Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

On this page the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) presents information on disaster behavioral health (DBH) online trainings (web-based courses); field events (DBH conferences, including meetings, workshops, and conventions); and webcasts (SAMHSA DTAC and non-SAMHSA DTAC media presentations on DBH topics).  If you would like to add an event to our Education and Training listing, please contact SAMHSA DTAC.

• Webcasts
• Online Training Sites
• Field Events

Webcasts

*Upcoming - Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. EST* Mass Casualty: Support and Response Webinar
The goal of this 60-minute webinar is for speakers to share information about reactions that responders may be having as a result of the recent mass casualty events and for participants to learn about related resources available through SAMHSA.

This webinar will help support response efforts and promote responders' individual and peer group resiliency by ensuring that participants are able to:

• Identify common behavioral health reactions to a mass casualty event.
• Detect stress reactions of survivors and responders.
• Assist responders with leadership strategies and team resilience.
• Locate and use resources found at SAMHSA's DTAC website, including SAMHSA's guides, pamphlets, tip sheets, the Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series, The Dialogue, the Bulletin, pre-recorded webinars/podcasts, and other various disaster behavioral health–related items.

Featured speakers include CDR Jeffrey Coady, Psy.D., SAMHSA Region V Administrator; Heather Oglesby, SAMHSA Project Officer; and CDR Jamie Seligman, SAMHSA Project Officer.

SAMHSA encourages participation in this webinar by MRC, USPHS, and responders who are interested in promoting resiliency in mass casualty events.

Please register now ; space is limited.

You will be asked to provide your name and e-mail address. After you complete registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with all of the information and instructions needed to access the webinar on April 23, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Central time/9:00 a.m. Mountain time/8:00 a.m. Pacific time). We encourage participants to log in 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure that your system is compatible with the program and your speakers are at a comfortable level.

Helping Children and Youth Cope in the Aftermath of Disasters: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers, Teachers, Administrators, and School Staff Podcast
The goal of this 50-minute podcast is to help parents, caregivers, teachers, and other schools staff to identify common reactions of children and youth to disaster and trauma, and discover helpful approaches to support immediate and long-term recovery.

Hosted by Julie Liu, M.A., public health advisor, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, presenters include Robin Gurwitch, Ph.D., Center for Family Health, Duke University Medical Center and Russell T. Jones, Ph.D., Virginia Tech University. Dr. Gurwitch, a clinical psychologist and Duke University faculty member, is a master trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, focusing on resiliency for families affected by trauma. Dr. Jones is a professor of psychology at Virginia Tech University and a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma psychology in the areas of natural and technological disasters as well as interpersonal violence.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Julie Liu at (240) 276–2424 or Julie.Liu@samhsa.hhs.gov. Feedback is welcome at DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov.

View archived podcasts.

Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders Podcast
The goal of this 30-minute podcast is to prepare disaster behavioral health (DBH) responders and their family members for deployment by reviewing pre- and post-deployment guidelines and ways to prepare oneself and one's family members for the stress of deployment and reintegration into regular work and family life. This podcast aims to accomplish the following:

• Increase awareness of the unique issues DBH responders face, especially with numerous or long-term assignments.
• Provide pre-deployment guidelines to assist DBH responders and their family members as they prepare for deployment.
• Assist with the DBH responder and family members by providing post-deployment guidelines and practices that enable reintegration with family members and routine employment.

The featured speaker is April Naturale, Ph.D., of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC). Dr. Naturale is a traumatic stress specialist with a 25-year history in health/mental health administration. She directed New York's disaster mental health response following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and spent several years in the Gulf Coast after the large-scale hurricanes that devastated the area.

SAMHSA DTAC encourages participation by behavioral health, public health, and other professionals involved in emergency management/disaster response. If you have questions, need additional information, or want to provide feedback regarding this podcast or suggestions for future podcasts, please contact DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov.

View archived podcasts.

Cultural Awareness: Children and Youth in Disasters Podcast
The goal of this 60-minute podcast is to assist disaster behavioral health responders in providing culturally aware and appropriate disaster behavioral health services for children, youth, and families impacted by natural and human-caused disasters. The podcast aims to accomplish the following:

• Define cultural awareness
• Demonstrate the importance of cultural awareness in disaster services, particularly with children and youth
• Identify common reactions of children to disaster and trauma
• Present helpful approaches to working with children impacted by a disaster

Featured speakers include April Naturale, Ph.D., of SAMHSA DTAC and Russell T. Jones, Ph.D., of Virginia Tech University. Dr. Naturale is a traumatic stress specialist with a 25-year history in health/mental health administration. Dr. Jones is a Professor of Psychology at Virginia Tech University and a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma psychology in the areas of natural and technological disasters as well as interpersonal violence.

SAMHSA DTAC encourages participation by behavioral health, public health, and other professionals involved in emergency management/disaster response activities who are interested in learning more about working with children and youth following a disaster or need a refresher about the disaster response issues specific to this population. View archived podcasts.

Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders Podcast
SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) is pleased to present the Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders podcast. The goal of this 60-minute podcast is to provide information, best practices, and tools that enable disaster behavioral health (DBH) responders and supervisors to identify and effectively manage stress and secondary traumatic stress through workplace structures and self-care practices. The podcast will do all of the following:

• Define the stressors unique to DBH responders, including secondary traumatic stress
• Present best practices in self-care for DBH responders
• Provide tools that can be used to promote self-care
• Identify supports that can be provided by supervisors and management to assist DBH responders

Featured speakers include April Naturale, Ph.D., of SAMHSA DTAC and Jeannette David, Georgia Disaster Behavioral Health Coordinator.

SAMHSA DTAC encourages participation by behavioral health, public health, and other professionals involved in emergency management/disaster response and interested in learning more about self-care best practices. View archived podcasts.

Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health Planning Webinar Series
From June to August 2011, SAMHSA DTAC held the Promising Practices in Disaster Behavioral Health Planning webinar series that consisted of nine webinars addressing promising practices in integrated mental health and substance abuse DBH planning. These webinars are meant to assist State and Territory disaster behavioral health coordinators, disaster mental health coordinators, and disaster substance abuse coordinators, as well as emergency management/behavioral health coordinators for Tribes, with the development and implementation of their DBH plans. The webinars have been recorded and are currently available for viewing. View archived Promising Practices webinars.

SAMHSA DTAC encourages all States, Territories, and Tribes to view the recorded webinars. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Terri Spear (Emergency Coordinator, SAMHSA/Office of Policy, Planning and Innovation/Division of Policy Innovation) at 240-276-2244 or terri.spear@samhsa.hhs.gov or Dr. Amy Mack (SAMHSA DTAC Project Director) at 240-744-7090 or amy.mack@icfi.com.

Building Awareness of Disaster Behavioral Health Webinar Series
In July and August 2011, SAMHSA DTAC held the Building Awareness of Disaster Behavioral Health webinar series 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. The webinars also help to build awareness about preparedness and response efforts in this area. The content of the webinars can be utilized by mental and non-mental health professionals who are involved in emergency management/disaster response and interested in learning more about mental health and substance abuse issues. The webinars featured nationally known mental health and substance abuse experts, as well as representatives from the fields of public health and emergency management. The webinars have been recorded and are currently available for viewing. View archived Building Awareness webinars.

Non-SAMHSA DTAC Webcasts

Topic	Date Aired
Disaster Mental Health Counseling Podcast This podcast includes an interview with a professor and creator of a curriculum in disaster mental health counseling. The interview covers advocacy and social justice issues involved in disaster mental health counseling. It also highlights the need for more cultural competence, and more extensive disaster counseling training, for all counselors. This webcast has been archived at http://education.ufl.edu/disaster-mental-health-counseling/sample-page/dissemination/.	Date and time unknown
Emergency Preparedness Concerns for Older Adults This podcast was created by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the website from which it can be accessed, "this podcast discusses the special concerns many older adults face during a disaster. It is primarily targeted to public health and aging services professionals." The podcast has been archived at http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=10778.	January 26, 2009
Principles of Planning for Disaster Risk Reduction This podcast is part of a conference call series sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Medical Reserve Corps. According to the website, this call discusses "the principles for effective, efficient and orderly processes for disaster planning." This podcast has been archived at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2012/callinfo_091812.asp.	September 18, 2012
Promoting Mental Health in the Wake of Disaster This podcast is part of a series sponsored by the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. In this episode, presenter Kathryn Kendall "articulates the stages of disaster and mental health-promoting responses to individual and community trauma." This 40-minute podcast has been archived at http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/podcast/episode.asp?ep=15.	March 9, 2009
Safe Schools: Behavioral Health Recovery After Crisis Situations This webcast presents key concepts in children's reactions to community trauma, a school's role in disaster recovery, and information about the Project Recovery Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program in response to the Wisconsin floods. This webcast has been archived at http://dpimedia.wi.gov/main/Viewer/?peid=b368f12cf18f4cfc9ee2b279d05f17ff.	December 16, 2008
Safe Schools: Crisis Intervention; How to Support People Coping with Loss This webcast provides strategies to help students cope with loss and a debriefing process for parents and teachers to follow with students who are heavily affected by loss. This webcast has been archived at http://dpimedia.wi.gov/main/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx?peid=5c21a7b1de814d7cb20c47ae459e8bfd.	March 16, 2010
State of All Hazards Preparedness for Children: Partnerships and Models for Merging Emergency Department and 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. This webcast has been archived at http://www.mchcom.com/archivedWebcastDetail.asp?id=222.	March 24, 2010
Stress Management for Emergency Responders—What Agencies Can Do This podcast provides information on stress management for individuals, teams, and agencies working in crisis settings. The series identifies ways to reduce stress and its negative effects on individual staff members and the agency as a whole. This webcast has been archived at http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=10615.	January 21, 2009
Understanding and Responding to the Needs of Children After Large-Scale Disasters This webcast provides information about how children may respond to traumatic events, ideas for interventions, and recommendations for disaster preparation. This 90-minute conference presentation has been archived at http://www.adph.org/ALPHTN/index.asp?id=2561.	May 22, 2008

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Online Training Sites

Early Responders Distance Learning Center
The Early Responders Distance Learning Center created 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.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Online Courses
FEMA offers free independent study courses that can be completed for continuing education units. Courses cover topics such as emergency preparedness, developing and managing volunteers, and the Incident Command System.

John Hopkins Public Health Preparedness Programs: Mental Health Preparedness Trainings
The John 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

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

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online Course
The NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma 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 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. It 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."

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.

University of North Carolina (UNC) Center for Public Health Preparedness Training Web Site
According to this site, it "offers free short Internet-based trainings developed by the UNC Center for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) on public health preparedness topics such as disease surveillance, basic epidemiology, bioterrorism, and new/emerging disease agents."

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Field Events

2013 Preparedness, Emergency Response, and Recovery Consortium (PERRC) and Exhibition
http://www.perrc.org
May 8–10, 2013; 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.  According to the website, during the conference, subject matter experts will present and lead forum discussions on "lessons learned during times of preparedness, response, and recovery in public health emergencies, affecting healthcare infrastructure."

Maryland Emergency Management Association Conference
http://www.mdema.org/conference.cfm
May 28–31, 2013; Ocean City, Maryland

This conference will cover topics in social media, the National Disaster Recovery Framework, resiliency, strategic planning, pandemic influenza, disaster mental health, wildfires, and emergency planning.

Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference
http://anzdmc.com.au
May 29–31, 2013; Brisbane, Australia

This conference is jointly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Emergency Services, the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Organization Inc., and the Association for Sustainability in Business Inc.  The conference will cover topics in natural and human-caused hazards and disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.  It will include discussion of human and social issues that arise during and after disasters.

2013 Asia Pacific Social Work Conference
http://dev.iamd.com/ifws/
June 4–6, 2013; Manila, Philippines

This conference is sponsored by the International Federation of Social Workers. The theme for the conference is "Social Work Amidst Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: Building Capacities and Global Partnership." Conference tracks include psychosocial support interventions for adults and children during disasters; social work, climate change, and disasters; and multidimensional support for social workers and other humanitarian aid workers.

Humanitarian Disaster Institute Disaster Leadership Workshop
http://www.wheaton.edu/~/media/Files/Centers-and-Institutes/HDI/HDI%20Disaster%20Leadership%20Workshop.pdf [PDF - 532 KB]
June 4–8, 2013; Wheaton, Illinois

According to the online event brochure, the goal of this workshop is "to equip pastors and church leaders who will be able to lead their congregations in developing effective disaster ministries." The Humanitarian Disaster Institute brings together leaders from domestic and international faith-based organizations and congregations to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Eighth European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Conference
http://www.estss-2013conference.eu
June 6–9, 2013; Bologna, Italy

The theme for this conference is "Trauma and its Clinical Pathways: PTSD and Beyond." The purpose of this conference is to bring together researchers and clinicians to discuss topics including trauma prevention and recovery in emergency services and disasters, innovative practice and therapy models in different cultural contexts, traumatic stress, assessment of children and youth, trauma across the lifespan, the psychopharmacology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic growth.

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence 75th Annual Meeting
http://www.cpdd.vcu.edu
June 15–20, 2013; San Diego, California

According to the website, the goal of this meeting is "to present and disseminate information about ongoing research in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences." This meeting brings together researchers and clinicians from academia, government, and private organizations and will include a mix of symposia, special lectures, workshops, oral presentations, and poster sessions.

Global Health and Well-Being: The Social Work Response
http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/continuing.education/socialwork.response.html
June 17–19, 2013; New York, New York

This conference is co-sponsored by the National Association of Deans and Directors and the New York Association of Deans of Schools of Social Work. The purpose of the conference is to define the social work response to address pressing health and psychosocial problems globally. One of the conference themes is "Trauma, Crises, and Response," including natural disaster, war, and violence. The conference will include keynote addresses, roundtable discussions, panels, and breakout workshops.

The World Conference on Disaster Management
http://www.wcdm.org
June 23–26, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The World Conference on Disaster Management will bring together disaster management professionals from over 35 countries 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.

The 7th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health
http://www.pathways2013.com/about-the-conference.html
June 23–27, 2013; Los Angeles, California

This conference is co-sponsored by the University of Southern California School of Social Work and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. The conference theme is "Pathways to Client-Centered Care—Research to Practice: Completing the Circle." According to the website, "this conference is designed to promote engagement, learning, and collaboration within an international network of social work practitioners and academics." The conference will focus on topics including recovery; evidence-based practice; and integrated service settings in health, mental health, and substance use.

21st World Congress for Social Psychiatry
http://www.wasp2013.com
June 29–July 3, 2013; Lisbon, Portugal

Sponsored by the World Association for Social Psychiatry, the topic of this conference is "The bio-psycho-social model: The future of psychiatry." The main topics include natural and human-caused disasters, such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and mental health; ways to create alliances to respond to mental health challenges; and comorbid mental and physical illnesses.

Third International Conference on Disaster Management and Human Health: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes
http://www.wessex.ac.uk/13-conferences/disaster-management-2013.html
July 9–11, 2013; A Coruña, Spain

This conference is organized by the Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT) and co-sponsored by WIT Transactions on the Built Environment and the International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering. The purpose of this conference is, according to its website, to provide a forum for partners in disaster management and leading academics to exchange information "on current global health risks, and how best to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters in order to reduce human health impacts." The conference will bring together leading academics and disaster management professionals to exchange information about best practices for prevention in disaster management and public health related to both natural and human-caused disasters.

Great Plains Disaster Behavioral Health Conference
http://www.disastermh.nebraska.edu/conferences/Conference2013.php
July 12, 2013; Lincoln, Nebraska

This conference is organized by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center and aimed at behavioral health professionals, public health officials, clergy, emergency managers, first responders, and security professionals. The conference will focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery issues, including resiliency, ethical issues, posttraumatic stress disorder, and children's response to disaster.

American Psychological Association Convention
http://www.apa.org/convention
July 31–August 4, 2013; Honolulu, Hawaii

The American Psychological Association Convention will offer half- and full-day workshops on psychological practice, education, science, and research in areas including ethics, assessment, trauma, geriatrics, and technology in psychology.

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Last updated 4/30/2013