Monday, October 31, 2011

Louisiana Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Louisiana Earns Perfect Score in Public Health Emergency Preparedness

State is tops in readiness for health emergencies

Tuesday, September 20, 2011  | 
Contact: Bureau of Media & Communications (225) 342-7913
 
BATON ROUGE, La.—For the second consecutive year, Louisiana scored a perfect 100 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) evaluation of the state's public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Louisiana and seven other states scored 100 two years in a row. Louisiana's public health laboratories also received exemplary marks. The CDC's "Public Health Preparedness: 2011 State-by-State Update on Laboratory Capabilities and Response Readiness Planning" report released today evaluates the state over a three-year period, from 2007-2010.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein says the report reaffirms what he saw in action during the recent Pearl River fish kill, New Orleans marsh fires and Tropical Storm Lee. "Governor Jindal has challenged every state agency to execute our disaster preparedness and response functions flawlessly. I am so proud of our team at DHH, our sister agencies and all of our partners who have together proved that Louisiana is tremendously well prepared to respond to a health crisis. Whether it's been in the face of a hurricane, an oil spill or a pandemic flu, they have proven that fact time and again," Greenstein said.

DHH's Center for Community Preparedness Director Doris G. Brown, RN, MEd, MS, CNS, said the perfect score is a direct reflection of the hard work of the state and its partners through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement between the Office of Public Health, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Hospital Preparedness Program. "We plan and train with our partners so that when we are faced with a man-made or natural disaster we are ready," Brown said.

In the report, all 50 states and 4 localities directly funded by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement were graded on their ability to effectively receive and distribute the CDC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a cache of drugs and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. The CDC and state public health departments conduct annual technical assistance reviews (TAR) to assess emergency preparedness plans for receiving, staging, storing, distributing and dispensing the SNS to ensure continued readiness for all disasters. The state must attain a score of 79 or higher in order to continue to receive preparedness funding from the federal government.

The report also evaluated states' public health laboratories. The DHH labs received high marks for their ability to test for and detect chemical and biological agents and their ability to assist DHH epidemiologists in carrying out epidemiological surveillance for early detection of potential threats. The DHH labs test daily for bacteria in foods and human samples to ensure rapid response to public health emergencies. The labs also help the state's public drinking water systems maintain federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards by testing for contamination. The state has four public health labs.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens.

To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/.

For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

Trauma: Grant Funding. Crisis Counseling Assistance

https://www.rkb.us/contentdetail.cfm?content_id=56827

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program  



Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Trauma: Healing from Trauma.

 http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/healing.asp#atrium

Healing from Trauma

Trauma-Specific Interventions

Following are some well-known trauma-specific interventions based upon psychosocial educational empowerment principles that have been used extensively in public system settings. Please note that these interventions are listed for informational and educational purposes only. NCTIC does not endorse any specific intervention.

Addiction and Trauma Recovery Integration Model (ATRIUM)
Essence of Being Real
Risking Connection
Sanctuary Model
Seeking Sanctuary
Trauma, Addiction, Mental Health, and Recovery
Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)
Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM and M-TREM)

 

Addiction and Trauma Recovery Integration Model (ATRIUM)

ATRIUM is a 12-session recovery model designed for groups as well as for individuals and their therapists and counselors. The acronym, ATRIUM, is meant to suggest that the recovery groups are a starting point for healing and recovery. This model has been used in local prisons, jail diversion projects, AIDS programs, and drop-in centers for survivors. ATRIUM is a model intended to bring together peer support, psycho-education, interpersonal skills training, meditation, creative expression, spirituality, and community action to support survivors in addressing and healing form trauma.

Dusty Miller, author and creator of ATRIUM, is available for training, consultation, workshops, and keynote presentations. She works with groups that address issues of self-sabotage, traumatic stress, trauma re-enactment, substance abuse, self-injury, eating disorders, anxiety, body-based distress, relational challenges, and spiritual struggles.

For more information, visit www.dustymiller.org or contact:
Dusty Miller, Ed.D.

dustymi@aol.com

 

Essence of Being Real

The Essence of Being Real model is a peer-to-peer structure intended to address the effects of trauma. The developer feels that this model is particularly helpful for survivor groups (including abuse, disaster, crime, shelter populations, and others), first responders, and frontline service providers and agency staff.
The developer feels that this model is appropriate for all populations and that it is geared to promoting relationships rather than focusing on the “bad stuff that happened.”

The Sidran Institute provides educational materials, training, and implementation support.

For more information, visit www.sidran.org or contact:
Elaine Witman
P: 410-825-8888 x211
elaine.witman@sidran.org

 

Risking Connection®

Risking Connection is intended to be a trauma-informed model aimed at mental health, public health, and substance abuse staff at various levels of education and training. There are several audience-specific adaptations of the model, including clergy, domestic violence advocates, and agencies serving children.
Risking Connection emphasizes concepts of empowerment, connection, and collaboration. The model addresses issues like understanding how trauma hurts, using the relationship and connection as a treatment tool, keeping a trauma framework when responding to crises such as self-injury and suicidal depression, working with dissociation and self-awareness, and transforming vicarious traumatization.

The Sidran Institute provides educational materials, training, and implementation support.

For more information, visit www.riskingconnection.org or contact:
Barbara Levin
P: 410-825-8888 x206
training@sidran.org

 

Sanctuary Model®

The goal of the Sanctuary Model is to help children who have experienced the damaging effects of interpersonal violence, abuse, and trauma. The model is intended for use by residential treatment settings for children, public schools, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, group homes, outpatient and community-based settings, juvenile justice programs, substance abuse programs, parenting support programs, acute care settings, and other programs aimed at assisting children.

The developer indicates that the Sanctuary Model’s approach helps organizations to create a truly collaborative and healing environment that improves efficacy in the treatment of traumatized individuals, reduces restraints and other coercive practices, builds cross-functional teams, and improves staff morale and retention.

The Sanctuary Leadership Development Institute provides on-site assessment, training, and implementation support.

For more information, visit www.sanctuaryweb.com or contact:
Sarah Yanosy, LCSW
P: 914-965-3700 x1117
syanosy@jdam.org

 

Seeking Safety

Seeking Safety is designed to be a therapy for trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. The developer feels that this model works for individuals or with groups, with men, women or with mixed-gender groups, and can be used in a variety of settings (e.g. outpatient, inpatient, residential).

The developer indicates that the key principles of Seeking Safety are safety as the overarching goal, integrated treatment, a focus on ideals to counteract the loss of ideals in both PTSD and substance abuse, knowledge of four content areas (cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and case management), and attention to clinician processes.

Seeking Safety provides on-site training sessions and telephone consultation.

For more information, visit www.seekingsafety.org or contact:
Lisa Najavits
P: 617-731-1501
info@seekingsafety.org
Back to the top

 

Trauma, Addiction, Mental Health, and Recovery

Developed as part of the first phase of the SAMHSA Women, Co-Occurring Disorders and Violence Study, TAMAR Trauma Treatment Group Model is a structured, manualized 15-week intervention combining psycho-educational approaches with expressive therapies. It is designed for women and men with histories of trauma in correctional systems. Groups are run inside detention centers, in state psychiatric hospitals, and in the community.


The Trauma Addictions Mental Health and Recovery Treatment Manual provides basic education on trauma, its developmental effects on symptoms and current functioning, symptom appraisal and management, the impact of early chaotic relationships on healthcare needs, the development of coping skills, preventive education concerning pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, sexuality, and help in dealing with role loss and parenting issues.

For more information contact:    Marian Bland, LCSW-C
Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration
p: 410-724-3242
blandm@dhmh.state.md.us

 

Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)

TARGET is a model designed for use by organizations and professionals with a broad range of experience with and understanding of trauma. The developer feels that TARGET works with all disciplines and can be used in all levels of care for adults and children.

The developer indicates that TARGET is an educational and therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The developer feels that this model provides practical skills that can be used by trauma survivors and family members to de-escalate and regulate extreme emotions, manage intrusive trauma memories experienced in daily life, and restore the capacity for information processing and memory.

The University of Connecticut’s Research and Development Corporation is creating a behavioral health service company to provide training and consultation in the TARGET model which will include training, long-term small group consultation, quality assurance, and program evaluation.

For more information, visit www.ptsdfreedom.org or contact:
Julian Ford, Ph.D. or Judith Ford, M.A.
P: 860-679-8778 or 860-679-2360
ford@psychiatry.uchc.edu or fordj@psychiatry.uchc.edu

 

Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM and M-TREM)

The Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model is intended for trauma survivors, particularly those with exposure to physical or sexual violence. This model is gender-specific: TREM for women and M-TREM for men. This model has been implemented in mental health, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, and criminal justice settings. The developer feels this model is appropriate for a full range of disciplines.

Community Connections provides manuals, training, and ongoing consultation in TREM and M-TREM.

For more information, visit www.ccdc1.org or contact:
Rebecca Wolfson Berley, MSW
P: 202-608-4735
rwolfson@ccdc1.org

Friday, October 28, 2011

Snow removel and exercise. Community Participation. Whole Community Approach

SNOW EMERGENCIES.   “ONE BLOCK AT A TIME.”

Many individuals treat snow emergencies as just an inconvenience or interruption to normal individual and community routines.  But, snow emergencies have physical & mental health, financial and economic impacts on a community.   

Treating snow emergencies with the same planning requirements, and preparedness as earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding, and man-made disasters will contribute to decreasing health effects, and the financial and economic impacts.   

Communities can plan block traffic parking patterns, and block snow removal plans that can greatly increase the movement of neighbors and emergency personnel.  Planning with public safety and transportation departments on snow removal plans have to be considered long before these events occur.   

A weekend snow emergency exercise with neighbors can provide assurance that each neighbor knows what will be the procedures for parking, snow shoveling, and assistance to those that are unable to remove even small amounts of snow due to physical limitation.   

Contact your local public safety, transportation, or other authority for snow removel on public roads and residential areas.  Communities with home owner or other residential associations have snow removal plans.  Contact them for snow removal patterns in your area.

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