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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

Source: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

 

Summary:

 

The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) provides supplemental funding to States, U.S. Territories and Federally recognized tribes for technical assistance and training as well as short-term crisis counseling services to individuals impacted by a Presidentially-declared major disaster that includes Individual Assistance.

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Objectives

 

To provide immediate crisis counseling services, when required, to victims of a major Federally-declared disaster for the purpose of addressing mental health problems caused or aggravated by a major disaster or its aftermath. Assistance is short-term in nature and provided at no cost to the disaster victims.

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Deadlines

 

The CCP consists of two grant programs, the Immediate Service Prorgram (ISP) and the RSP (Regular Service Program). The ISP provides funding for up to 60 days after the date of Presidential disaster declaration; while the RSP provides funding for up to 9 months from the date the RSP is awarded.  The CCP may be a year or longer in duration if it includes an RSP in addition to an ISP.  Many other disaster relief resources may have terminated services before the CCP. This is another aspect of the program that sets it apart from other approaches to disaster work. The ISP application is due 14 days after the date of the Presidential disaster declaration. The RSP application and ISP extension request are due 60 days after the declaration date and are followed by a Federal grant application review period, during which the ISP can be extended until a decision is made on approval of the RSP application.

Applying for the CCP

A completed and signed application and Federal forms are required to apply for the ISP or RSP. To apply visit www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/emergencyservices/progguide.asp and follow the instructions to download the application materials. These application materials also can be found on the CMHS Web site at www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/ by searching for “CCP guidance.”

Applying for Both the ISP and the RSP

After a Presidential disaster declaration, States, U.S. Territories, and federally recognized Tribes may apply for the ISP. If a continuing need for services is demonstrated, an RSP application can then be submitted. However, States, U.S.Territories, and federally recognized Tribes may elect to apply for only the ISP. Before applying for either program, a qualified entity must determine the need for crisis counseling services by compiling disaster data and conducting a needs assessment, one of the most critical components of the CCP application.

Program Duration

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Description

 

For more than 30 years, Federal, State, U.S. Territory, and federally recognized Tribal governments have worked together with local providers to help disaster survivors recover from the effects of a disaster.  The CCP is a Federal, FEMA-funded program that provides supplemental funding to states, U.S. Territories, and federally recognized Tribes after a Presidential disaster declaration.  Through an interagency agreement, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Emergency Mental Health and Traumatic Stress Services Branch provides grant administration and program oversight, as well as training and technical assistance for state and local mental health personnel.

The CCP consists of services focused on preventing or mitigating adverse repercussions of a disaster.  This goal is achieved through the use of a prevention and public health approach.  Beginning with the most severely affected group and moving outward, the program seeks to serve a large portion of the population affected by the disaster.  Program services are community based and often are performed in survivor’s homes, shelters, temporary living sites, and churches.  CCP services include supportive crisis counseling, education, development of coping skills, and linkage to appropriate resources, while assessing and referring those members of the community who are in need of more intensive mental health and substance abuse treatment to appropriate community resources.  The CCP engages community gatekeepers and organizations through direct contact with stakeholder groups, such as unmet-needs committees, and participation in community events in order to facilitate response activities and services to survivors.  The CCP is designed to assist with community recovery and collaboration in order to transition from CCP services to existing community resources upon the phasedown of the program.

Account Identification: 70-0702-0-1-453.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20528
Tel. (202) 282-8000.
Web Site Address: http://www.fema.gov/

Note: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Project Officers are available to provide technical assistance and consultation on the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP).  If you would like to speak with a CMHS Project Officer, please contact the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) at 1-800-308-3515 (Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET), and a staff member will forward your request to the appropriate Project Officer. CCP applications, supplemental instructions, and guidance documents are available on the Web at: www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/emergencyservices/progguide.asp.

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Type of Assistance: Grant

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Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility: States are eligible for grants.  If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the state or local mental health network, the state cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization.

Beneficiary Eligibility: In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred.

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Grant Information Source:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
245 Murray Ln - Bldg 410
Washington Dc 20528
Phone: 202-282-8000
Email: askcsid@dhs.gov
Website: https://www.rkb.us/leaving_site.cfm?location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edhs%2Egov

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Additional Information

• Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program Guidance