Disaster Mental Health Training

From Mark Russell, AUS Core Faculty, School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy -

American Red Cross Seattle and Washington State Psychological Association–Disaster Response Network presents:

Disaster Mental Health Training

Topic: Two American Red Cross (ARC) courses required to become a certified ARC Volunteer in Disaster Mental Health and member of the Washington State Psychological Association (WSPA)-Disaster Response Network (DRN): (1) A combined ‘Introduction to Disaster Services’ and ‘Foundations of Disaster Mental Health Course,’ and (2) ‘Clinical Case Work’ course.

Who: Licensed mental health care providers interested in becoming a certified ARC Mental Health Volunteer and WSPA-DRN member. Non-licensed psychology graduate students are eligible to attend the training, but require faculty supervisor who has completed the ARC trainings.

What: The WSPA-DRN is a state network of mental health clinicians with training in disaster response who offer volunteer assistance to relief workers, victims, and victim’s families after man-made or natural disasters. The WSPA-DRN is a chapter of the APA’s national DRN that primarily assists the ARC’s disaster mental health activity and works with state departments of mental health, offices of emergency management, local fire and police departments, and other relief organizations.

Why: Disasters on every scale, from hurricanes to house fires, strike thousands of Americans every year. Many mental health clinicians have sought disaster training so they can use their professional abilities to help victims and relief workers carry on through often stressful and tragic circumstances.

Training objectives:
• Identify the ARC Fundamental Principles, Mission, Emergency Service structure and the setting in which disaster mental health professional work.
• Describe the mental health role in ARC disaster response and recovery communities.
• Recognize the psychological impact of disaster on adults, children, families, and communities.
• Apply the interventions used by the ARC disaster mental health works with clients, responders, and disaster workers.
• Describe the legal and ethical implications of disaster mental health work, including licensing, HIPAA regulations, confidentiality and professional ethics.
• Identify opportunities for volunteering with ARC’s Disaster Mental Health through the local chapters.

When: 9am-5pm, September 25, 2010 (‘Foundations’) and 9am-5pm, October 2, 2010 (Clinical Case Work). All participants must attend both days of training.

Where: Room 123, ARC bldg, at 1900 25th Avenue S; Seattle, easily accessible via I-90, I-5, downtown, Boren/Rainer Avenue and MLK.

Cost: ARC trainings are no-cost with free parking available.

Continuing Education: The APA offers 6.5 CE for the ARC Foundations of Disaster Mental Health course. ARC CE is available for the Clinical Case Work course. See ARC website www.seattleredcross.org for further details.

How: Registration for the ARC courses will be limited to 18 participants and is on a first come, first serve basis. The ARC Volunteer Application form needed for registration, can be completed on-line at www.seattleredcross.org. Once you have submitted your volunteer application you should receive a confirmation email. If you have any questions about the training or have trouble with the online application please contact James Bluher, the Volunteer Services Coordinator, at (206)726-3566 or at james.bluher@seattleredcross.org. Questions regarding the WSPA DRN can be directed to the WSPA-DRN Coordinator, Mark Russell, Ph.D., at mrussell@antioch.edu.