Discuss best practices in fields of health, psychology and security with national experts
Commissioners from the state Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) and the state Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) were invited to speak at the forum by former DOH Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D., who now serves as the UCDPER Director.
鈥淥ur Center recognizes the profound mental health consequences of disasters and the importance of effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.鈥� said Dr. Lacy. 鈥淲e have organized this conference to promote dissemination of best practices from nationally-renowned experts to those who care for the psychological aspects of survivors of disasters.鈥�
鈥淭he department already is seeing an economic and emotional effect from Superstorm Sandy on individuals and families who remain displaced from their homes,鈥� said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. 鈥淲e continue to increase the presence of Disaster Case Managers, Hope and Healing crisis counselors and clinical behavioral health staff to help families in the areas most devastated by the storm.鈥�
DHS received federal grants of and , respectively for Disaster Case Management services to residents in need of post-Sandy social service assistance and to fund聽 ongoing efforts by its Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services鈥� Disaster and Terrorism Branch, and its partners, to help Sandy survivors cope with the emotional challenges associated with loss or displacement.
鈥淭he mental health effects of a disaster, terrorist attack, or other public health emergency can be long-lasting, and this can impact an individual鈥檚 overall health and wellbeing,鈥� said DOH Commissioner Mary E. O鈥橠owd. 鈥淔ollowing Superstorm Sandy, I have been working with health providers throughout the state to increase awareness of signs of stress in patients and refer those who are having difficulty during this time of recovery to mental health resources. Today鈥檚 conference will further enhance New Jersey鈥檚 ability to identify those struggling and assist them in recovery.鈥�
"Disaster mental health is a process that continues long after the immediate impacts of an emergency.聽 Therefore, ensuring that emergency responders and citizens are not forgotten after the emergency has concluded must be a top priority," said Edward Dickson, OHSP Director. 聽"Today鈥檚 gathering, and the work done by the UCDPER in collaboration with a host of public and private sector partners, law enforcement, emergency management agencies and public health enhanced the care for those impacted by a disaster in ways that are not manifested in broken bones or in property damage, but have a significant impact nonetheless."
Renowned disaster experts from the fields of psychology, social work, mental health services, health care, public health and homeland security were presenters at the conference and took part in a group panel discussion that addressed questions from audience members. They included:
路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Brian W. Flynn, Ed.D., Adjunct Professor and Associate Director, Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Fran H. Norris, Ph.D., Director, National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research; Research Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth; Research Associate, Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Patricia Watson, Ph.D., Senior Education Specialist, National Center for PTSD; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School
路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jessica L. Hamblen, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Education, National Center for PTSD; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School
路聽聽聽聽聽聽 Charles R. Figley, Ph.D., Paul Henry Kurzweg Distinguished Chair in Disaster Mental Health and Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, Tulane University
UCDPER has organized and hosted a series of conferences funded by the federal Department of Homeland Security through the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Programs in the conference series included:聽 鈥�9/11 鈥� 10 Years Later: A National Conference on Preparedness and Response,鈥� 鈥淩isk and Crisis Communication: Communicating Before, During, and After Disasters and Emergencies,鈥� 鈥淭he New Jersey Emergency Health Powers Act 鈥� Eight Years Later,鈥� 鈥淓mergency Responders 鈥� Coverage for Liability and Injury,鈥� 鈥淢anagement of Explosive Incidents: Coordinating Health Care, Emergency Management and Law Enforcement,鈥� 鈥淒rug Diversion and Counterfeiting: The Homeland Security Perspective,鈥� 鈥淐yber Terrorism and Healthcare鈥�, and 鈥淒isaster Behavioral Health.鈥� UCDPER educational programs have addressed the mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery for major issues of national preparedness.
