformed authors helps you in your own planning, 

response, and recovery efforts.

Warmest regards,

Nikki Bellamy, Ph.D. 

Public Health Advisor, Emergency Mental Health 

and Traumatic Stress Services Branch

Nikki.bellamy@samhsa.hhs.gov

CDR Erik Hierholzer, B.S.N.

Program Management Officer, Emergency Mental 

Health and Traumatic Stress Services Branch

Erik.hierholzer@samhsa.hhs.gov

April Naturale, Ph.D. 

SAMHSA DTAC Project Director

Assistance is provided to a local resident affected by the fertilizer plant explosion. Photo: Norman Lenburg/FEMA
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 2

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

SPECIAL FEATURE

Working Together in the Field: Traditional and 

Disaster Behavioral Health Response to the 

Shooting of Greenland, New Hampshire, Police 

Chief and Officers

Contributed by Paul Deignan and Don McCullough 

An interview with Paul Deignan, M.S.W., Disaster Behavioral Health Consultant/Trainer, and 

Don McCullough, M.S., CMHC

On April 12, 2012, Chief Michael 

Maloney of the Greenland Police 

Department in New Hampshire 

was shot to death while carrying 

out a search warrant. Four 

police officers from other local 

departments were also shot and 

injured by the suspects (both of 

whom died in an apparent murdersuicide). Many local and state 

police officers and first responders 

from surrounding departments 

responded to the scene, and the 

local elementary school was used 

as a staging area. The town’s 

schools and municipal offices were 

closed the next day, and residents 

were invited to Greenland Central 

School to support one another. 

The incident had a significant 

effect on local, state, regional, 

and federal first responders as 

well as community residents in 

this close-knit town. Behavioral 

health responders trained in critical 

incident management were called 

to provide assistance to those 

responders most affected by the 

incident and at risk for negative 

mental health outcomes. This 

article highlights the experiences 

of two responders: Paul Deignan, 

a disaster behavioral health 

(DBH) responder serving as New 

Hampshire’s DBH coordinator at 

the time, and Don McCullough, a 

“traditional” first responder. 

Paul Deignan was the only DBH 

coordinator at the state’s homeland 

security and emergency management 

agency. Paul watched the events 

unfold on television and received 

a call later that night from Ken 

Fernald, Greenland’s Director of 

Emergency Management. Ken 

asked Paul to arrange for support 

from New Hampshire’s Disaster 

Behavioral Health Response Team 

(DBHRT), a long-standing, highly 

trained group of responders that 

addresses the mental health needs 

of residents and peers from New 

Hampshire and other states when 

local capacity is overwhelmed 

following disasters. Paul sent an 

alert to his team that night, providing 

instructions for reporting 

continued on page 3
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 3

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

continued from page 2

to the scene first thing the next 

morning. He knew he would need 

to mobilize a large number of 

behavioral health responders quickly. 

Don McCullough, a captain with 

the Rochester Fire Department in 

New Hampshire with a clinical 

degree in mental health counseling, 

had just finished teaching a 

course on disaster psychology. 

Only two weeks before the 

shooting, he had been named the 

regional team coordinator of the 

state’s DBHRT. As Don left the 

classroom that day, he checked 

his phone and saw he had missed 

several calls, one of which was 

from Paul. Don reported to the 

highly charged incident, where the 

suspects barricaded themselves 

for hours, and neighbors were 

either evacuated or told to remain 

indoors. He “went into the fire 

department way of thinking,” 

keeping his response efforts as 

simple as possible while the 

barricade continued.

The event took many hours to 

unfold. Even after the shooter 

killed himself, the neighborhood 

remained in lockdown and the threat 

persisted. Paul stayed in Greenland 

to facilitate communication and 

deliver support, while Don drove to 

the hospital to work with survivors. 

Nearly 100 officers kept vigil for 

their colleagues in the hospital, 

and a new chief was sworn in at 

midnight. Don and the DBHRT set 

up a private area where 

people—mainly other 

first responders—could 

receive confidential 

crisis intervention 

support. What helped 

most, he explained, was 

when peers convinced 

their colleagues that 

the behavioral health 

support he was offering 

was private and confidential. Don 

also explained that it was relatively 

easy for survivors to connect their 

feelings directly to the incident—

the actual cause of those emotions. 

This connection is not always easy 

for survivors to make after other 

traumatic events such as natural 

disasters. 

Meanwhile, Paul was encountering 

a few challenges in Greenland. As 

he was busy arranging disaster 

behavioral health supports—which 

were optional—for responders 

from nearly 15 departments, 

he discovered that some local 

departments were being told that 

these meetings were mandatory for 

officers and their families. Also, 

someone had contacted chiefs 

from responding agencies and 

told them that there would be a 

DBHRT representative at one of 

five briefings to help them. Don 

kept Paul informed of the situation 

from the field, and Paul was able to 

send Don and other staff to each of 

the five sites to be sure that enough 

support was available to responders, 

their family members, and others 

who attended the meetings. 

Throughout the day at the hospital, 

crisis responders from the New 

Hampshire DBHRT, the Granite 

State Critical Incident Stress 

Debriefing Team, and Seacoast 

Mental Health Services provided 

one-on-one and group supports for 

police officers who continued to 

arrive at the hospital in high states 

of emotional distress. Lastly, in 

the heat of the moment, not every 

agency requested DBH support, 

according to the Incident Command 

System protocol, making it hard to 

coordinate responses. 

When asked if they faced any of 

the challenges that often arise 

between traditional first responders 

and behavioral health responders, 

both Paul and Don said no. Don 

explained that “This was a oncein-a-career type of event—there 

was no division like there has 

been traditionally.” Echoing this 

sentiment, Paul said that because 

they had both worked with many 

of the responders in the past and 

this event was not their first 

continued on page 4
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 4

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

continued from page 3 

encounter, their jobs were a bit 

easier. “There is something about 

knowing that you have peers who 

understand you caring for you,” 

he explained. The main challenge 

they encountered was the mix-up 

in communication, but Paul said 

everyone was “dancing as fast 

as [possible] in the heat of 

the moment.” 

When asked about successes, 

both Paul and Don praised local 

responders and volunteers for 

not self-deploying. Instead, they 

explained, people waited for 

notice from those in charge of the 

response. “Everyone stayed in 

their lane,” Paul said, allowing 

the Incident Command System to 

work well. When asked if he saw 

survivors respond well to anything in 

particular, Don reiterated that having 

a safe place in which to express their 

feelings was invaluable. 

In closing, we asked both Paul and 

Don if there was anything they 

thought DBH responders should 

keep in mind when working with 

more traditional first responders. 

Don said that he would encourage 

behavioral health professionals 

to become culturally aware and 

learn the language of responders. 

“Visit local stations, get to know 

the people who work there, go on 

‘ride alongs’ that are frequently 

offered to businesses, schools, and 

other interested groups throughout 

the year. When you have those 

experiences, you have access.” 

Paul agreed and said that it would 

be great if a training program 

based on the first responder 

culture was made available to 

DBH responders.

When we flipped the question, 

asking what traditional responders 

should remember when working 

with DBH responders, Don 

suggested that first responders 

increase awareness of the value 

of stress management and the 

importance of having access to 

peer and professional counseling 

services. “We must recognize,” 

Don said, “that our occupational 

hazards and the things we witness 

expose us to psychological 

harm. At every opportunity, first 

responders must be taught that the 

stigma connected to asking for 

help is actually harmful to longterm health.” Paul suggested that 

traditional responders remember 

that DBH responders are there to 

provide support and information, 

listen to them, encourage them to 

get rest, and validate their emotions. 

In sum, both Paul and Don said 

they would not do many things 

differently. Paul said that they 

could have offered more support 

to the participating departments’ 

public information officers and 

provided logistical support for 

the town itself. The town was 

“invaded by the media,” he said, 

and many employees answering 

the telephone knew the police 

chief, making each call a traumatic 

one. Don said that it is important 

for all responders to “be mindful 

of themselves,” and know when 

to take a break and consider 

talking with a colleague or trusted 

friend about their experiences. 

These reflections offer useful 

lessons from an incident that was 

quite extraordinary and tested 

the knowledge of these skilled 

responders.

Disclaimer: While Critical Incident 

Stress Debriefing is not included 

on SAMHSA’s National Registry 

of Evidence-Based Programs 

and Practices (http://www.nrepp.

samhsa.gov/ ), many traditional 

first responder communities use 

it—often in a modified format—to 

address behavioral health needs 

after a disaster or other traumatic 

event. ■
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 5

A mental health counselor helps a disaster survivor comfort a lost child after Hurricane Katrina. 

Photo: Andrea Booher/FEMA

The Work of a Psychiatry Disaster Responder

Contributed by Dr. Margaret Tompsett, M.B. B.Chir.

University of Cambridge Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy 

of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

The American Red Cross has 

responded to disasters for more 

than a century, but it was not 

until 1989 that the need for 

disaster behavioral health (DBH) 

responders was recognized. 

Leaders of the Red Cross 

discovered that some disaster 

responders had been traumatized 

by their experience and felt 

unable to report to subsequent 

assignments. DBH responders, 

mostly social workers and 

psychologists, were brought in to 

help these disaster responders, who 

were primarily volunteers. DBH 

responders made a difference by 

listening to the volunteers’ stories 

and assisting in conflict resolution. 

As time went on, DBH responders 

started to work with disaster 

survivors, helping them learn how 

to cope with their experiences. In 

1995 the American Psychiatric 

Association signed a formal 

agreement with the Red Cross. 

Under the Red Cross umbrella, 

all mental health professionals, 

regardless of their individual 

discipline or degree, are treated 

equally as DBH responders. 

I have been a practicing 

psychiatrist for 35 years, and I 

specialize in child and adolescent 

psychiatry. Disaster response 

always interested me, and in 

1998 I was one of 20 members 

of the New Jersey Psychiatric 

Association trained in disaster 

mental health by the Red Cross. 

This training made it possible for 

me to be a part of the response 

to many disasters since then, 

including Hurricanes Katrina, 

Rita, and Sandy, and most recently 

the Boston Marathon bombing. 

This work is very different from 

traditional office work, which 

has clearly defined structures 

and boundaries. In a disaster, 

one enters a chaotic situation 

and hopes to bring some order. 

As a mental health professional 

serving as a DBH responder, one 

can be working with someone 

as a colleague one day and then 

may need to help that person 

manage an interpersonal conflict 

with another team member the 

next. During the earliest part of 

the response phase, Psychological 

First Aid is the standard of DBH 

care. Most of that work is very 

practical, helping people locate 

food and shelter and connecting 

them with loved ones. At first, 

many survivors are in shock and 

do not speak much, but once basic 

physical needs have been met, 

they are usually eager to talk about 

their experiences. Most people are 

resilient and cope well if they are 

given adequate emotional support 

and are connected with their social 

network.

Although I never identify myself 

as a psychiatrist, it soon 

continued on page 6 
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 6

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

continued from page 5 

becomes apparent that I have 

significant medical knowledge 

and understanding of children, 

and disaster responders often 

ask me to see survivors who are 

experiencing more extreme levels 

of distress. I am frequently asked 

questions about medications, but 

in my role as a disaster responder 

there is no prescribing medication. 

I have not found this to be too 

challenging because there is much 

more to disaster psychiatry than 

prescribing, and unless a survivor 

was using psychiatric medication 

before the disaster, caution must be 

used when prescribing medications 

in the immediate disaster response. 

The most frequently requested 

medications are controlled 

substances. It is extremely hard 

in a disaster situation to sort out 

who is using benzodiazepines 

or painkillers appropriately 

and who is not. Survivors with 

psychotic or suicidal thinking are 

generally referred to the nearest 

clinic or emergency room for a 

comprehensive assessment. 

The Boston Marathon bombing 

was a different experience for me 

in that the mass casualties were 

rapidly triaged and taken to area 

hospitals. There were many first 

aid stations and providers along 

the route that were called upon 

to do much more than they had 

planned. Some workers were 

traumatized by the exposure 

to horrific sights outside their 

usual experiences. The hospitals 

were well prepared to handle the 

casualties, and those who were 

not killed immediately from the 

bombs survived their injuries. The 

psychological aspects of injury 

were also appropriately addressed. 

In addition, the Red Cross opened 

a Family Assistance Center where 

relatives and survivors could 

meet with various agencies, 

including the FBI, Massachusetts 

Department of Mental Health, and 

Massachusetts Victim and Witness 

Assistance Board. Once patient 

privacy issues and the problematic 

location of the Family Assistance 

Center had been addressed, the 

center became a useful one stop 

shop for families.

I worked in a number of capacities, 

first at the impromptu memorial 

on Boylston Street, then at the 

memorial service held at the 

Cathedral of the Holy Cross 

(attended by President Obama), 

and later at the Family Assistance 

Center. These assignments 

provided me with the opportunity 

to give grieving and distressed 

survivors support and practical 

assistance in finding the right 

resources. We also supported 

overworked and stressed Red 

Cross headquarters staff in 

Cambridge. This experience 

called on me to focus less on my 

psychiatric training and more on 

my psychological knowledge. 

I feel that my experience working 

with the Red Cross has allowed 

DISASTER RESPONSE 

TEMPLATE TOOLKIT

The Disaster Response Template 

Toolkit from the SAMHSA 

DTAC Disaster Behavioral 

Health Information Series 

features public education 

materials that disaster behavioral 

health response programs can 

use to create resources for 

reaching people affected by a 

disaster. The Toolkit includes 

print, website, audio, video, 

and multimedia materials that 

programs can use to provide 

outreach, psycho-education, 

and recovery news for disaster 

survivors. Many of the links 

contain sample materials and 

online tools that have been used 

in previous disaster situations 

across the country. The 

templates can also be adapted 

for future use as desired.

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/

dbhis/dbhis_templates_intro.asp

me to help disaster survivors 

and responders function better, 

feel cared for, and move in the 

right direction. Disaster work is 

extraordinarily rewarding because 

survivors and responders alike are 

incredibly grateful for all types 

of assistance—even seemingly 

insignificant gestures—and 

especially our supportive 

presence. ■
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 7

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

West, Texas: 

Resiliency in Action Contributed by Chance Freeman, Disaster Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) Branch Manager; Jennifer Reid, LMSW, 

DBHS Response Coordinator; Dana LaFayette, LPC, LP-S, LCDC, Director of Crisis Services, Heart of Texas Region Mental Health 

and Mental Retardation (MHMR) Center; and Molly Howard, LMSW, Program Manager, Heart of Texas Region MHMR Center

On the evening of April 17, 

2013, the tight-knit community 

of West, Texas, was rocked by 

a devastating fertilizer plant 

explosion that, according to news 

reports, resulted in the deaths of 

15 individuals, more than 160 

injuries, and hundreds of damaged 

or destroyed homes and structures 

in a 35-block radius. The West 

community response to the physical 

and emotional damage from this 

explosion illustrates the true 

meaning of resilience. One factor 

that contributed to this community’s 

resilience was the established 

working relationships between 

disaster behavioral health service 

providers, public health planners, 

and local incident command.

The disaster behavioral health 

response was led by the local 

mental health authority, the Heart 

of Texas Region MHMR Center 

and the Department of State 

Health Services (DSHS). Dana 

LaFayette, director of crisis 

services for the Heart of Texas 

Region MHMR Center, reported 

that staff responded day and night, 

often working 12-hour shifts, 

to provide crisis counseling, 

stress management, and early 

psychological intervention services 

to survivors, disaster behavioral 

health professionals, and first 

responders. Counselors from the 

Heart of Texas Region MHMR 

Center were among the first crisis 

responders on scene after the 

explosion. Under the local Incident 

Command System, the local health 

department appointed a behavioral 

health coordinator who worked 

with the Heart of Texas Region 

MHMR Center team leader to 

plan, coordinate, and provide crisis 

counseling services, while support 

for securing and coordinating crisis 

continued on page 8 

Residents affected by the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion attend a town hall meeting Sunday to get 

information about disaster recovery. Photo: Norman Lenburg/FEMA
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 8

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

Signs of hope appear throughout the community 

impacted by the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion. 

Photo: Norman Lenburg/FEMA

continued from page 7 

response management services to 

first responders and their families 

was provided by volunteers 

from DSHS’ Texas Critical 

Incident Stress Management 

(CISM) Network. In addition, 

the local mental health authority 

worked with local volunteers and 

agencies to ensure the success of a 

comprehensive community-based 

behavioral health plan.

Disaster behavioral health services 

were provided in a variety of 

locations, including the Community 

Center operated by West residents, 

the Joint Assistance Center 

operated by numerous disaster 

response groups, and the Family 

Assistance Center operated by the 

local public health department. 

Disaster behavioral health 

responders worked with local 

incident command staff to plan and 

participate in re-entry operations 

for residents in the affected areas.

Through these efforts, more than 

1,000 face-to-face encounters 

were documented using the Crisis 

Counseling Assistance and Training 

Program Individual and Group 

Encounter forms. Through the use 

of these forms, leaders of disaster 

behavioral health services were 

able to assess the emotional impact 

of the disaster on residents and 

first responders. 

Feedback from first responders 

reiterated the positive impact that 

peer-to-peer crisis response services 

had for them. Through one-onone crisis counseling and group 

debriefings, first responders were 

able to process their emotions and 

reactions in a safe and controlled 

environment. These activities also 

fostered responder camaraderie, 

which was a significant part of their 

healing process. 

 According to the data gathered 

from the Individual and Group 

Encounter forms, the emotional 

responses of affected responders 

and survivors varied greatly, 

with the most commonly seen 

responses being anger, disbelief, 

anxiety, tearfulness, numbness, 

and problems sleeping. Survivors 

appeared to be in shock and 

reported feeling lost for the first 

few days after the explosion. 

There were survivors searching 

for lost pets who felt devastated, 

people carrying the clothes they 

were wearing at the time of the 

explosion with blood stains still on 

them, and others who were very 

concerned about their neighbors 

while neglecting their own needs to 

eat, rest, and care for themselves. 

Many in the community 

experienced significant losses of 

family, friends, coworkers, and 

pillars of the community. One of 

the most encouraging aspects of the 

response was the resiliency shown 

by the West residents and the 

outpouring of support from outlying 

communities. Many residents 

described themselves as taking 

pride in their self-reliance and 

being part of the West community, 

and said they were accustomed to 

being on the giving end. Many 

people who had lost loved ones, 

friends, and homes in West could 

be found at the Community Center 

assisting their fellow residents.

Overall, the community 

expressed great appreciation for 

the counselors and volunteers. 

Throughout the event, behavioral 

health counselors repeatedly 

commented on the resilience, 

generosity, and closeness of 

the community. This tragedy 

confirmed that a behavioral health 

team composed of local resources 

(i.e., one that would not be leaving 

after a few days) enhances the 

community’s resilience. As the 

one year anniversary approaches, 

the Heart of Texas Region MHMR 

Center has offered to assist with 

planning activities to commemorate 

the event so they can continue to 

provide support to their 

community. ■
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 9

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Post-Disaster Retraumatization: 

Risk and Protective Factors

This podcast informs disaster behavioral health professionals about the concepts 

and signs of retraumatization and associated risk and protective factors, and 

highlights promising treatment strategies and tips for avoiding retraumatization. 

This podcast can be found at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O7w6pu4BdI&list=PLBXgZMI_

zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6. ■

The Behavioral Health Response to 

Mass Violence

This podcast informs disaster behavioral health professionals about the 

psychological responses to mass violence and suggests strategies and 

interventions to provide immediate support and mitigate long-term negative 

mental health consequences.

This podcast can be found at 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeFrjY9Dfuo&list=PLBXgZMI_

zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6. ■

Understanding Compassion Fatigue 

and Compassion Satisfaction: 

Tips for Disaster Responders

This podcast can help disaster behavioral health professionals learn about the 

positive and negative effects of helping disaster survivors. 

This podcast can be found at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSJ0Lk8MsIQ&list=PLBXgZMI_

zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6. ■
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 10

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

2014 Partners in Emergency Preparedness 

Conference

April 22–24, 2014; Tacoma, Washington

The theme of this annual event by the Partners in 

Emergency Preparedness Conference, a nonprofit from 

Washington State University, is “Experiencing Private–

Public Partnerships.” This conference provides a forum 

for professionals working in businesses, schools, state 

and national government, the nonprofit sector, emergency 

management, and volunteer organizations to present 

and discuss business continuity planning, school safety, 

public health preparedness, homeland security, and 

public information. 

https://www.cm.wsu.edu/ehome/piepc/39774

National Council for Behavioral Health 

Conference ’14

May 5–7, 2014; Washington, DC

Over the 3-day event, the National Council for Behavioral 

Health Conference will hold 125 sessions featuring 300 

expert speakers to discuss research, policy, and technology 

innovations in behavioral health. The conference will include 

tracks on trauma-informed care, children and youth, and 

addictions and co-occurring disorders.

http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/events-and-training/

conference

2014 National Voluntary Organizations Active in 

Disaster (VOAD) Conference 

May 13–15, 2014; Indianapolis, Indiana

This annual conference features meetings, training sessions, 

and workshops within five conference tracks. Conference 

tracks include long-term recovery, partnership formation and 

strengthening, use of technology in disaster operations, and 

volunteer management. Conference participants include 

federal representatives and hundreds of national, state, and 

local VOAD representatives. 

http://nvoad.org/events/ 

continued on page 11

CONFERENCES

Public Health Preparedness Summit

April 1–4, 2014; Atlanta, Georgia

Organized by the National Association of County and City 

Health Officials, the theme of this year’s annual summit is 

“Stronger Together: Aligning Public Health and Healthcare 

Preparedness Capabilities to Protect Our Communities.” 

This national public health preparedness conference offers 

cross-disciplinary learning and networking opportunities 

for professionals working in all levels of government, 

emergency management, volunteer organizations, and 

health care coalitions.

http://preparednesssummit.org

2014 Preparedness, Emergency Response, and 

Recovery Consortium and Exhibition

April 14–16, 2014; Orlando, Florida

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Health Education Program, 

Inc., the consortium will bring together both governmental 

and private sector personnel to share best practices in 

mitigation, emergency management, and response before, 

during, and after a disaster. During the conference, subject 

matter experts will present and lead forum discussions on 

the importance of coordination and collaboration during 

preparedness, the health care response, rescue, evacuation, 

sheltering in place, and the recovery phase.

http://www.perrc.org

2014 National Hurricane Conference

April 14–17, 2014; Orlando, Florida

The annual National Hurricane Conference brings together 

federal, state, and local officials to review lessons learned 

from past hurricanes, exchange research and ideas, and 

recommend new emergency management policies. 

http://hurricanemeeting.com

Upcoming Events
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 11

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

CONFERENCES continued from page 10

The World Conference on Disaster Management

June 15–18, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The World Conference on Disaster Management, a nonprofit 

organization, will bring together international disaster 

management professionals to provide “a global perspective 

on current issues and concerns in the industry.” Conference 

track topics include resilience, crisis communications, 

emergency management, and business continuity 

management.

http://www.wcdm.org/programs.html

SAMHSA DTAC WEBINARS 

AND PODCASTS

 Great news! All SAMHSA DTAC webinars and 

podcasts can now be found on SAMHSA’s YouTube 

page (http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMHSA) and 

the SAMHSA DTAC playlist (http://www.youtube.com/

playlist?list=PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6). 

Below, we provide summaries of and links to all SAMHSA 

DTAC webinars and podcasts. 

Introduction to Disaster Behavioral Health

The goal of this webinar is to educate participants about the 

mental health, substance abuse, and stress management 

needs of people who have been exposed to human-caused, 

natural, or technological disasters. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwqIHAmO19U&list=

PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Applying Cultural Awareness to Disaster Behavioral 

Health

Participants in this webinar will learn more about tools that 

they can use to assess and strengthen cultural awareness 

practices in disaster behavioral health services.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngozeGfBOW8&list=

PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6&index=2

Cultural Awareness: Children and Youth in 

Disasters 

Information provided in this 60-minute podcast can help 

disaster behavioral health (DBH) responders provide culturally 

aware and appropriate DBH services for children, youth, and 

families affected by natural and human-caused disasters. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsaImMbgkh8&list=P

LBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6&index=12

Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral 

Health Responders 

Disaster behavioral health responders and their family 

members can use the guidelines in this podcast to help 

prepare for the stress of deployment and reintegration into 

regular work and family life. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apQuQm5pQOk&list

=PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6&index=4

Helping Children and Youth Cope in the Aftermath 

of Disasters: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers, 

Teachers, Administrators, and School Staff

This podcast was designed to inform parents and other 

caregivers, teachers and other school staff, and behavioral 

health professionals about the kinds of responses to expect 

in children and youth in the aftermath of disasters, such as 

school shootings, and to help determine when a child or youth 

exposed to a disaster may need mental health services.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4GftUhGAtc&list=P

LBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6&index=15

Disaster Planning: Integrating Your Disaster 

Behavioral Health Plan

The speakers explain how states, territories, and tribes can 

update and integrate their disaster behavioral health plans 

with their overarching disaster response plans. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipg0_5IOgOg&list=PL

BXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

continued on page 12
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 12

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

WEBINARS AND PODCASTS continued from page 11

Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders 

Disaster behavioral health responders can learn about 

best practices and tools that could enable them and their 

supervisors to identify and effectively manage stress and 

secondary traumatic stress in this 60-minute podcast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G957P6w1Xfs&list=PL

BXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6&index=13

Mass Casualty: Support and Response 

This webinar shares information about emotional reactions 

to mass casualty events, addresses what Medical Reserve 

Corps team members, Commissioned Corps officers, and 

other responders may encounter in the field during a crisis 

event, and familiarizes participants with related disaster 

behavioral health resources available through SAMHSA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDUqKO8XdLM&list=

PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Introduction to Promising Practices in Disaster 

Behavioral Health Planning 

Participants of this webcast will learn about promising 

practices in disaster behavioral health planning, and 

speakers will share successful examples that have been 

implemented in the field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_

tpsxPB0UoA&list=PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQpQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning: Building Effective Partnerships

Participants in this webcast will learn about building 

effective working relationships with federal, state, and local 

government, as well as nongovernment partners, when 

developing a comprehensive disaster behavioral health plan. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e95C4yMybP4&list=P

LBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral 

Health Planning: Financials and Administration 

Operations

The speakers in this webinar identify policies, procedures, 

and promising practices in financial and administrative 

operations in disaster behavioral health before, during, and 

after a disaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNGb-_

Hlo0&list=PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning (DBHP): Implementing Your DBHP

The speakers explain how states, territories, and tribes can 

update and integrate their disaster behavioral health plans 

with their overarching disaster response plans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgXnfGP3LGc&list=

PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning: Plan Scalability

In this webinar, speakers provide information and examples 

about the elements of a scalable disaster behavioral 

health plan and identify promising practices in process 

development, standard operating procedures, and 

instructions that should be in place before a disaster. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osqghXH7Bbo&list=

PLBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning: Assessing Services and Information

Participants will learn about promising practices in assessing 

services, resources (e.g., equipment and personnel), and 

information before, during, and after a disaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaqQjgLtinM&list=PL

BXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

continued on page 13
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 13

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

WEBINARS AND PODCASTS continued from page 12

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning: Logistical Support

This webinar features a presentation on effective logistical 

support systems, including identification of training 

mechanisms for response personnel and utilization 

of volunteers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJpUlxoA4s8&list=P

LBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health 

Planning: Legal and Regulatory Authority

Participants will learn about the elements of legal and regulatory 

authority at the federal, state, and local levels, including issues 

of responders’ liabilities, informed consent, confidentiality, 

development of memoranda of understanding, and/or mutual 

aid agreements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRL3Fbo9kHI&list=P

LBXgZMI_zqfRcTt9ndxkbieQ-pQslk-R6

ADDITIONAL WEBINARS AND 

PODCASTS

Integrating All-Hazards Preparedness with 

Public Health 

This webcast by the National Association of County and 

City Health Officials (NACCHO) “feature[s] four NACCHO 

demonstration sites that integrate all-hazards preparedness 

into traditional public health activities.” 

http://webcasts.naccho.org/session-archived.php?id=684

Planning for Pandemic Influenza: Issues and 

Best Practices

This webcast by the National Association of County and City 

Health Officials features discussions of “local challenges 

relating to vaccine distribution, isolation and quarantine, risk 

communication, hospital and personnel surge capacity, and 

community engagement.” 

http://webcasts.naccho.org/session-archived.php?id=505

Psychological First Aid: The Role of Medical 

Reserve Corps Volunteers in Disaster Response

This National Association of County and City Health Officials 

webcast provides an overview of the disaster mental health 

field and the role and evolution of psychological first aid. 

http://webcasts.naccho.org/session-archived.php?id=823

State of All Hazards Preparedness for Children: 

Partnerships & Models for Merging Emergency 

Department & Disaster Preparedness Efforts 

Nationwide 

This webcast by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau 

within the Health Resources and Services Administration 

features resources and tools for pediatric disaster planning, 

lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic, and perspectives 

from national stakeholders and partners in planning. 

http://learning.mchb.hrsa.gov/archivedWebcastDetail.

asp?id=222

TRAININGS

Early Responders Distance Learning Center 

The Early Responders Distance Learning Center of Saint 

Joseph’s University creates and administers accredited 

courses for the emergency response community on 

preparing for and responding to terrorist incidents. The 

courses offer a specialized focus on psychological 

perspectives and issues.

http://erdlc.sju.edu

FEMA Online Courses 

FEMA offers free independent study courses that can be 

completed for continuing education units. Courses cover 

topics such as emergency preparedness, development 

and management of volunteers, and the Incident 

Command System. 

http://training.fema.gov/IS

continued on page 14
2014 | VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | PAGE 14

A Quarterly Technical Assistance Journal on Disaster Behavioral Health 

Produced by the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center

TRAININGS continued from page 13 

Johns Hopkins Public Health Preparedness 

Programs: Mental Health Preparedness Trainings 

The Johns Hopkins Preparedness and Emergency Response 

Learning Center has developed a variety of mental health 

preparedness trainings that are available online:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Disaster Mental Health Intervention

Disaster Mental Health Planning

Introduction to Mental Health and Disaster Preparedness

Mental Health Consequences of Disaster

Psychological First Aid Competencies for Public Health 

Workers

Psychology and Crisis Response

Psychology of Terrorism

Roots of Terrorism

Self-Care

http://www.jhsph.edu/preparedness/training/online/

mentalhealth_trainings

Massachusetts Environmental Health Association 

Disaster Behavioral Health Training 

The Massachusetts Environmental Health Association has 

developed several disaster behavioral health trainings that 

are available online:

• 

• 

• 

• 

Disaster Behavioral Health

Psychological First Aid: Helping People Cope During 

Disasters and Public Health Emergencies

Psychological First Aid in Radiation Disasters

Psychological Issues Following Disasters

http://www.mehaonline.net/member-services/trainingresources-videos/56-disaster-behavioral-health-training

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

(NCTSN) Psychological First Aid Online Course 

The NCTSN Learning Center is an online training center 

geared toward professionals and families seeking to 

learn more about child traumatic stress. Many resources 

specifically focus on disaster-related trauma and grief. The 

NCTSN Learning Center also features Psychological First 

Aid (PFA) Online, a 6-hour course in which the student 

plays the role of a provider working in a scene after a 

disaster. According to the online course description, “this 

professionally narrated course is for individuals who are 

new to disaster response and want to learn the core goals 

of PFA, as well as for seasoned practitioners who want a 

review. The course features innovative activities, video 

demonstrations, and mentor tips from the nation’s trauma 

experts and survivors. PFA Online also offers a learning 

community where participants can share experiences of 

using PFA in the field, receive guidance during times of 

disaster, and obtain additional resources and training.”

http://learn.nctsn.org

Office of Minority Health Cultural Competency 

Curriculum for Disaster Preparedness and Crisis 

Response

These four online courses build knowledge and skills for 

disaster and crisis personnel and volunteers to “provide 

culturally and linguistically appropriate services to diverse 

communities during all phases of disaster.” The curriculum 

is grouped into three themes: culturally competent care, 

language access services, and organizational supports.

https://cccdpcr.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov

University of North Carolina (UNC) Center for 

Public Health Preparedness Training Website 

This site “offers free short Internet-based trainings 

developed by the UNC Center for Public Health 

Preparedness on public health preparedness topics such 

as disease surveillance, basic epidemiology, bioterrorism, 

and new/emerging disease agents.”

http://cphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.php
CONTACT US

SAMHSA Disaster Technical 

Assistance Center

Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515

DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/

SUBSCRIBE 

The Dialogue is a publication for professionals in the disaster behavioral health field to 

share information, resources, trends, solutions to problems, and accomplishments. To 

receive The Dialogue, please go to SAMHSA’s homepage (http://www.samhsa.gov), 

enter your e-mail address in the “Mailing List” box on the right, and select the box for 

“SAMHSA’s Disaster Technical Assistance newsletter, The Dialogue.”

SHARE INFORMATION 

Readers are invited to contribute to The Dialogue. To author an article for an 

upcoming issue, please contact SAMHSA DTAC at DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov.

ACCESS ADDITIONAL SAMHSA DTAC RESOURCES

The SAMHSA DTAC Bulletin is a monthly e-communication used to share updates in 

the field, post upcoming activities, and highlight new resources. To subscribe, please 

enter your e-mail address in the “SAMHSA DTAC Bulletin” section of our website at 

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/resources.asp.

The SAMHSA DTAC Discussion Board is an online discussion forum for disaster 

behavioral health stakeholders. Become a member of this community by visiting 

http://dtac-discussion.samhsa.gov/register.aspx and completing the brief 

registration process. Within 2 business days, you will receive your login and 

password via e-mail, along with further instructions on how to access the site. 

The SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series contains resource 

collections and toolkits pertinent to disaster behavioral health. Installments focus on 

specific populations, specific types of disasters, and other topics related to all-hazards 

disaster behavioral health preparedness and response. Visit the SAMHSA DTAC 

website at http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis to access these materials.